An egg hunt lives or dies on planning that happens before anyone arrives — how many to hide, where, and in what mix. Get it right and it runs itself; get it wrong and you're refereeing a scramble or, worse, still finding eggs in June.
How many to hide, and how to count them back in
For a garden-sized hunt, 10 to 15 small items per child is a reliable target — enough for a hunt that takes a genuine few minutes without turning into a treasure map. Write down the total number you hide, ideally per zone if you're splitting the garden by age group, so you can check everything's been found rather than discovering a stray egg behind a plant pot in midsummer.
Mixing chocolate with non-chocolate finds
An all-chocolate hunt is the obvious choice and the more expensive, more melt-prone one. Mixing in mini chocolate eggs with non-chocolate sweets — jelly beans, mini tubs, small novelty items — cuts the cost per item, means nothing's ruined if the hunt runs long in the sun, and stops the day from being an immediate sugar crash of pure chocolate. A rough mix of half chocolate, half non-chocolate works well for most ages.
Hiding spot strategy by age group
Under-5s need hiding spots that are low, visible, and don't require climbing or reaching — think behind a plant pot or half-tucked under a hedge, not up on a windowsill. Older children can handle a genuine search: behind, under, or inside something, rather than just in the open. If you've got a wide age range hunting together, consider zoning the space so younger children aren't out-competed by older, faster siblings, or stagger the start so the youngest get a head start.
Safety notes for young children
A few points worth checking before anyone starts hunting:
- Small novelty items and hard sweets are a choking risk for toddlers — stick to soft or larger items for the youngest hunters, or hide those separately for older children only.
- If pets or very young siblings not taking part are around, count eggs in as well as out, so nothing gets left somewhere it shouldn't be.
- For a mixed group with allergies or dietary needs, our gluten-free and vegan collections make it easier to hide a few items everyone can actually eat, rather than sorting it out after the hunt.
Stock up on chocolate mini eggs and pick and mix or pocket money sweets for the non-chocolate half of the mix.
Frequently asked questions
How many eggs do I need per child?
10 to 15 small items for a garden-sized hunt is a reliable starting point.
Should I mix chocolate and non-chocolate treats?
Yes — it controls cost, avoids an all-chocolate sugar overload, and nothing's ruined if the hunt runs long in warm weather.
How do I keep it safe for young children?
Low, visible hiding spots for under-5s, avoid choking-hazard items for toddlers, and count everything out and back in.