Easter is coming, and it’s time to get those baskets filled. Everywhere you look, all you can see is candy. The aisles are full of chocolate, gummy candy, and special confections. Other alternatives are pre-made Easter baskets, which aren’t that great either. Here are some ideas for other things to put in your Easter baskets besides candy. Your kids will love the variety and save a trip to the dentist.
Ages 0-2
Board BooksReading books to our kids is important, and board books are perfect for this age. They can throw them, chew them, and not wreck the pages. Board books are sturdy and can take a lot from little hands.
You can find all kinds of different board books from classics like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See and Goodnight Moon to recent stories like The Little Blue Truck and Giraffes Can’t Dance.
Older toddlers would enjoy titles like Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom and Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and I Love You to the Moon and Back.
You can even find board book box sets from authors like Dr. Seuss, Sandra Boynton, and Eric Carle.
Stuffed Toys- Kids love stuffed toys, and babies are no different. These soft, cuddly toys bring hours of enjoyment and comfort to babies and kids alike. Pick out a new cuddly friend for your child’s or grandchild’s Easter basket.
Extra Supplies- Parents will appreciate having extra supplies around like teethers, pacifiers, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, bottles, bottle brushes, etc. This is especially true if you have a new baby or grandbaby.
Other ideas include outfits, baby shampoo, burp cloths, baby-size bath towels, and washcloths etc.
Ages 3-8
Books/Coloring & Activity Books- As mentioned above, books always make splendid gifts. But coloring and activity books do too. Kids love to color and do activities like connect the dots or solve puzzles. If your kids are older, see if you can find some crossword puzzles or search for word puzzles geared towards kids.
Think about their favorite cartoon characters or other interests (cats, dogs, cars, trucks, etc) and see if you can find some coloring and activity books that feature those things.
Art/Craft Supplies- Kids love to do art, so art supplies make a great addition to an Easter basket. Some ideas include crayons (fat crayons are great for little kids and they are easier for them to grasp), finger paints, chalk, markers, etc.
Other ideas include slime kits, jewelry-making kits, or even bath paints or crayons.
Stickers/Tattoos- Stickers and tattoos are another great idea for your Easter baskets. Kids love stickers because you can get all kinds of designs, and they can put them in all kinds of places- backpacks, notebooks, etc. They love tattoos because they are one of those “forbidden” things that only adults have, and give them that shock factor. In a fun way, of course.
Ages 9-12
Kids this age are getting older and will enjoy different things than younger kids, so the ideas for them are a little more upscale and may cost a little more money.
Kindle Fire- If you have kids who love entertainment, consider getting them a Kindle Fire Kids tablet. You can choose how many gigabytes you want. They come with a year of Amazon Kids+, which includes books, games, videos, etc. They also have parental controls, a 10-hour battery life, and tons of space. These tablets also come in a version called Kids Pro. Double-check all features before buying a specific model.
Adult Coloring Books- No, I’m not talking about anything taboo. Adult coloring books have more intricate designs and are perfect for older kids. They are very popular and you can find all kinds of things to color, from cats, dogs, flowers, etc. I have a Celtic coloring book since I love everything Irish. Add a box of brand new colored pencils to complete the gift.
NOTE: As you are browsing, you will come across some naughty coloring books.
Personalized/Custom Gifts- Personalized or custom gifts are a substantial gift for this age. You can find all kinds of places to find shirts like this like Etsy, CafePress, etc. Another great place to look at is Facebook. There are all kinds of creative people on Facebook selling their creations.
Ages 13-17
Makeup/Nail/Skin Products- Girls this age will love gifts of makeup, nail polish with accessories, and skin care products.
You can buy a makeup kit or choose several things to make a nice selection. Don’t forget to add a pack of disposable makeup wipes for those nights when they are too tired to take it off. If you’re buying several things to add to it, buy a waterproof bag to put it all in.
For nails, gather several colors of nail polish, clippers, polish remover, cuticle cutters, and nail files. You could also buy a false nail kit for older teens. Younger teens will also love nail stickers they can decorate their nails with. You could even add a gift card to go get a manicure or even both a manicure and pedicure for a fun outing.
For skin products, round up some great-smelling body wash, makeup remover, lotion, and body spray.
NOTE: If you are doing this for a family member or friend’s child, consult with parents first. They may have rules about makeup, and teenagers can also be prone to different skin issues. Consult with parents first before buying anything. When in doubt, buy a gift card so that the child and parent can go shopping together.
Great places to get gift cards for these items are Walmart, Bath & Bodyworks, and Ulta Beauty.
Gift Cards/Subscriptions- Gift cards are always a great idea for teenagers. Think about their favorite restaurants and stores. Other ideas include gift cards for fast-food restaurants, gas, and music streaming (Apple, Amazon, etc).
Other ideas include gift subscriptions. Do they love clothes? Get them a Stitch Fix subscription. Love art? Look into a Doodle Crate. Foodie? Look into Universal Yums. Are they into STEM? Check out a MEL Science box. Do they love to read? Look into an Owl Crate subscription.
These are just a few suggestions, but with a little research, you can find subscription boxes for just about any kind of interest.
MoneyWhat teenager doesn’t love cold, hard cash? Something we see little of these days in our world of paying with plastic. If you’re going to give them money, be creative with it. Some ideas include:
-You could break it down and put it in different plastic eggs.
-Make an Easter egg hunt with clues.
-Put some money in an empty Pez dispenser.
-Decorate an Easter basket with money.
-Make origami out of money and hide it in the Easter basket.
-Put the money in a toilet paper tube, put it in a mason jar, and fill it with marbles, pastel beads, or mini-colored school supplies (paper clips, mini erasers, colored push pins, etc). Make sure you put the tube in before you fill the jar.
There are all kinds of things you can put in a kid's Easter basket that aren’t candy. With a little creativity, you can create an extraordinary Easter basket without all the junk and memories to last a lifetime.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Florin Tomescu / 500px
