This story was originally printed in the Newcastle Herald.
Some may have hot cross buns on their mind, others are keen for a nice break, but Hunter preschoolers were most excited to play with a real-life Easter bunny.
St Nicholas Early Education, Chisholm, is home to a cute, fluffy friend called Thumper. He has been on holiday at a teacher’s house for the last couple months but with Easter coming up, he paid a visit to the centre.
Preschooler Remi Toohey said he was always very soft to pat.
“I like that he runs all the time,” she said.
She thought Thumper was so friendly that he would probably be best friends with her dog Teddy, if the two ever got the chance to meet. She could not wait for Easter and was excited to get lots of chocolate.
Her classmate, Remi Dobija, liked that she got to run around outside with Thumper, while Archie Beahan was lucky enough to get to take the friendly rabbit home one weekend.
“Thumper smiles,” Archie said. “I wanted to see if he could eat a carrot and he did, he ate the whole thing.”
He was very excited for Easter and he couldn’t wait to wear his pyjamas.
Early childhood educator Shelly Locock bought Thumper four years ago with the intention of bringing him often to the centre, which caters to children from as young as eight weeks old to five years old.
“I bought Thumper to teach the children how to be kind and gentle, and how to look after a living thing,” Ms Locock said. “They feed him, they give him gentle pats, and learn what to do with him, what not to do with him.”
She said this week children had been talking a lot more about Easter as the centre got ready for their Easter hat parade, and did Easter arts and crafts activities.
“I did have one child ask yesterday if Thumper was the Easter bunny,” she said.
