Party Whammy

Easter Party Games Beyond the Egg Hunt

The egg hunt may be over quickly, while guests are staying for the afternoon. You don’t need a game for every minute. A relay or tag game, a quieter table activity and a few ways to reuse the plastic eggs give you options as the gathering goes on. Choose what fits your space and the children who are there.

One thing to settle before the hunt is how children of different ages will take part. See our fair Easter egg hunt for different ages for a yard setup with zones and basket limits.

What are you looking for? Find games for after the hunt Adjust games for different ages See a sample afternoon

What can the children do after the egg hunt?

You might start with an outdoor game, move to something quieter if the group wants a break, and bring the eggs back out later. That’s one way to arrange the afternoon, not a schedule every group has to follow. Some children may want to keep running; others may be ready to sit down sooner.

Outdoor games for the first part of the party

For an egg-and-spoon relay, mark a start line and a turning point, and give each team a spoon and a plastic egg. Players line up behind the start. The first player carries the egg on the spoon to the marker and back, then hands the spoon and egg to the next player. If the egg falls, stop, pick it up and continue from that spot. The first team with every player back wins; teams can share a win if they finish together. Allow about 15 minutes for a few rounds, shortening that example to suit your group. Find more variations in our relay race games. If you have space outdoors, backyard party games such as bunny tag or follow-the-leader give children another way to move around.

Keep the rules short and offer an easier version, such as a shorter distance or walking instead of running. For bunny tag, mark the play area, choose one child as the tagger and have everyone hop. A gentle tag makes that child the new tagger; the previous tagger gets a moment to hop away before play resumes. Try a two-minute round, then pause and choose a new starting tagger. There is no score or elimination. For younger children, make the area smaller so the game is easier to follow. These are options to try, not guarantees that every age group will enjoy the same game.

Quieter games for a table

Have a seated activity available for anyone who wants a break from running. Coloring, dot-to-dot pages, memory games or a simple craft can work at a table. Quiet party games has more ideas if you want alternatives.

Put out crayons, paper and coloring or dot-to-dot pages before guests arrive. Children can choose a page, work at their own pace and take it home when they finish. You might allow 20 minutes at the table, with no requirement to stay for the whole time. For a memory game, lay matching picture cards face down. Players take turns turning over two cards: keep matching pairs and take another turn, or turn a nonmatching pair back over for the next player. Finish when all pairs are collected; the most pairs wins, with ties shared. If some children cannot read the instructions, explain the activity or show them what to do. A quiet game is simply another option; you do not need to wait for a particular mood or time to offer it.

Games to play with the eggs you found

Count, sort, trade

The eggs from the hunt can become game supplies. Allow about 15 minutes as a starting point: children count their eggs, sort them by color and record each color total on paper. Add the color totals to check the overall count: four yellow eggs plus three blue eggs makes seven. An adult or older child can help record numbers. Then invite one-for-one trades of duplicate colors, only when both children agree. End when everyone who wants to trade has had a turn, or when your timer rings. There is no winner; children keep their eggs, and the totals should stay the same after equal trades.

Egg toss and egg rolling

Set baskets at three distances from a throwing line: the nearest scores one point, the middle two and the farthest three. Have children toss plastic eggs into the baskets. For one simple round, give each player three throws and let them choose a basket for each throw. A helper records points for eggs that land and stay inside; misses score zero. Add all three throws: one hit in each basket totals six points. When everyone has taken a turn, the highest total wins; tied players share the win. Move baskets closer for younger players.

For egg rolling, mark a start and finish across the lawn and give each child a plastic egg and spoon. Players push their eggs with the spoons on the starting signal; the first egg across the finish wins, with ties shared. Alternatively, take turns releasing eggs from the same spot on a gentle slope. A helper marks where each stops, and the egg that travels farthest wins after everyone has had a turn. Retrieve the eggs after each round and finish after an agreed number of rounds.

For another search, use our scavenger hunt ideas and hide the eggs again within a marked area while children wait elsewhere. Set a time limit and basket cap before starting; gather everyone when time is up or all eggs are found. Our Easter egg hunt clues to print has riddles to copy, print and cut, plus picture prompts to draw for non-readers.

Adjust the games for different ages

For mixed ages, change the distance, pace or instructions rather than expecting every child to play in exactly the same way. Younger children can use a closer marker in the relay or larger picture clues for a hunt. Older children can help explain rules, keep score or think up another round.

For preschoolers who want a simpler activity, try a game from easy party games. For more options across age groups, see Easter party games for kids. Ask children whether they want to join, watch or try an easier version.

An example three-hour Easter afternoon

Here is one illustrative plan for a three-hour gathering, including a ten-minute egg hunt. The times are flexible; shorten or skip any activity that does not fit your party. The listed intervals total 180 minutes.

  1. 0:00–0:10 · Egg hunt. Hide the eggs before guests arrive, then bring everyone together when the hunt ends.
  2. 0:10–1:00 · Outdoor games. Try an egg-and-spoon relay and bunny tag, with time for children to join at their own pace.
  3. 1:00–1:30 · Snack and table activity. Set out food and offer coloring or another seated game.
  4. 1:30–2:30 · Egg games. Count, sort or trade the eggs, try an egg toss, or hide them for another round.
  5. 2:30–3:00 · Wind-down and pickup. Offer a slower egg-rolling game, gather belongings and get ready for pickup.

If your gathering is shorter, choose one or two activities and leave time for food and getting coats or bags together. The sample is a starting point, not a promise that every group will need three hours.

Get the games ready before guests arrive

  • Set out spoons, plastic eggs and a turning-point marker for the relay.
  • Decide where outdoor games will happen and which areas are off limits.
  • Put paper, crayons or a quiet game on a table.
  • Keep the collected plastic eggs together for counting, sorting, tossing or hiding again.
  • Adjust distances and explain rules in a way younger children can follow.
  • Choose one indoor alternative in case the weather changes.
  • Leave enough time to gather belongings and prepare for pickup.

Easter party game questions

What if it rains—can we play these games indoors?

Some can. Replace running games with a table activity or an indoor round of hide-and-seek using plastic eggs. Keep the egg toss for a space where there is room and breakable items are out of the way.

How can I make the egg hunt fair for older and younger children?

For example, give children under 6 a 30-second head start and set a limit of 12 eggs each. Adjust both for your group, and save extra eggs for a later counting, sorting or trading game. For a yard plan with age-based zones and basket limits, see our fair Easter egg hunt for different ages.

What can we do with the eggs after the hunt?

Count them, sort them by color, trade duplicates, toss plastic eggs into baskets or hide them again for another round. These games reuse the eggs you already have.

Can these games work for a classroom Easter party?

Yes. Choose a seated activity, count and sort the eggs, or set up an indoor egg toss if the room has space. For a 45-minute class party, pick one or two activities rather than trying to fit in the whole sample afternoon.

More Easter and party game ideas

If you want more options for a particular part of the gathering, these pages cover games, printables and seasonal plans:

Printable planning help

Plan the Post-Hunt Phases

Useful games and a flexible sample plan for the hours after an Easter egg hunt.