Easter baskets are always a conundrum in our house. I love chocolate and candy. Trust me. When it comes to Easter and planning for the Easter Bunny I am a hypocrite. I prefer non-candy treats because let’s face it, I will eat more of it than Calli will. I know lots of you are better people then I am and you don’t eat a lot of sugar and don’t want your children having a lot either.
So, with all of that baggage out in the open I’m going to share some creative Easter Basket Ideas for all of you parents out there like me who are looking for a last second gift idea when all of the good candy is gone. I will also say, I’m not one of those parents who makes the Easter Bunny into another Santa Claus. If you do that I’m not judging you–a lot–but that’s not my style.
Rain Boots/Wellies – I hate Easter baskets because they are a pain to store. They don’t fold down and just sit there being a big, awkward pain in my neck. So, I’ve always looked for something different. For Calli’s first 2 Easters we had a little felt basket. It was cute but it also folded up to store. I love it. This year I’m going a little different. I’m using a pair of rain boots! She needs a new pair for on the farm so it was perfect.
Books – This is an easy one. Books are always an appropriate gift for any reason. I always plan on a book for any holiday or any reason really. Who doesn’t love a book? It expands the mind and it’s not sugar. When you read it 50 times a day you might regret it but just remember, a kid hopped up on sugar is so much worse.
Board Games – At two Calli is a little young for a board game yet. But, for the future this is a great idea. Nothing like gifting an activity you can do as a family. Especially for families with older kids this is a great gift. Things to do during snow days, when friends come over or on Friday nights when they’re complaining that they’re sooooo bored.
Activity Books – Activity books can be a huge lifesaver when you’re any place you would like your children to behave for a long period of time. For example, long car rides, the doctors office, church. The list could go on and on. Something reusable is another huge bonus because once they color all over the pages once you won’t have to get a new one.
Non-Candy Treat – It’s Easter so your kids should definitely get something fun! Whether that is a few pieces of a candy or animals crackers. Something they like should definitely be in there.
Trying not to let Easter turn into a sugar high followed by the epic crash and all of the tears that will be involved is hard. But I hope some of my non-candy suggestions will help you make a fun and amazing basket all the same. What are some ideas I may have missed for that Easter basket?
I spy an Usborne book! 😉 I love the boot idea and I’m totally using that too. I’m adding sidewalk chalk and bubbles too – basically all things spring/outdoors. Maybe one chocolate treat, but that’s it because she will get SO much other places! I also hate having to store an Easter basket. Alexis has a pig basket we got for her very first Easter I reuse every year, but I still hate having to store it!
The basket storage is the worst. As we got older my mom just started putting it all in her tupperware bowls. As a parent I realize how awesome that is. Our kids definitely get enough candy from everyone else, I don’t think they need it from us. Naturally an Usborne book is in there. I actually found it hiding the other day and decided that was the book she would be getting.