If you are starting to think about getting those Easter baskets together, here is a list of ideas for you. Many of these are inexpensive and do not involve candy!
Our baskets are pretty much done- as you can see I have two little girls so we have lots of pink in our baskets this year.
Here is what I did and below you will find tons of other ideas for boys and girls.
I used (2) tubs from the Dollar Store and just added the girl’s names to the front. I also found the softest bunnies ever at Target for just $4.99. For my Kindergartner- I did a Furreal Friends pony toy, new slippers, some activity books, a book with locket, new water bottle (I customized these for each girl myself), neon Crayons, lip gloss, a little Lego Friends set, an Easter bunny snowglobe (from the Dollar Store) and some fun little lamb chocolates.
For my preschooler- a DVD, some books, water bottle, Playdoh, little Sesame Street figures, Kinder eggs (these have toys inside), a little wind up bunny (Dollar Store again) and Hello Kitty candy with bouncy ball.
I will stop off at the Dollar Store before Easter and grab some balloons to tie onto each bunny for Easter morning.
I don’t like to include a lot of candy but the stuff I do include I try to find something interesting and different. World Market is a great place to stop by and take a look around.
{The Basket}
I am not a fan of wasting things- so little wicker baskets would probably end up in the goodwill bin at our house. I prefer to use something that we can actually use later and just repurpose it as an Easter Basket.
Some ideas include:
- Reusable Tote or Beach Bags
- Storage Buckets or Containers
- Sand Buckets
- Old Halloween Trick or Treat bags (depending on the theme- ours have Disney Princesses on them so they would be perfect)
- Backpacks or lunchsacks (Skip Hop makes adorable items )
Last year I used sand buckets as the basket and this year I just used little tubs from the Dollar Store. The tubs will come in handy for organizing supplies in our playroom after Easter.
You might consider any activities you have before you buy your basket. We have an egg hunt and the tubs above won’t work for that. As I mentioned though, the Disney Princess trick or treat baskets from Halloween will be perfect.
You can get a free printable name tag for your Easter baskets here. This is great if you have several kiddos or you want to label them for egg hunts and such.
If you have small children, adding some balloons as a path to find the Easter baskets or surrounding the baskets would be fun!
{Treats}
Just because it is Easter doesn’t mean the basket needs to be loaded with candy. There are all sorts of fun snacks you can put inside a basket.
- Annie’s Crackers, Grahams, Cookies or Fruit Snacks- these are organic and they come in little bunny shapes. Place these in plastic Easter eggs. (See more ideas here.)
- Goldfish Cheddar Crackers- (or use Annie’s) and place in plastic piping bag, add a green bow to make a carrot shape. (See the directions here.)
- Dried Fruit- my kids love dried cherries especially
- Cuties Clementines
- Applesauce pouches
I have found a fun package can make non-candy treats just as exciting.
{Activities}
- Paints
- Crayons/Markers
- Coloring books
- Character pens and pencils
- Water balloons
- Colored sidewalk chalk
- Beach/sandbox toys
- Glow Sticks
- Jacks
- Jump ropes
- Pool toys
- Bouncy balls
- Bubbles
- Books
- DVDs
- CDs (Little People, Veggie Tales, Disney Princess etc..)
- Legos or Blocks
- Playdoh
- Bath Toys
- Stamps and Stickers
- Card Games, Flash Cards
- Hot Wheels
- Puzzles
- Squirt Guns
- Gardening gloves/ watering cans etc…
You might check the party supply section of stores like Target and Walmart as they often have big bags of party favors like bracelets and bouncing balls that would be fun for a basket. Just tuck the remaining items away for Christmas stockings.
{Other}
- Character Bandaids
- Fun toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Character Underwear
- Lipbalms/glosses
- Nail Polish
- Fun towels and wash clothes
- Hair accessories
- Stuffed Animals/ Action Figures or Barbies
- Summertime items: flip flops, water shoes, sunglasses, bathing suits, character towels
- Bracelets/Rings/Necklaces
- Pencil pouches, coin purses
- Fun water bottles, dishes etc…
- Slippers, PJs, Clothing
- Journals and fun pens (older children)
Easter Grass as fillers for baskets can be found for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree or you can use tissue paper for less mess!
Oh and one more thing. My big girl has a very treasured stuffed animal and she has been begging for an Easter basket for her little lamb. I actually found a tiny little basket and I will add a few very small things inside ;). If you have a little one with a treasured member of the family this might be something you consider as well.
And here are our baskets from last year:
I did a sand bucket filled with activity books, a DVD, bubbles, preschool markers, a little candy and some Goldfish crackers.
Sara says
We use traditional baskets but use the same ones from year to year. I actually still get an Easter basket from my parents (yes, I’m spoiled!) and they use the same basket that I had growing up.
I always include a new spring outfit or 2 (that I usually bought at the end of the previous summer) in each basket since it’s something that they need anyway.
Tami says
Shred wrapping paper, construction paper, or other colorful scrap paper for a “green” alternative.
Julie Schmidt says
That is a great point. Using that plastic-y shredded stuff is so messy. I’ve started using crumpled up tissue paper too. The kids don’t care or even notice! (Plus it’s not very “earth-friendly”)
Annye says
I adore the slippers in Adriana’s “basket”! Any chance you’ll share where you found them — and whether they’re available in adult sizes?
Charlene says
Annye- I want some too :). They are super soft and adorable. I bought them on clearance at Carter’s about a month ago for $6.99. I think they are out of stock online but if you have a local store you might call. The clearance section at my store is so hidden stuff lingers there for ages and I just saw a pair of these last week.
Delia says
Love your posts!! I have been struggling with what to put in my sons basket this year because he is almost 2 and just plays with everything especially his sisters stuff. Just reading your list I have found a few perfect things best part they are not all toys but useful things!! I did pick up 2 of those pony’s for my kiddos too!! They will love them!
Charlene says
Yeah its a balance I think Delia. I am a very frugal person by nature so I can’t stand to see waste. I don’t like little junky things- regardless of how cheap because I can’t stand to see the waste. I always know little junky toys will be in the trash the next day so I can’t stand to buy those things ;). I spent a little more this year but at least the girls got things that might last for a bit.
Dani @ My Little Apricot says
I’m jealous that you found Kinder Eggs. They’re banned in the US and have a $2500 fine if you’re caught smuggling them in.
Charlene says
Really? I’ll have to check the package again because I thought I grabbed a Kinder Egg but maybe it is something else. I got it at World Market.
Nat says
Thanks for the great ideas, I’m not a fan of too much candy for my son so always looking for different ideas of things for him. I also heard about the kinder eggs ban a couple of years ago when we were heading back from visiting my sister in England with a few of the kinder eggs right in my purse, I thought they were joking! I still don’t understand the logic, but needless to say youre right, they’re banned in the US : (
Dawn says
We used to live in England and Cyprus and grew to love Kinder Eggs- American kids choked on the toys inside- hence the ban. European kids are lucky!
Jen says
I try not to load with candy either. Traditionally, I give them a movie, a bathing suit, flip flops/sandals, gift card, an outside toy, eggs filled with coins, and books. I always give a chocolate cross, although I’m dismayed to discover that these are harder and harder to find each year.
Charlene says
I checked what it was I bought- it looks just like a Kinder Egg with white and purple but this is what it is:
http://www.chocotreasure.com/
So the same concept but not Kinder chocolate which is the best 🙂