13 creative ideas for an inclusive Easter egg hunt.

Who else is egg-cited for Easter? We are! With school holidays and long weekends, Easter is a great time to connect and spend time with family and friends.

Here at Leap in! we reckon you’re never too old for an Easter egg hunt. Traditional hunts can be challenging for some, which is why we’ve put on our Easter bonnets and come up with some creative ideas for inclusive Easter egg hunts so every bunny can be involved.

1. Sensory search.

Hide eggs in a tub of coloured rice or a sensory ball pit to create an enticing, multi-sensory environment.

2. Follow the trail.

There are loads of options for Easter egg trails. Use way-finding signs with arrows or instructions for everyone to find their treasure. Alternatively, create a trail using string to connect the egg locations. This is a great option for people who are blind or vision impaired.

3. X marks the spot.

Make the eggs easy to find by scattering them on the grass or marking each location clearly with paddle pop sticks, flags or balloons.

4. Switcheroo.

Instead of you hiding the eggs for others to find, switch roles. Hand eggs to the kids to hide for you! They’ll have a great time watching you search.

5. Colour code.

Colour code your Easter egg hunt for minimum competition and maximum fun. Each person is allocated a colour and only collects those eggs. That way everyone can work to their own ability and still collect the same number of eggs. We love this idea from Sew Many Ways.

6. Eye-level searches.

Placing eggs at eye level is helpful for wheelchair users, anyone who has trouble bending down and people with vision impairment. Use fences, benches, shelves and furniture instead of placing eggs on the ground or floor. Or blue tack bunny prints and eggs to a wall for maximum accessibility.

7. Define the search area.

Use bunting or ribbon to define the search area for your hunt, or for each participant. For indoor egg hunts, use one room per child.

8. Hop into chocolate alternatives.

Be sure not to leave out anyone who can’t eat chocolate or who has special dietary needs. There are loads of allergy-friendly Easter treats available. Even Aldi usually stocks dairy free options. Alternatively use bright, fillable plastic eggs (available at Spotlight and Big W) and fill with jewellery, small gifts, coins or tokens that can be exchanged for prizes. These can also be used year after year.

9. Use the power of sound.

Eggs that beep or chirp are available online, making them much easier for children who are blind or have low vision to locate. While these may be great for some children, test the sound first as it may be quite loud and unsuitable for children with sensory sensitivity.

10. Attach baskets to wheelchairs or walkers.

Make it easy for wheelchair or walker users to collect eggs by attaching coloured baskets or buckets to their mobility devices. Decorate them first for a fun play activity.

11. Easy reach options.

Easy reach tools such as extendable grabbers or “picker-uppers” are must-haves for inclusive Easter egg hunts, available from assistive tech stores, online and even K-Mart.

12. Use “hot” and “cold” hints.

Use the old hot and cold game to help direct your players to their treasure. As they are getting closer, use “getting warmer” and when very close, “you’re hot!” This is especially helpful for young children.

13. Go for glow.

For a different take on the traditional Easter egg hunt, use glow in the dark eggs at dusk for a magical experience that also makes the eggs easier to find. Glowing eggs can be found online, or convert the fillable plastic eggs into glow in the dark eggs with a small glowstick or LED t-light.

For more great ideas, check out How these parents adapt Easter egg-hunts for their kids with disabilities.