Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas
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I never grew up receiving Easter baskets from the Easter bunny. I came from a family that celebrated by attending mass and reflecting on how Christ has risen. Looking back at it, there was nothing wrong with celebrating Easter that way. That’s what Easter is all about, right? But, now that I’m older with children of my own, I decided I would give this Easter basket tradition a try. But, once I had my first baby, I realized I had no clue what I was doing. It seemed like all the premade Easter baskets out there were stuffed full of chocolate and marshmallows. Yes, that sounds amazing, but I’m still a millennial mom trying to be conscious of being fun and somewhat practical, while also considering sustainability and my family’s health. I know, it’s a tall order trying to be both fun and responsible, but I’m gonna give it a stab! As you can see, I’ve been putting some serious thought into these future baskets. Currently, my kids are preschool aged. So, if you are looking for some non-candy ideas to put into an Easter basket for that age group, keep reading!
Reusable Baskets
The thought of having to buy a new Easter basket every year pains me. In the spirit of sustainability, I forewent the baskets the past couple years. Instead of a basket, I just kind of gave my kids an unwrapped, “Easter gift” per say. The thought was there, but in all honesty, they lacked luster. This year, I’m planning to find a sturdy, neutral basket that I can designate for their yearly Easter baskets. I’m planning to get something that is not too big, so that filling it up will not be too hard, but also something that is in good taste, so that I can repurpose it for something else around the house one day. I have my eyes on this woven basket 2 pack from Amazon and hope that it lasts us a very long time!
Easter Basket Fillers
What you choose to fill your kids’ Easter baskets with is really your choice. I just like to try to hit two birds with one stone and get something that will be well loved and practical in the upcoming months.
Art Supplies - You can never go wrong with art supplies! All little boys and girls love to do art projects, no matter what age they are. You can also use this time to refill supplies that they are currently running out of. Some of my favorite art supplies for preschool aged kids are dotting markers, water colors, or spill proof paint. You can also choose to stick with the theme and find an Easter themed coloring book and a box of fresh crayons.
Swimsuit - As the weather starts to brighten up, I think a new swimsuit or pair of trunks helps kids get excited for the upcoming months and outdoor activities! And at this young age when kids grow at such a fast rate, it’s likely they are due for a new one in the next size up!
Shoes - Special shoes for the changing seasons are also a fun item to put in your little one’s Easter basket. I would go for a new pair of wet shoes, such as crocs, that can be worn when doing warm weather activities. Or a new pair of rain boots would be a fun way to enjoy a day of Spring time puddle jumping!
Warm Weather Accessories - Another fun gift that is also practical are warm weather accessories! I’m talking about sun hats, or even sunglasses. Your kids are going to love it and you are going to love the practicality of having these things during warmer days!
Garden Supplies - Last year, the only thing that I got my kids for Easter were mini gardening bags that were already prefilled with little gardening supplies. As I hoped, they loved it! We ended up spending some time outside doing some easy yard work. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the exact toddler gardening tools that my kids have, but they were very similar to this gardening set toy from Amazon.
Stuffed Animals - A sweet touch to an Easter basket is a little stuffed animal. However, if pretend play is starting to really take off for your children at this age, you could opt to get something like little animal hand puppets instead.
Books - In our household, books never get old. This is a good chance to include a book that reflects on the meaning of Easter or other related Easter topics, such as Sunrise, Easter Surprise by Hannah C. Hall or I Spy Little Bunnies by Jean Marzollo.
Bonus Section: Non- Candy Easter Egg Filler Ideas
Don’t get me wrong, I do love to hide candy in our Easter eggs, but in an attempt to decrease the amount of sweets we give our children, I like the idea of sprinkling in a variety of other kinds of small Easter egg hunt prizes as well. Here are some alternative Easter egg filler ideas that are fun and appropriate for preschool age children:
Finger Puppets - Finger puppets are great as far as fostering pretend play and are the perfect size to stuff into a small Easter egg. You can also get more personal and get some that align with your children’s interests, like these Baby Shark or Paw Patrol finger puppets.
Stickers or Stamps - I don’t know what it is about this age, but my kids LOVE stickers or stamps. The nice thing about these things is they are relatively cheap and easy to find in different themes.
Pull Back Cars - One year, I bought little pull back tractor prefilled eggs and they were a hit. We still have some of them and occasionally pull them out to join our toy rotation some weeks.
Clues - If you really want to save money rather than buying tiny little toys or candy, you can try putting clues in some of the eggs. These clues can lead the kids on a scavenger hunt to find their Easter baskets! Of course, at this age, your little ones will need help from an adult if you’d like to try this, but it still makes for a fun activity to do together!
With Easter just around the corner, it’s never too early to start collecting Easter gift ideas for your children. I hope that this list of non-candy Easter gift ideas inspires you to think of gifts that are personalized and practical for your children this year!
