This year may be different than most, but kids and adults can still take part in this sweet tradition.
Apr 9, 2020 BY AMANDA GARRITY (Published by Good Housekeeping)
Holidays are a time for families, friends, and loved ones to come together. Easter, especially, typically calls for events, parades, and egg hunts hosted by schools, churches, and local communities. Due to this year's social distancing guidelines, most Easter events have been canceled to keep everyone safe amid the coronavirus outbreak. With some creativity (and videoconferencing skills), these restrictions won't damper your family's favorite festivities on Easter Sunday.
Get in on the holiday fun with loved ones near and far by hosting your very own virtual Easter egg hunt. Follow this simple step-by-step guide to throw together a fun, family-friendly egg hunt that lets everyone — kids and adults alike — search for treasures and treats without leaving the house.
Invite friends, family, and neighbors.
Send out a mass text or email to everyone on your list detailing the time, date, supplies needed, and hiding spots. Be sure to include the videoconferencing app of choice — FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype — along with set-up instructions in case they're new to the platform. If you want to take things up a notch, send an electronic invitation from Paperless Post or Evite for free or a small fee.
Test out FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype ahead of time.
Work out the kinks before you have any sugar-crazed kids at the party. A day or two before the virtual Easter egg hunt, run a test call with the other guests to walk through the game plan. That way, if someone doesn't know how to turn on their audio or video, they can handle it before the big day.
Not sure which videoconferencing app to choose? All of them have their strengths, but some are easier to use than others. For smaller gatherings with one or two guests, go for FaceTime. Zoom allows 100 guests with a free account subscription and Skype permits 50 guests, making them great options for larger (virtual) parties.
Coordinate with other parents and guests.
Here comes the tricky part: You want to make sure that all the kids and adults — whether they're with you or tuning in via Zoom — get the same level of attention and well, treats. Chat with the other guests ahead of time to discuss the egg hunt's theme — non-candy or candy-filled eggs, for example. Then each guest will make sure that they have the appropriate amount of filled eggs at their house, and distributes them in similar-size rooms.
To make it even more personal, ask each host to make a special egg for the people in their house. They can label an egg with someone's name and when a child finds it, they can show it off to the corresponding loved one. Go the extra mile by designating prizes that you know your guests will love like extra chocolate bunnies or small toys.
Create markers and clues.
First, all hosts must hide the filled eggs in the same places in each home: under the couch cushion, on the TV stand, behind the living room pillow, and so on. In the initial invite, include detailed descriptions of hiding spots, so other guests can give hints during the egg hunt (if the participants want to phone-a-friend, of course).
Once everyone is logged in, the scavenger hunt begins: Guests read the clues and participants work together to find the eggs in their respective hiding places. You can also mix in some cut-out markers to make the egg hunt more visually appealing — just make sure the other houses do the same.
Create small challenges along the way by requesting that each participant performs a "victory dance" when they track down an egg, give others pep talks throughout the egg hunt, show a close-up shot of each discover, or find different creative ways to keep spirits up.
Count up the eggs at the end.
The same rules apply: Once all the eggs are found, ask the participants to tally up their loot to reveal the winner. If your group has a competitive side, agree on a special prize — a mini trophy, chocolate bunny, or homemade treat — and have each household crown their respective winner.