How to: The Ultimate Easter Egg Hunt
Easter egg hunts, according to my son, are ‘more funner than even birthday tea’. But what does he know? He’s only just turned four and can’t possibly remember last year’s lacklustre affair when we dotted a few eggs around our sitting room (note to organisers: hidden chocolate and soft furnishings aren’t necessarily a good mix). This year, I decided to consult the world’s most accomplished Easter bunny. My sister in law has organised hunts large and small (though with four children, ‘small’ is a relative term). Her biggest was for 35, with an age range from babes in arms to sprightly 70-somethings. Here are her failsafe ways of organising the most funner Easter egg hunt in Britain.
- The simplest Easter egg hunt, and ideal when time is tight, is simply to scatter eggs around your garden or house and let everyone race off. But it’s not the most fair system, especially with a mix of different ages. Even if you’re dealing with a group of children of roughly the same age, stipulate the maximum number of eggs any individual is allowed. It’s also a good idea to have one large egg each, so that if Can’t-See-For-Looking’s haul isn’t something to cock-a-doodle-do about, he or she will still feel spoilt.
- Buying differently coloured eggs and giving each hunter their own colour to look for is another way of making it fair. You could always add in a few ‘bonus eggs’ to make it more competitive.
- When you’ve a range of ages, pair everyone up. Grandad can help the two-year-old reach high branches, while the toddler is probably going to be better at crawling under tables.
- Forget the whole trail thing and organise egg and spoon races instead. Every racer can eat the chocolate egg they’re racing with, and the winner of each heat gets another. This also helps wear out sugar-crazed children.
- Prizes don’t all need to be chocolate, especially for grown-ups whose love of Crème Eggs isn’t quite what it used to be. Something like our double egg cup won’t add an inch to the hips…
- To make proceedings last longer, give every hunter the wherewithal to make an Easter basket. Small wicker baskets if you’ve got them are great; empty ice-cream containers will do just as well, or make them out of folded paper and Sellotape. Decorate with spring flowers and greenery, felt-tip pictures of bunnies and eggs, and fill with your haul of chocolate. The best basket maker can also win another prize.
- Turn the hunt into a treasure trail. Write up clues (or draw pictures for the teenies), and make each one lead to the next, with the ultimate prize saved till last. This method has the merit of making sure everyone finds the same number of eggs.
- If all else fails, go to Waitrose’s Easter Egg Hunt (www.waitrose.com/easter/egghunt.aspx). Either use their rhyming clues (Good for you, clever clogs/You are in the know/To find the next egg/Look where the seeds grow) or pen your own, print out, and get cracking!
Amanda Fox is creative director of The Handpicked Collection www.handpickedcollection.com a specialist website for inspired present ideas.
About the Author
Amanda Fox is creative director of The Handpicked Collection and lifestyle journalist and consultant.
A specialist travel writer, she gets to shop all over the world, and always packs a second suitcase.
Where can I find Easter Egg Hunt around the Overland Park-Olathe area?
Last year didn't get to take my kids to an easter egg hunt because I didn't know where to find one and would love to take the kids this year. I've been keeping an eye out for any flyers, advertisements on the community channel and and looking online but no success so far. So if anyone can point me in the right directions that will be great. Free is also great. Thanks.
Downtown Overland Park has one every year, information about this years can be found on the website for their historical downtown district at: http://www.downtownop.org/
Hope this helps!
 |
 Floral Mini Paper Baking Cup Muffin Liners 100 pack $7.88 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $7.88 |
 Wilton 1992 Big Bird Sesame Street Cake Pan w Insert 2105 9476 $9.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 |
 Martha Stewart Collection Sandwich Cookie Cake Pan New in Box Mold Oreo Bakeware $18.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $18.99 |
 Brand New Jc Pennys Cooks Brand 11 x 17 Baking Pan Non Stick $15.00 Time Remaining: 32m |
 Teddy Bear 1986 Wilton Cake pan 2105 9402 birthday EUC $14.80 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $14.80 |
 Bake King 4 Pc Checkered Marble Cake Pan Set Chicago Metallic Mfg Co No 400 $7.99 Time Remaining: 33m |
 1996 Pampered Chef GARDENS OF THE Heart Cookie MOLD $3.00 Time Remaining: 33m |
 Fox Run Large Muffin Pan 6 4634 $10.85 Time Remaining: 33m Buy It Now for only: $10.85 |
 Wilton Guitar Cake Pan 2000 2105 570 $16.00 Time Remaining: 33m Buy It Now for only: $16.00 |
 2008 Marvel Wilton Amazing Spiderman Cake Pan With Instructions $9.99 Time Remaining: 35m Buy It Now for only: $11.99 |
 Pampered Chef Valtrompia Bread Tube Heart 1560 $4.99 Time Remaining: 36m |
 Nonstick 8 Bread Pan $4.29 Time Remaining: 36m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 1991 PAMPERED CHEF TEDDY BEAR Cookie Mold $3.00 Time Remaining: 36m |
 1999 PAMPERED CHEF HEART COOKIE MOLD $3.00 Time Remaining: 36m |
 Wilton Disney Pixar WALL E Cake Pan NEW $17.99 Time Remaining: 36m |
 Pampered Chef Cookie Mold 1991 Teddy Bear Never Used no box $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 37m |
 Red Le Creuset 12 x 9 rectangular stone ware baking dish $59.99 Time Remaining: 38m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 |
 |
Wilton 570-1121 Easy Flex 3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set, Blue List Price: Sale Price: $5.91 You save: $4.08 (41%)  |
 |
Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat, 11 5/8 x 16 1/2-inches, Half Sheet Size List Price: Sale Price: $15.95 You save: $11.04 (41%) |
 |
Progressive GT-3520 International 19-Piece Measuring Cup and Spoon Set List Price: Sale Price: $6.99 You save: $2.96 (30%) |
 |
Totally Bamboo 20-7930 3-Piece Cutting Board Set Sale Price: $14.95 |
 |
Pyrex 6022369 Storage 14-Piece Round Set, Clear with Blue Lids List Price: Sale Price: $19.99 You save: $5.00 (20%) |
 |
Wilton Disposable 12 Inch Decorating Bags, Pack Of 24 List Price: Sale Price: $3.58 You save: $3.21 (47%) |
 |
Nordic Ware Bakers Half Sheet, 13 by 18 by 1 Inch List Price: Sale Price: $12.99 You save: $1.51 (10%) |
 |
Babycakes CP-12 Cake Pop Maker, Purple, 12 Cake Pops List Price: Sale Price: $20.30 You save: $29.69 (59%) |
 |
Wilton 2104-6667 12 Piece Cupcake Decorating Set List Price: Sale Price: $4.57 You save: $4.42 (49%) |
 |
Simply Calphalon Nonstick 6-Piece Bakeware Set List Price: Sale Price: $24.99 You save: $5.00 (17%) |
Easter Egg
Thank You. We hope you found the
Easter Egg
you were looking for.