According to every single calendar (don’t worry, I have checked), apparently yesterday was not just Christmas, and somehow very soon it will be Easter (I swear someone somewhere has stuffed up, but anyway…). At the bare minimum this means four dedicated family days, which can be amazing if you’re prepared, or, will see you locking yourself in the toilet with wine and your children’s Easter eggs if you’re not.

Given the latter is not a good look, I have put together a guide for how to create a magical Easter, all in the time it will take you to eat 12 hot cross buns (staggered of course – don’t pretend you won’t).

1. The Thursday Before Easter.

On the Thursday evening, create an Easter Bunny “hutch” with your cherubs using a shoe box or a laundry basket. Pad the base with a blanket and a torn up newspaper and make sure you put a few carrots inside it. This is where you/Bunny can place the Easter gifts over the next four days.

2. Good Friday.

Use this day to ease into the holiday period by making it a pyjama day for all. Children’s sleepwear is $20 at BIG W. So stock up, and present it wrapped in the Easter Bunny hutch with a note. The kids will get a kick out of spending the day in new PJs with their parents (and how great for finally having a legit reason for being in your pyjamas in the PM?!).

Help set the tone for the holiday by building a mattress and pillow fort in the lounge room; chuck three family-friendly DVDs in the hutch (30% off from a great range at BIG W from March 17), some novels (up to 50% off in selected latest releases – BIG W) for the adults, and you’ve got yourselves a super cruisy day in the lounge room. Remember to take away one of the carrots, or make some definite bite marks to show that Bunny has paid a visit.

3a. Easter Saturday morning.

Leave a note in the hutch from Bunny saying he plans on dropping off the eggs tomorrow, but he needs some tidy hiding spots, so could the kids please clean their rooms to ensure safe delivery!? (Who knew the Easter Bunny was so focused on hygiene [and so strategic]?) Sign the note with a paw print, and again, be sure to take some bites of the carrots.

3b. Easter Saturday afternoon.

Place a board game (BIG W has selected board games for $24) in the hutch as a reward from Bunny for how tidy the rooms are, and for some entertainment for the little ones that afternoon.

4a. Easter Sunday morning.

Complete a trail of little Easter eggs starting from the hutch, building to bunny-sized chocolates (BIG W has 30% off these from Cadbury and Red Tulip), finishing off with their favourite chocolate in an Easter egg version. Get creative and fun – little eggs in their cereal box, in the pockets of their shirts, in their toothbrush holder – surprise and delight! Just remember where you placed all of them! Include a note in the hutch from Bunny, asking them to unwrap each egg carefully and slowly, saving the colourful foil…

4b. Easter Sunday afternoon.

Once everyone has come down from their sugar high and all eggs have been found and inevitably consumed, use this quiet time to have a “crafternoon”. Head back to the hutch where – surprise surprise! – the Bunny has left some craft supplies (BIG W has plenty!) to occupy the little ones. The colourful Easter egg foil they’ve collected can be used to create fun collages about the Easter egg hunt and some lovely memories.

5. Easter Monday.

Outsource entertainment by having extended family and friends over for the day. Give Easter gift baskets to families (saving the need for individual gifts – these are 25% off at BIG W from March 17). Put your feet up and wine it spend quality time with your guests. Well done Mumma – you just nailed Easter!

If you need some more Easter bunny inspiration…

How do you and your family celebrate Easter?