When I was a child Easter was all about hunting around for chocolate eggs and finding one chocolate Easter bunny. The Easter Bunny didn't use clues or tricks...he simply hid the eggs and the treat. My husband on the other hand lived in a house where the Easter Bunny left an elaborate trail of clues...they had an early morning scavenger hunt to find their chocolate treats. Things changed when we moved away from our families and into our own home. Easter became less about chocolate eggs and more about our fantastic local Easter Parade...and Easter dinner. So, when we started our family we wondered, what would the Easter Bunny do for our children?
Thankfully, the Easter Bunny has opted to keep things simple around our house. Our Easter egg hunt is fun...but simple. So, how did the Easter Bunny accomplish this? Here are the tips I've picked up from the Easter Bunny.
There must be chocolate - Okay, there must be chocolate...eggs and bunnies. I love the Easter hunt kits that Kinder® has in stores right now. They have the perfect number of eggs and treats inside. It's time to get out and buy those Easter chocolates...leaving it to the last minute will only complicate things.
Store your Easter supplies together - Not sure where the Easter basket is? We store all of our spring and Easter decor together in a large, clear plastic bin. Keeping everything together means that I only have to pull out one bin in early spring to find everything I need to be ready for the holiday.
Agree on a starting point for the hunt - My daughters know that on Easter morning they must sit on the very top stair before they come downstairs to start the Easter egg hunt. It's the same spot they have to sit on Christmas morning. Creating this starting point means that my husband and I can run downstairs ahead of the girls and start the kettle...we need our tea and coffee for the hunt!
Hide the chocolate eggs everywhere...but not everywhere - Set limits to your hunt. We keep our eggs on the main floor of the house; kitchen, living room, front hall. There are plenty of fun hiding spots in this limited space. Outdoor Easter egg hunts are also a lot of fun. If you are taking things outside be sure to take into consideration the sun (melting eggs) and animals (eaten eggs). Over the years the Easter Bunny has made my kids laugh at some of his hiding places. I think their favourite is finding eggs in their shoes and boots...chocolate in shoes is hilarious!
1 clue for 1 big surprise - The Easter Bunny leaves one cryptic clue for each of my daughters. They have to figure out the answer in order to find their chocolate bunny. The clue is written on a piece of paper and placed front and centre in the living room. We decided that Easter isn't about receiving a whole bunch of expensive presents, we keep the focus on chocolate...that's it.
After the hunt...share the day with friends and family - We are so fortunate to live in a neighbourhood where we celebrate Easter with an Easter parade. My husband and I have been going to the parade for over 15 years. Gathering on the sidewalk with our friends and family is a tradition we hope will last a lifetime.
Creating a simple Easter for our family was never a conscious decision we made, it just happened naturally. There is something about the beauty and peace of spring that has turned Easter into a family focused holiday. There's no doubt about it, our kids get excited about the chocolate and hunting for their Easter treats. They also look forward to playing and spending time with their friends and family.
Easter and Giving Back - This Easter Kinder® has put together a fun collection of chocolate treats that make Easter shopping simple. In addition to helping keep Easter simple, once again Kinder® is sharing the joy this holiday. Kinder® has partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network and will be providing 12 baskets to Children's Miracle Network hospitals. As well, Kinder® will be donating $25,000 to help support this non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America this holiday season.
Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy) says
Sounds like you are all ready for your hunt. I can't wait for ours! #KINDERmom
Kierna says
Lovely ideas Jen, I agree keep it as simple as possible. We have 2 egg hunts for nursery, one outside with paper eggs & chocolate at the end & one inside with loads of chocolate eggs hidden round the classroom. The children love this time so much.