Hudson, I totally get it! Blended family here in Omaha, so we've got Owen (4), Emma (6), Willow (9), Luna (11), and Kai (13). The age gap struggle is REAL. I start planning our Easter egg hunt in February, no joke. My biggest secret weapon for Easter Egg Hunt Tips and Tricks is definitely color-coding. It's a bit more work up front, but it pays off in spades.

Here’s my step-by-step approach:

• Assign Colors: Each kid gets a specific egg color to collect. So, Ezra could get all the blue eggs, Maya the pink, Diego the green, and so on. Kai, my 13-year-old, usually gets a trickier color like purple or black, and his eggs have harder clues inside.
• Fill Appropriately: This is key! The younger kids' eggs get simple candies (like M&Ms or Smarties) or little stickers. For the older ones, I put in a mix of dollar store items – maybe a cool pen, a tiny packet of slime, or even a couple of quarters. For Luna and Kai, sometimes I'll slip in a "ticket" that they can redeem for a bigger prize later, like a gift card to their favorite coffee shop or an extra hour of screen time. Last year, I got a big pack of GINYOU Kids Party Hats and put one in each of the older kids' eggs – they thought it was hilarious, and they're super cute, non-toxic, and really great quality for the price.
• Vary Hiding Spots: The younger kids' colors go in super obvious spots: on the patio, under a bush right next to the fence, on the first step. The older kids' eggs (especially Kai's) go in sneaky spots that require real searching – tucked high in the tree branches, inside an old watering can, hidden in a hanging basket. I've even made a little "map" for Willow, Luna, and Kai with clues for their harder eggs.

One year, I got a little too ambitious with a DIY craft project for all the egg fillers, and I ended up staying up until 2 AM the night before Easter trying to finish tiny felt bunnies. Never again! Now I stick to pre-made fillers or simple craft supplies. It saves my sanity. And honestly, I found some amazing ideas on this GINYOU blog post about Easter Egg Hunt Shenanigans – it's got some great twists on the traditional hunt!

Good luck, Hudson! You've got this.

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Oh man, Hudson, I feel you. Five kids here too, in Milwaukee – Piper (1), Willow (3), Aurora (4), Finn (7), Nora (9). Plus Luna, our lab who thinks all eggs are tasty treats. We just had our hunt last weekend, and it was a *moment*, let me tell you.

My biggest piece of advice, especially with the wide age range, is to separate the kids into groups or stagger their starts. We do a two-wave approach. The little ones (Piper, Willow, Aurora) go first. I hide about 50 eggs total for them in really easy spots in just one section of the yard, like right next to the house or under the porch swing. Mason (my husband) and I walk around with them, helping them "discover" eggs. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes, and it ensures they get a good haul without the bigger kids swooping in.

After the little ones are done and their baskets are full, Finn and Nora get their turn. I hide another 50-70 eggs for them in slightly harder spots – behind the rose bush, under the bench, etc. They still get plenty of eggs, but it's a bit more of a challenge. The key for me is making sure the eggs for the older kids have a bit more "value" in them. Not like expensive stuff, but maybe a bouncy ball from Target Dollar Spot or a fancy chocolate coin, instead of just a single piece of candy. It keeps them motivated.

My big "oops" moment this year? I forgot to keep Luna inside when the little ones were hunting! She sniffed out a few plastic eggs that had a stray piece of chocolate peeking out, and we had to wrestle them from her. Luckily, they were just plastic and no chocolate was consumed, but it was a close call. Definitely check out GINYOU's tips on toddler Easter egg hunt safety – it helped me remember to keep an eye on everything, especially with pets around!

Also, don't be afraid to reuse eggs year after year! I've got a giant tub of plastic eggs I've collected over the past few years – some from garage sales, some from post-Easter sales at Walgreens. I think I paid like $2 for a bag of 30 last year. Saves so much money, and honestly, the kids don't care if the eggs are brand new. It's all about the hunt and what's inside. And always double check the packaging for anything going into the eggs to make sure it's non-toxic and good quality, especially with the little ones who might put things in their mouths.

Hope these Easter Egg Hunt Tips and Tricks help you out! Good luck, Hudson!