Creative alternatives to Easter egg hunts

Coloring Easter eggs, hiding them and hunting for them has been a holiday staple for generations, but there are several different ways to celebrate Easter that don?t involve hidden eggs.

? Pin the tail on the Easter bunny: Make a variation on the donkey game by drawing or buying a picture of a bunny. Glue some cotton balls to a piece of cardboard to make tails, using double-sided tape on the back. Spin blindfolded kids around and have them try to attach the tail.

? Treasure hunt: Instead of children racing around to find hidden eggs, parents can draw up a treasure map that takes them, via different clues, to a treasure hidden of a chocolate bunny or a basket of treats.

? Who Am I? Print Easter-related phrases onto cards that then attach to a headband or hat with a small piece of tape. The person has to guess the word without seeing what it is by the clues others provide.

? Easter crafts: Scour the craft store for wooden eggs, crosses, baskets, and similar items. Purchase colored pencils or water colors and let children decorate them. This can keep children busy after the meal when adults want to socialize.

? Relay races: Enjoy any number of outside games, weather permitting, including relay races with the family.

? Lucky duck: Parents can create the carnival game by marking a painted dot under a few of several rubber ducks that are afloat in a bucket, bathtub or kiddie pool. The children who pick a duck with a mark on the bottom win a prize.