How to organise a successful Easter egg hunt at home

A quick-footed rabbit who leaves a scrumptious trail of eggs in his wake? Now where on earth did that spring up from? Well, the Easter Bunny can be traced back to 17th-century German folklore, when the Easter Hare left brightly painted eggs in nests carefully laid out by children. These days, you don't need to leave a nest out in the garden (although that sounds fun!) but there are many fun and simple ways or organising a delightful egg hunt...

Here's our guide to organising an Easter egg hunt at home or in the garden

• For younger children, it’s probably best to keep it simple, with eggs scattered about your home or garden in fairly obvious places.
• With more than one child, use different coloured eggs for each child to help prevent one eagle-eyed hunter from rooting out all the eggs.
• Having an Easter egg checklist can help keep things fair with children given a quota of, say, four blue eggs, three green eggs, two red eggs.
• Or, if you want to ensure no one eats their eggs before they’ve all been gathered, use mini foil-wrapped eggs, dyed, painted or plastic eggs that can then be exchanged for a chocolate prize at the end.
• A treasure hunt-style trail is great for garden egg hunts – with written clues and mini eggs leading to a grand chocolate egg prize – and, works well for older children. Rhyming the clues is fun. You could start with something like: “To solve this clue you’ll need sharp eyes, Seek out blue eggs near Daddy’s ties.” Then offer ideas with more than one possibility to send children hunting in different directions. For example, a reference to a basket could be the laundry basket, a shopping basket or even a basketball hoop.
• Look for ready made egg hunt kits (see our edit below) to really make it simple - many include arrows, signs and decorations that can be used as clues. Great for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

9 Gorgeous Easter Egg Hunt Essentials

No Easter celebrations are complete without a hunt for Easter Bunny loot. Arm your egg detectives with baskets, bags and treasure maps for a fingertip search of the house and garden. Edited by Bonita Turner

1. The most perfect Easter basket, or accessory for any special Easter occasion. Made from woven straw it will last for years to come. >> Easter Bunny Basket £38 Meri Meri

2. These pretty pastel wooden refillable eggs are ideal for dotting around the house or garden for the annual egg hunt - as well as making a very stylish table decoration. >> Pastel Wooden Fillable eggs, £7 for 4, Hobbycraft

3. This has to be the most adorable bunny costume we have ever seen! It includes three separate pieces - a headband with 3D ears, a romantic layered tulle cape and a velvet waistband with a soft pompom tail. - perfect for egg hunts, Easter events or any springtime party. >> Peach Tulle Bunny Costume £50, 3-6yrs Meri Meri

* This year they've added in this cute Gingham Bunny Costume... £45, Meri Meri

4. These handmade embroidered pouches can be used year after year - either filled with treats as a gift, as table settings, or for the egg hunt. >> By Alex Easter Bunny Treat Bag £13, Not On the High Street

5. A fab egg hunt kit with a difference - balloons! Kit includes 5 headbands, 5 treat bags, 10 Balloons that come with directions printed on them and wooden sticks to place them around your garden. >> Easter egg hunting Kit, £9.99, Party Delights

6. Who doesn't love Tony's Chocolonely? We may not be willing to share our favourite Caramel Sea Salt big bar - but these foiled wrapped eggs we will allow. >> The egg hunt supply easter bundle, £13.49, Tony's Chocolonely

7. A modern classic. Perfect for picnics, to store your little one's favourite crayons and wooden toys, or a keeper of shells collected on the beach. But we think these Piki Baskets are ideal for an Easter egg Hunt. Don't you?>> Mini Piki Ratten Basket Bag invidious colours, £39.90 Olli Ella

8. Make it easier for little kids with these beautiful eco-friendly wooden sign posts and gingham paper bunnies to point towards the chocolate treasures. >> Gingham Bunnies Egg Hunt Kit £29, Meri Meri

9. This trad gingham print baskets can be used in the garden, kitchen or to collect eggs from the Easter Bunny... great for storing mini toys too! (see the new spring green one - we love!) >> Gingham Frilled Easter Basket, from £36, Mrs. Alice