“Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.” That’s how the beloved story of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter begins. I don’t think a spring will ever go by that I don’t think of that mischievous little bunny and his adventures in Mr. McGregor’s garden. It’s been so fun sharing the Peter Rabbit books with my children over the years and now our youngest is just getting into them. There are so many Peter Rabbit books to explore and also lots of snack and craft ideas for your little ones to enjoy throughout the spring season. Here are a few ideas to keep the bunny-fun going!
Sock-Bunny Craft
PC: Maria Magee
What you’ll need:
- Socks (any size but I used women’s and toddler’s – Any design works, too!)
- Rice (about 1 ½ cups per bunny)
- Ribbon
- Rubber bands or elastic hair ties
- Sharpie
- Scissors
- Essential oils (optional, I used 2-3 sprays of what I had on hand for a sweet lavender scent)
- Googly eyes, pom-pom tails (optional)
PC: Maria Magee
Directions:
Grab a large cup to hold up the sock while you pour the rice in. Stretch the sock around the lip of the cup.
PC: Maria Magee
Gently pour in the rice, adjusting as needed to fill up the sock. Spray or drop in the essential oils if using and shake it around.
PC: Maria Magee
Use a rubber band or hair tie to tighten the sock just above the rice.
PC: Maria Magee
About 1/3 of the way down, squeeze the sock to make the bunny head, and tighten with another rubber band or hair tie.
PC: Maria Magee
Depending on how long your socks are, you might need to trim the excess off with scissors. Ears can be long if you want them to be floppy like Peter’s cousin, Benjamin Bunny.
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Snip the ears right down the middle.
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Tie the ribbon around the bunny’s neck and use the sharpie to make the face. (or glue googly eyes and pom tail if you prefer)
PC: Maria Magee
*I chose a light brown sock with a blue ribbon to stay true to the colors of Peter, but any design works!
*For reference, my 7-year-old was able to do most of this by himself, I only needed to help with the rubber-bands. Our 3-year-old helped pour the rice and got to choose his sock and ribbon. Even our 11-year-old made one! They work best as cuddly decorations but can be lightly played with as well. Just be ready to adjust the rubber bands if the rice gets shifted around too much! Our little bunnies got lots of not-so-gentle play time and they still held up.
PC: Maria Magee
Gluten-Free M&M Bunny Cookies
PC: Maria Magee
Classic chocolate chip cookies with a springtime twist, perfect for a Peter Rabbit themed activity day or just to add a little whimsy to your day! Makes about 32 cookies.
Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ cup Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour (or equal parts regular flour if you prefer)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp nutmeg (optional)
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (you can use 2 cups regular chocolate chips in a pinch, but the M&M’s are easier to place with the mini’s)
- 1 bag Easter/Pastel colored M&M’s
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cover baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Combine flour, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt with a whisk in small bowl.
Beat softened butter, sugars, and vanilla extract in large bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded tablespoon onto baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches between the cookies.
PC: Maria Magee
Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
As soon as you remove them from the oven, gently press one M&M into the middle of the cookie. Place two more M&M’s of the same color sideways above the first M&M to create the bunny ears.
PC: Maria Magee
Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then move to a cooling rack.
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Store in air-tight container for up to 3 days.
Enjoy!
Storytime!
No Peter Rabbit Day is complete without a story. There are many versions of Peter Rabbit out there, but this Little Golden Book is perfect for 3-7 year old’s.
We’ve also enjoyed this First Reader called The Tale of Benjamin Bunny over the years. It tells what happened after Peter lost his famous blue jacket in Mr. McGregor’s garden. Good Night, Peter and A Spring Surprise are also sweet tales for little ones who enjoy all things Peter Rabbit. For an extra special way to end your bunny-filled day, check out the Peter Rabbit movie directed by Will Gluck. It’s so much fun for the whole family, even our older kids sit down to watch it!
Whether you do all of these activities in a day or spread it out over a week, they’re sure to add some whimsical enjoyment to your spring and create lasting memories!
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