Adults of all ages remember fondly the Easter egg hunts of their youth. The excitement of the search and the thrill of finding exactly the right egg. Kids of today can be given the same thrill with some inventive ways to spice up this old tradition.
The Easter Eggs
The most important element in an egg hunt is the eggs themselves. Twelve to fifteen eggs per child is the recommended amount of eggs to hide. The eggs have traditionally included small trinkets and change.
Special fancy eggs, for example golden eggs, could be traded for bigger prizes, like stuffed toys. Another idea is to put instructions in the eggs leading to another clue. The instructions could be to walk a certain distance or complete a task for another person.
The eggs could be divided any number of ways. Each child could be assigned a color to search for. Each child could also be given a list to find a certain number of each egg (ie 4 blue, 3 green, 2 pink). Children could also be turned loose and told to just find eggs.
Hiding the Eggs
If the kids in the hunt are all about the same age, the eggs can be hidden in one large area for everyone. Eggs can be hidden in trees, under brush, and just laying out in the open. A mixture of all three hiding types should be used to make the hunt more thrilling.
If the kids in the hunt vary greatly by age, the area for the hunt should be divided into two areas, one for the smaller kids and one for the older. The smaller kids' eggs should be hidden in lower spots with more just laying out in the open. The older kids' eggs should be hidden in high areas with more hidden under things and fewer out in the open.
The hider should be very creative when hiding the eggs. Eggs can be stuck in drain pipes, on tires of cars (provided they are not moving before the hunt), in trees, or in flower pots. Strings could be added to the eggs and the eggs could even be hung from things.
Bunny Bags
The eggs are hidden and the kids are ready to hunt. Everyone needs something to gather the eggs in. Each person can use a basket or a plain bag to gather their eggs.
A more fun idea is to create bunny bags to collect the eggs. Bunny bags are made using a paper lunch bag. The top of the bag is held shut and a U shape is cut about 4 inches down the middle of the top. The bag is opened and the sides of the bag are cut down even with the top. The paper from the sides is glued or stapled to the resulting flaps creating handles. Eyes, ears and whiskers can be made from construction paper and glued to the front of the bag. The face of the bunny can also be colored on with crayons or markers. A cotton ball can be glued to the back for a tail.
The Easter Egg Hunt
Once the eggs are created and hidden and the bunny bags made all that's left is the hunt. A signal such as a whistle blowing or horn sounding should be used to start the hunt so everyone starts at the same time. Prizes can be given for the fastest finder and the slowest finder.
Easter Egg hunts are a fun tradition that will continue to be enjoyed by generations of children.
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