Which came first — the chicken or the egg? Well, for many families at this time of year, there's no doubt. Eggs rule! While the kids are busy mixing, dipping and dyeing Easter eggs, rescue a few from the frenzy and decorate them together to fit each child's personality, interest or something special you share with him or her.

Dye and decorate hard-boiled eggs close to Easter and keep them refrigerated. Or empty eggshells for special keepsake eggs to bring out from year to year. To empty an egg, use a straight pin to poke a small hole at each end of a washed raw egg. Carefully wiggle a toothpick or wood skewer into one of the holes to break the yolk. Place a drinking straw over the hole on top and blow through the straw, collecting the contents of the egg in a small dish. Rinse out the empty shell and let dry.

Store in an empty egg carton.

Here are some ideas to "egg" on your imagination with school-age kids:

  • Make a series of character eggheads with a game called "Pass It On!" Everyone is gven a blown-out eggshell and starts by painting or gluing on yarn or string to make hair. Then, each person passes the egg to another, who adds eyes, eyeglasses, eyelashes or whatever! Then, each person passes the egg again and adds a nose and other features or details. When you're done, set the creations in eggcups to display and dry.

     

  • Create a "You're a Good Egg" self-portrait using markers to draw the masterpiece
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    onto the egg. Glue on craft-store movable eyes and a feather for hair.

     

  • Recall a trip to the zoo to conjure up your child's favorite animal or "eggimal." His or her version of a fish, penguin or exotic bird can be created by using a pencil to trace a pattern of a beak, feet or fins onto different colored foam craft sheets. Cut them out and glue them onto the painted egg.

    Note: Use nontoxic dyes, markers and household glue with these and other crafts with children.

    "The grandkids are coming!" tip: Start a tradition of creating keepsake eggs. Unpack them every year and arrange them in a table centerpiece or hang them with thread glued to each egg from a bouquet of forsythia and blossoming branches.

    Donna Erickson's award-winning television series, "Donna's Day," is airing on public television nationwide. Watch it in the Twin Cities at 7:30 a.m. Fridays on tptLife on channels 13 and 17. Sign up for Donna's e-newsletter at donnasday.com. Her latest book is "Donna Erickson's Fabulous Funstuff for Families." Watch Donna demonstrate this egg-decorating idea and more at 3 p.m. April 9 on Twin Cities Live, KSTP-Channel 5.