Make a paper-egg hunt everyone can join

Prepare the hunt

Allow about 20 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to play. You will need paper or card, pencils, scissors and a reusable envelope or basket. An adult can cut the shapes in advance for younger children.

Draw twelve large egg shapes and number their backs from 1 to 12. Decorate the fronts with dots, stripes, stars or your own patterns. This is a simple paper activity; it does not require food, small prizes or special craft equipment.

Choose hiding places everyone can reach

Pick a bounded area such as one room or a few connected spaces. Keep eggs visible enough to discover without opening cupboards, moving heavy objects or climbing. Place some on a table or at seated eye level, and ask participants whether the route works for them.

Write down all twelve hiding places as you place the eggs. Decide on a shared goal: find the full set together. The group can celebrate completing the hunt without comparing who collected the most.

Use clues to adjust the difficulty

• Picture clue: draw a chair, then place an egg where it can be seen beside that chair.
• Location clue: “Look near the place where we keep our shoes.” Use a spot that is familiar and within the agreed area.
• Pattern clue: “Find the egg with three stars.” This works when several eggs are in view.
• Team clue: give one person a picture and another the matching word so they can solve it together.

For a simpler game, leave the eggs in plain sight and search by pattern. For readers who want more challenge, hand out one written clue at a time. Let a participant point to an egg while a partner collects it if that is easier.

Finish with something made together

1. Bring the eggs back to the table and check the numbers against your list.
2. Invite each person to add a small drawing or a favorite moment from the day to one egg.
3. Arrange the eggs in a paper wreath or keep them in an envelope for another hunt.
4. Collect every hidden piece before tidying the play area.

If guests prefer to watch, invite them to read clues or keep track of the set. There is room for more than one way to take part.

For the broader story of decorated eggs and Easter customs, visit our Easter history guide. To fit the activity around a meal or visit, use the gathering plan.