With Easter around the bend, many are in the final planning stages for their Easter celebration. For many, Easter means quality time with family and friends, candy, and Easter egg hunts. Hunting for Easter eggs has become a well-known tradition that is loved by all, both young and old. It’s exciting to open up your Easter eggs to uncover the goodies they contain after you’ve searched high and low for them during an Easter egg hunt. However, if you happen to have a child attending who is deaf or hard-of-hearing, then extra planning is required. These types of events may be daunting and overwhelming, so it is vital that you plan a hearing loss friendly Easter egg hunt.

To help ensure your event is inclusive and fun for everyone, check out these helpful tips on how to have a hearing loss friendly Easter egg hunt.

• Mental preparedness can go a long way in making a child feel comfortable during an Easter egg hunt. So before the event, talk to your deaf or hard of hearing child about what they can expect. Talk to them about Easter and what an Easter egg hunt is. Mental preparedness can help a child feel calmer and less anxious about what’s to come.

• If hearing aids are typically worn, make sure they are in for the Easter events. Ensuring they are charged/have plenty of battery life beforehand can help prevent mishaps. Carrying extra batteries on hand is always a good idea, especially if you plan on being away from your house for a bit. You should never leave the house without an emergency hearing aid kit, and during an Easter event is no different.

• If a cochlear implant or a hearing aid is worn, there is a chance that the device could fall out of the ear during an Easter egg hunt. If a young child wears these, then as a parent, you must stay vigilant and stay on top of checking the devices periodically. For both cochlear implants and hearing aids, there are ways to help keep the device in place. There are accessories available to help keep the device where it should be and can help eliminate a lost or damaged hearing aid or cochlear implant from occurring.

• When the environment is loud, noisy, and chaotic, it can be easy to miss instructions. While this applies to everyone, it hits those with hearing loss much worse. Deaf or hard of hearing people can easily miss an instruction due to the crazy environment, so be sure to inform your children before the event begins. Talking with your child and giving visual cues is an excellent way for them to understand.