Easter Egg Hunt

The children are all lined up clutching their baskets, some are made of wicker and some are plastic bags. But the faces are all anxious – a few 3-year olds are jumping up and down because they can’t contain themselves. The older children are scouting to see if any eggs are visible from their vantage point. One smaller boy is hiding behind his mom’s legs – don’t know if he’ll be ready for the big start. But any second now its coming – the long awaited annual Easter Egg Hunt. And they’re off…....

That is one scenario for an Easter Egg Hunt. Is it similar to the spring event that you remember from your childhood? There is yelling and shouting. There is some bumping into each other, some eggs are snatched and it all ends up in tumult. Yes, it is fun for most of the participants. The excitement is in the air. But, for those who did not find any eggs, or those who are less timid, there may be an alternative hunt.

For a more manageable Easter hunt – why not host one at home? And instead of hiding eggs and candy all over the place, let’s hide the Easter basket and turn the event into a hunt with clues. The scenario goes something like this…Each child is given a slip of paper with their first clue. It will give him information to help him find the second clue, which leads to the third, etc. until he finally finds the basket at the end. You will have to predetermine the age of the children and how many clues you want to use.

Here is an example for older children…

Clue 1: Your journey has begun. Your quest is to find a wonderful basket of goodies prepared especially for you. This will require clear thinking, keen vision and determination. Your next clue can be found where ringing sounds demand an answer. (The next clue could be taped onto the phone or perhaps under the doormat).
Clue 2: You are very wise, you may succeed… to the car’s house you must proceed. Look high and low, around and round and with a bounce it will be found. (The clue can be attached to a basketball or volleyball).
Clue 3: So far you are doing great, but be careful, make no mistake, if you leave it running it forms a lake. (This could be any faucet – inside or out.)
Clue 4: This is it, the final step. Go up them quickly and make your bed. (Put the basket somewhere around the child’s bed - underneath, under the covers, in a pillowcase – become creative!)

This is only an example. You must construct clues and hiding places that fit your house, yard, children and size of group. If you have a large group you may want to have every child complete clue 1 before moving onto clue 2 and so forth.

For an added attraction, make the clues a treat. Mold hard candy sucker molds like hopping Easter bunnies or ducks, put them in a cellophane bag, and tie with a ribbon with the clues attached. Another treat would be a small bag of jelly beans tied with ribbon and clue. This way every child would get a prize for completing each clue, and encourage them to go on.

We have an Easter Egg Basket Hunt at our house every year. And even though my children are now in their twenties – they still enjoy the search. You have to get a little more inventive as they get older (our children have to drive to find their clues). But last Easter they even took the video camera to document their search.

This hunt is fun for everyone – the adults planning the search and the kids doing the seeking. Actually, the hunt is sometimes more satisfying then the Easter treats in the basket.