Ask a kid to find his shoes and he dawdles. Ask a kid to find colored eggs with bunny and chicken decals, and he or she focuses and demonstrates a level of fixed determination seen only in long distance runners. Don't mess up the Easter Egg hunt. These suggestions from Sears Imported Autos will help.

Step 1: Pick a time and place. Easter Sunday is generally reserved for worship services, time with family, and/or watching inordinate amounts of sports. Scheduling an Easter Egg hunt on the actual holiday, therefore, is not generally practical. It’s better reserved for the day or weekend before Easter unless the hunt consists only of close family members. If your yard isn't big enough or if you don't feel comfortable having 36 preteens romping through your marigolds, schedule the hunt at a nearby park. Make a contingency plan for inclement weather.

Step 2: Invite the guests. You need to know the approximate number of children who will be participating in your Easter Egg hunt, as well as their ages.

Step 3: Provide eggs. Unless you and your family love egg salad made from semi-cracked eggs that have been sitting outside for hours on a warm spring day, you will probably want to opt for plastic eggs filled with candy. For best results, request that parents of participating children donate a certain number of eggs in advance of the hunt.

Step 4: Establish hunting/hiding boundaries. The person who hid the egg across the street under the dumpster was really creative, but was it really worth the hassle? Set boundaries. Communicate boundaries. Avoid lawsuits.

Step 5: Hide the eggs. The big question with hiding the eggs is not where, but when to hide them. If you hide them before the hunters arrive, there's a chance they'll be discovered before the hunt begins. If you hide them minutes before the hunt, there's a chance for chaos. In most cases, corralling the little ones a few minutes before the hunt begins while two or three adults hide the eggs is the best choice.

Step 6: Set the rules. Make sure hunters and their parents understand the rules. Basic rules include not stealing others' eggs, no tripping, and basket requirements and limitations. For large hunts, you'll want to give the little kids a head start.

Step 7: Award prizes. Reward the kid with the most eggs and the fewest eggs. Recognize the most helpful. Create special eggs that warrant prizes, such as the "golden egg." For best results, find a pink Easter Bunny suit and have a friend hop around the hunting area awarding chocolate.

The most important rule is to have fun!