Easter in the UAE: How to host thrilling scavenger hunts for children, from backyard riddles to nature-themed joy
You can even try a day out at the desert, and hide little treats in the sand
So what if you don’t traditionally celebrate Easter? It’s still the perfect opportunity to keep your children entertained with a variety of activities, from Easter egg hunts to nature-themed scavenger hunts. For example, Dubai-based homemaker Arundhati Nair loves painting eggs and organising fun games for her three kids, aged five, seven, and eight. “They even come up with their own games on Easter and make us be the judges,” she laughs.
If you’re looking for ways to keep your little ones busy, Nair and her neighbours have some fun Easter ideas to share.
Easter egg hunt with a twist
Forget the usual hunt for just colourful eggs. Nair suggests to go above and beyond by adding clues and riddles to guide your children to the prize. “It’s so much fun to watch them puzzle it out,” she adds. Just remember to not make it too hard!
So, be it a golden egg or a special-bunny shaped treat, the hunt becomes more exciting with every twist and turn.
What to do: Create small, pastel-coloured eggs with hidden clues written inside. You can incorporate simple puzzles or even riddles.
Tip: Add some glow-in-the-dark eggs for a night-time twist. It’s perfect for an evening hunt under the stars in your backyard or park.
Nature-themed scavenger hunt
Nair’s neighbour, Madison Leigh, mixes it up with some outdoorsy materials. “They love the idea of searching for real-life items like leaves, or animal tracks, and it encourages them to explore their surroundings while learning about nature,” she says.
What to do: Prepare a list of natural objects for children, perhaps, leaves, or flowers. You can even add local wildlife features like birds or insects.
Tip: This hunt can easily be adapted for different locations, whether it’s a garden, a beach, or a park. Don’t forget a magnifying glass for extra exploration.
Backyard spy mission
Turn your backyard into a high-stakes spy mission with secret codes, maps, and hidden clues. This themed hunt is perfect for children, who enjoy a taste of mystery and adventure.
What to do: Write out clues in a coded language. You could use symbols or numbers that leads the children to their next clue or treasure. Give them a spy notebook to record their findings and use secret pens that reveal hidden messages.
Tip: Hide items that are spy-related, like toy binoculars, magnifying glasses, or ‘spy gear’ like toy walkie-talkies.
Treasure hunt in the desert
Often, Leigh has tried to bring in a little bit of the desert for hunts. “They love the idea of finding hidden treasure in the vast sands, so you can hide boxes, animal-shaped items, or glow-in-the-dark items,” she suggests.
What to do: Before heading out, prepare a ‘treasure map’ and mark locations where children need to search for treasure, which could be simple toys, coins, or local treats like dried fruits or dates. Hide small items in the sand for them to discover, like gold-painted rocks or treasure chests.
Tip: Bring sunscreen, hats, and plenty of water.
Easter basket treasure hunt
Imagine the thrill of finding pieces of an Easter basket, one at a time. Children will go on a hunt to collect the individual items that complete their Easter baskets.
What to do: Hide parts of the Easter basket like a small bunny, candy, coloured tissue paper, and plastic eggs. Each clue they solve leads to a different item, with the final one being the basket itself.
Tip: Make it a challenge by using riddles or map-like clues. Each item could come with a little reward like stickers or a small toy, making it feel like a true treasure hunt.
Easter egg word hunt
In this scavenger hunt, each egg holds a letter, and once the children find all the eggs, they have to use the letters to spell out an Easter-related word.
What to do: Hide plastic eggs filled with letters, and ask the children to collect them all. Once they’ve found all the eggs, they need to use the letters to spell out words like 'Easter,' 'Bunny,' 'Eggs,' or 'Spring'.
Tip: For younger kids, you can provide clues or the word itself to make it easier, or you could make it a team event to encourage cooperation.
Final tips for a memorable Easter scavenger hunt:
Make it themed: Whether it’s pirates, animals, or space, a theme adds extra excitement.
Provide clues: Write fun riddles or simple puzzles that keep the kids engaged.
Include rewards: Give small, non-candy treats like stickers, mini toys, or activity books as prizes.
Age-appropriate: Tailor the difficulty to the ages of the kids involved—make sure it’s fun and challenging, but not too frustrating.
Sign up for the Daily Briefing
Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox
