No tradition compares to that of an egg hunt on Easter Sunday. From the excitement of finding a well-hidden egg to enjoying the sweet treats inside, there’s plenty for kids (and kids at heart) to enjoy. If you’re hosting the neighborhood egg hunt this year in your freshly landscaped yard, balancing practicality with fun is simple if you utilize out of the box actionable ideas.
Bunny Boundaries
When planning your backyard egg hunt, it’s critical to utilize your space properly. Outlining the boundaries of your egg hunt allows you to optimize the full extent of your backyard without compromising the integrity of fun.
Start by marking off the area of your lawnscape that will best lend itself to hiding eggs. You should try to find an area with plenty of grass, brush, and trees, making it a cinch to hide eggs on the morning of. These types of greenery are perfect for nesting away eggs without overthinking the task at hand.
If your backyard allows it, you’d might be wise to consider tiering your egg hunt by dividing the space into sections – giving hunters an ample opportunity to secure their bounty. In doing this, you can even the playing field by grouping older kids away from those younger in age.
Safety First
As the Easter egg hunt host with the most, it’s your responsibility to ensure that safety is a top priority. This entails taking precautions ahead of time to ensure that your neighborhood egg hunt is as safe as it will be exciting and entertaining.
While brainstorming the best hiding spots for your eggs, take the time to assess any potential hazards found in your yard. Collect fallen tree branches, stones, and other debris with the help of large tarps to be quickly gathered and disposed of. Then fill any holes in the ground that need to be filled and unroot any potentially irritating plants.
Even after your yard has been cleared of any dangers, keeping a basic first aid kit on hand is essential if you have kids running around. Minor scrapes and bruises are to be expected in a high energy environment like an egg hunt, so having Band-aids and antibiotic ointments at the ready will save you a lot of stress come the big day.
Treasured Treats
Everyone can agree that the best part of an Easter egg hunt is getting to enjoy the sweet treats or fun prizes hidden inside the brightly colored eggs. The possibilities are endless when it comes to adding treasures to each egg – all it takes is a little bit of creativity on your part.
Store bought candies are a staple of egg hunt rewards, but why not switch things up with some homemade treats? Gumdrop fudge is an easy-to-make, festive option that every egg hunter will enjoy. You will need:
- 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ½ lbs white candy coating, crushed
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups crushed gumdrops
Use foil to line a 9 inch pan. In a pot, combine candy coating, milk, and salt. Stir over low heat. Once coating has melted, remove from heat and stir in vanilla and gumdrops.
Spread mixture evenly throughout the pan and refrigerate until mixture is firm. Remove and cut into small squares that can fit in the plastic eggs. Be sure to wrap each square in festive colored plastic wrap before placing them in their egg.
Hidden in Not-So Plain Sight
As an egg hunt host, you want your treasure hunt to stand out from the crowd. The easiest way to achieve this? Utilizing unconventional and imaginative hiding spots for your prized eggs. Some of the more unique ideas for hiding places include:
- Gutter downspouts
- Under your sectional covers
- Inside a tire swing
- Window boxes
- Behind your outdoor vinyl curtains
- Planters
Your hunters will have far more fun if you offer them a bit of a challenge. Just be sure to only use safe hiding spots: anywhere near cars, electrical equipment, or under grills and their custom covers should be avoided.
Fun For All Ages
Of course, there’s a fine line between giving kids an engaging challenge and making them face a frustrating experience. The age of your egg hunters should be the most important factor when it comes to setting out the eggs.
Consider holding two separate hunts: one for younger children such as toddlers, where eggs are hidden in more obvious places and are filled with age appropriate surprises like stickers, puffed cereal, or mini crayons.
Older kids can participate in the second hunt, where eggs are more difficult to find but contain exciting treasures like small glow sticks, temporary tattoos, or even a 5 dollar bill nestled within the hardest egg to find.
Dye Station
The big hunt may be the centerpiece of your backyard Easter celebration, but it’s always a good idea to have other activities on hand for the afternoon. One of the easiest and most creative activities to offer is an Easter egg dying station.
Start by placing tarps on picnic or card tables and backyard sectional covers on furniture in order to protect dye shrapnel from any staining accidents. Set out small bowls filled with pre-mixed food coloring and properly labeled with the correct color, and make sure there are enough wire egg dippers available for each child.
Add cartons of hard-boiled eggs to the spread, making sure you have enough eggs for everyone and a few extras in case of a cracking accident. It’s a good idea to have other decorating tools on hand like fun Easter stickers, pipe cleaners, and clear wax crayons for kids to draw their own designs.
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