Every year, we look forward to our family Easter egg hunt—but last year, we decided to give it a twist. And now? It’s officially a tradition.

We called it the Scrambled Easter Egg Hunt, and it was such a hit that our kids asked to do it again immediately. It’s fun, collaborative, and perfect for keeping the excitement going long after the last egg is found.

And the best part? It’s easy to customize based on your kids’ ages, interests, or how competitive you want it to be. You can even skip the candy completely—yes, really!

How It Works

We picked 7 prizes we knew our kids would be excited about and assigned each prize a color. Then, we filled plastic eggs with one color-coded letter per egg—each color spelling out a different word (like “puzzle,” “slime,” or “book”).

Here’s the full breakdown:

What You Need:

Plastic eggs in 7 different colors (or use stickers/tape to color-code them)
Paper and a pen or label maker to add one letter per egg
7 small-to-medium prizes
A “hint card” for each child (optional)
A table or area to unscramble letters and reveal the prize
Tape or something to hold letters in place if it’s windy

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Choose 7-10 Prizes
Each prize should have a name that can be spelled out in 4–10 letters. Write the prize name on a piece of paper for reference.
Assign Each Prize a Color
For example, "BOOK" = blue eggs, "GIFT CARD" = green eggs, and so on.
Create the Letters
Cut up letters or print them out, and place one letter inside each egg that corresponds with the color of that prize.
Hide the Eggs
Scatter all the eggs outside or around the house. Kids can only collect one egg at a time and bring it back to the table before going out again.
Unscramble the Word
Once a full set of a color is collected, the kids must unscramble the word to "win" the prize. Add a “hint card” to help if they’re stuck—they can cash it in for one letter reveal.
Repeat until all prizes have been won!

Why It Works

Teamwork makes it fun (but you can make it competitive with older kids).
It lasts longer than a regular hunt—they’re engaged from start to finish.
Zero sugar meltdowns if you skip candy altogether.
They love the challenge—and you’ll love how it keeps them busy and happy.

Prize Ideas They’ll Love

Here are some fun ideas that work for all kinds of families and budgets:

For Younger Kids:

“SLIME” → DIY slime kit
“BOOK” → A favorite picture book or interactive activity book
“PUZZLE” → A spring-themed or age-appropriate puzzle
“CRAYON” → New coloring supplies or a sketch pad
“BUNNY” → Plush bunny or animal toy
“BLOCKS” → Mini building block set
“BATH” → Bubble bath or bath crayons
“BALL” → Any type ball

For Older Kids:

“MONEY” → Cash is always appreciated
“SOCKS” → Trendy fun socks
“GAMES” → Card game or travel-size game
“MOVIE” → Movie night box with popcorn and candy
“TICKETS” → A ticket to an outing (zoo, museum, skating, etc.)
“BALL” → Basketball, volleyball, etc.
“CANDLE” → A small candle for older tweens
“SNACKS” → Personalized snack box
“CHANCE” → Scratch off tickets (these were a big hit)

For a Bigger Surprise:

“GIFT CARD” → Gift card to their favorite store
“TREAT” → Coupon for a treat run with you (ice cream, Starbucks, etc.)
“DEVICE” → A big-ticket item (like earbuds or a new game) as a grand finale
“FAMILY” → A surprise family day trip or experience

Make It Yours

You can scale this up or down depending on how many kids are playing, how many prizes you want to do, or how long you want the activity to last. It’s also a great way to sneak in a little learning—spelling, logic, teamwork, and problem-solving all wrapped in Easter fun.

So this year? Skip the sugar rush and be the MVP of the egg hunt.

Pin it, share it, save it—your future self (and your kids) will thank you.

Adapted from @playpartyplan.

Scrambled Egg Hunt—Be the MVP of the Easter