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[T423]The Easter Egg Hunt

by Katherine Westphal, Kat

It was the big Easter Egg Hunt. My friend Christy and I lined up with the other kids. We all gazed greedily at the field of goodies before us. "GO!" yelled the announcer. En masse we rushed forwards. For some reason, everyone veered to the left. I stopped. I glanced at the untouched feast to my right. I ran right, gleefully scooping the candy before the rest caught on. At the end, I had a bagful of candy. Christy, who had followed the herd, had one piece. I was eight at the time, but I never forgot that day or its lessons.

What did I do differently from the other kids that day? I simply stopped. I stopped, looked around, and analyzed the situation. And I left the herd. I saw quickly that it was to my advantage NOT to follow the herd that day.

Leaving the TV herd

In 2003 I left the herd again in a much bigger way. I got rid of my TV. I am one of those rare few that do not have a TV, by choice. And I am reaping the benefits of being TV-free.

The reason? In 2001, the kids and I were without TV for several months. Like I did when I was little, I stopped. This time I took notice of the changes in my children and myself during the time we did not have a TV. Then when we got it back, I took notice of the changes again. Based on my observations, I decided we were better off without a TV.

Stop and observe YOUR family

But it does not matter what TV does to me or my kids. It does not matter that numerous studies show TV's links to obesity, illiteracy, consumerism, etc. The real question is: How does TV affect you and your family? Find out by stopping and observing.

Zombie kids

Stop and observe how your body and mind react to TV. Look deeply into your kids zombie-like eyes as they watch TV. Compare that to the look in their eyes as they play outdoors. How do you and your spouse look when watching TV? Take pictures if necessary.

Take note of how your children behave after they have spent the afternoon in front of the TV set. How do they behave after playing with their friends? How well do you behave after watching several hours of TV? Your spouse? You may need to get an outside opinion for accuracy.

Consumers 'R Us

How do your children behave at the store when confronted with the cool blue gizmo that has been advertised for months on TV commercials? Are they whining and begging and nagging incessantly for that gizmo? How much extra money do you spend chasing the latest fads and fashions, as shown on TV?

Feelin' Groovy

Observe how much you really remember of that educational program you just saw. How well do you remember the last book you read in comparison? Test yourself. Stop and consider how you feel after watching several hours of television. Do you feel alert, happy, and energetic? Or do you feel lethargic and depressed and ready to turn the TV back on? Keep a diary to get an accurate assessment.

Family Time?

Most importantly, monitor the number of hours you and your family spend in front of the TV per week. Is it 20?...30?...40? The average American spends 28 hours per week in front of a TV set. How much do you watch? Now ask yourself: Is this how you really want to spend your time? Is this how you want your kids to spend their time? By age eighteen the average American will have spent three full years in front of the TV? By age seventy the total is 11.67 years.

Stop and think if this is what you really want out of life. I did, and I got rid of my TV.

When preparing for an Easter egg hunt, first decide on an appropriate time and date for the event. Easter day is typically a busy time for many due to attending church and/or family functions. The day before Easter is usually a better time to schedule an Easter egg hunt so more people can attend. It's important to find out approximately how many children will participate to ensure that there are enough unique plastic Easter eggs filled with treats or toys for everyone. Think five to ten eggs per child.

Consider splitting the hunt up in different areas according to age group, if there are children of many ages attending. This will prevent the younger children from getting trampled on and allow the older children to focus on finding unique Easter eggs hidden in more challenging areas.

Have a back-up plan in case the weather is bad on the day of the Easter egg hunt. If the hunt is conducted indoors, use just one or two rooms so things don't get out of control. Additionally always remember to hide the eggs far from electrical plugs, glass, and wall sockets to prevent injuries.

To solve the dilemma of providing all of the children with bags or baskets to put their large plastic Easter eggs in, explore various Easter ideas for kids and plan fun activities. For example, prior to starting the hunt, have the children color paper bags and decorate them with stickers or make Easter baskets out of construction paper.

The best Easter eggs for a hunt are jumbo plastic Easter eggs because they are very convenient, reusable, and can be filled with a lot of fun surprises. Some companies sell pre-filled plastic Easter eggs or allow the option of customized eggs where they can be filled with items like friendship bracelets, Easter treats and candy, stickers, small Easter toys, and temporary tattoos. Another great idea for planning an unforgettable Easter egg hunt is to put small slips of papers in some of the eggs to announce special prizes. Good prizes include Easter treats like large chocolate Easter bunnies. Make sure the unique Easter eggs containing prize slips are well dispersed so every child gets a fair chance at finding one.

For younger children, spread the eggs on the floor or lawn for easy hunting. For older children, hide the eggs in trickier spots like potted plants, small trees, and mail boxes. Take note of all the places where the eggs are hidden so if a few eggs are not found, clues can be given to help the children find them.

It takes a lot of time to create unique Easter eggs and hide them, but an Easter egg hunt could be over in a matter of minutes. It's always good to have a few crafts, games, and activities planned in case the hunt is over sooner than anticipated.

Use these fun Easter ideas for kids to plan an egg hunt that is as hassle-free as it is enjoyable. The right amount of planning and preparation will go a long way in ensuring that the next unique Easter egg hunt is organized, safe, and most importantly, a blast for the children.

Article Source : Pg. 8

About Author

Both Katherine Westphal & Chuck Bailey are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Katherine Westphal has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Family Concerns and Parenting. . Katherine Westphal's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.

Chuck Bailey has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family Concerns. Sunny Bunny Easter Eggs? is an employment program of Springfield Workshop and sells plastic Easter eggs assembled by people with disabilities. For more information, or to purchase high quality plastic Easter eggs, please visit. Chuck Bailey's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.