Easter Egg Hunts are great fun for children, and something that I like to set up for my two every year. Over the years I like to think I’ve become a bit of a pro at organising “eggcellent” Easter Egg Hunts, and today I thought I’d share a few of my top tips for hosting a successful event with you all.
First things first, size up your space. Decide whether you’re going to hold your event indoors or out, and don’t forget that the weather in the UK can be super unpredictable so you should definitely have a backup plan in place just incase it rains.
Next, define your hunts boundaries, which you’ll need to explain to both the children and their parents before starting. I like to use some Easter themed bunting to mark the perimeter of our hunts, and hang signs to indicate no entry on the doors of any rooms inside that I don’t want any children entering. One year I forgot to do this and at the end of the day we found Stacey’s duvet covered in chocolatey hand prints … oops!!
Next, decide what kind of eggs you’re going to hide and how many there will be for each child. I usually spend the 3-4 weeks prior to an egg hunt stocking up on things such as Cadbury’s Creme Eggs, Kinder Surprise, Mini Eggs, sweets and small treats. And the week before the hunt I buy in enough baskets or buckets for the children to collect their eggs in. If you have a large number of children attending, you could also ask them to bring their own, but make sure you have a couple of spares to hand just incase someone forgets to bring theirs.
Last year I just hid wrapped eggs around our garden for Stacey and Oscar to find, but this year I’m planning on filling some two-part plastic eggs with treats for them to find instead. With Oscar old enough to toddle round on his own this year I think it will be a lot of fun, and the plastic eggs will prevent him from squeezing any chocolate eggs and them melting in his hand and causing a sticky mess!
I recommend hiding around 7-8 eggs per child per egg hunt. Stacey has always known that this means she can have one chocolate egg (or treat) per day for a week and she’s always been happy with this.
Always keep in mind the ages of the children attending your hunt, and make sure that the eggs are hidden in appropriate places for them to find. I always stick to the following guidelines:
Toddlers
Keep it simple for toddlers. Spread the eggs out on the lawn or living room floor where they’re clearly visible. Younger children often stop and play with one egg once it’s been found so don’t worry if they don’t seem to be joining in as much as you’d like. They’ll still be having lots of fun!
Age 3-6
Choose fairly obvious hiding places for slightly older children. Ideas here include behind rocks, in plant pots and on low tables. Don’t put things too high up for children in this age group or they’ll get frustrated if they can’t find any!
Age 6+
Children in this age group will definitely appreciate a challenge! Here you could hide eggs under bushes, on walls or on branches of trees (just don’t put them too high up as you don’t want them climbing and hurting themselves). You could also add some extra fun by seeing who can find their eggs the quickest, or have them hop around like bunnies as they search. The possibilities are endless!
If you’ve got a mixed-age crowd, you can combine any of the ideas above to keep everybody happy and busy. And if you have any teenagers lurking about make sure you ask them to help hide the eggs and keep the little ones in check. They secretly love to be asked as they get to join in the fun without it feeling ‘babyish’. To keep things calm and fair during the hunt, have children search in shifts: babies and toddlers can start while the older ones work on a craft project. Baker Ross have a wide range of “eggciting” Easter craft kits available on their website. Then let the older kids loose while an adult reads a story to the little ones.
And last but not least have fun. As long as you’ve prepared everything in advance your egg hunt should go off without a hitch. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that I always have a couple of sick buckets to hand when we have a large group of children attending. After all, you can tell them not to eat more than one egg and save the rest till later until your blue in the face, but kids will be kids and there’s almost always one who will ignore you! Sad but true.
Why not let me know in the comments below.
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Sounds like so much fun!! I’m home for easter from Uni, visiting my family so I’ll definitely be setting up an egg hunt for my younger brothers and sister! Thanks for sharing x
Aww that would be nice Amy 😀 X
Thanks for sharing your great tips, I used to love Easter egg hunts as a child x
I never went on one as a child! I think that’s why I love setting them up for my little ones and their friends X
Such a great post and nice tips. Those kids are looking adorable 🙂
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Aww, thank you Huda 😀 X
Ive never done an Easter Egg hunt, so the tips were useful! I love the bunny ears too :o)
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I think the bunny ears were from the Card Factory Steve. You should get some for you and Rach 😉
Awww Oscar and Stacey look so cute in those bunny ears!
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Steve is gonna buy some for you 😀 😀 😀 X
I didn’t realize how much planning Easter egg hunts required when I was a kiddo. This is super useful.
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I think it depends how many little ones you’re expecting to turn up. Last year I only had my two here so it only took about ten minutes to sort out, but in the past it’s took a lot more work X
Omg adorable pictures! may have to do the same with my little boy this year.
Sophie
xx
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Thank you Sophie 🙂 Egg hunts always go down well at ours. I think it’s one of Stacey’s favourite holidays!!X
Such a cute post, it sounds like Easter will be fun at your house.
x
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I’m hoping so 🙂 Thank you X
the kids are so adorable with the ears! i never did an easter egg hunt as a child 🙁
Aww no! I can’t ever remember going on an egg hunt either. I think that’s why I love setting them up for the little ones X
Can’t wait to be able to do this for my nephew xx
Aww, he will love it 😀 X
EE hunts are such fun! have a lovely easter xxx
They are! And thank you, I hope you have a great Easter too X
In my culture we do not do it, which is a shame. Seems like a lot of fun 🙂
Laura
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Aww, that’s a shame. We always have fun doing them X
Freddy’s grandma always does an easter egg hunt for him, it’s so much fun! xx
Aww bless! I love them X
The pics are adorable, I loved the bunny ears!
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Thank you Esha. I need to find them out ready for this years hunt!!X
Heavens you’re organised! Last year I left it to the last minute and when I arrived a Lidl (very budget conscious, me), I found there was not a single egg to be bought! You’ve reminded me to get myself in gear! Thank you.
I do try! Lol. I noticed that Aldi have some amazing cheap eggs in at the mo (and boxes of 5 Cadbury’s Creme Eggs are only £1.50 eek). I’d definitely get in quick this year before everywhere sells out 😉 X
Great tips! The Grandparents usually hold Easter Egg hunts for our kids. They love it (everyone involved), even though my kids are growing up fast (one’s a teen!). My daughter’s primary school also hold one every Easter. But now the teachers preload the eggs in the paper baskets before hiding them, as year after year the older kids were finding many more eggs than the little tots, who used to get a bit upset! Tx
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Aww bless them! I’m always super strict and if anyone picks up more eggs than they should they have to go and put them back! LOL X
these are great tips and I do a more mixed age range although I let the little ones go out before the older ones so they can all have a fair share.
Thanks Nikki 🙂 I think it’s better to let the little ones loose first too lol X
Oh I do miss being a child!Used to love easter egg hunts! x
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I never took part in one as a child! I think that’s why I love organising them for my own little ones X
Your children are so cute. I have a boy age of 4 and you just gave me some Easter inspiration.Thank you!x
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Aww, thank you sweetie 🙂 Hope you both have a lovely Easter X
Such great tips, I cannot believe I’ve never done an easter egg hunt before! xxx
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Aww Laura, you need to take part in an egg hunt soon! They’re amazing 😀 X
Lovely read! I still love a good egg hunt, seriously, it’s the best! 🙂