As Spring is approaching, and we’re thinking about sunshine, flowers, and rainbows, I can’t help but think of Easter and ideas for fun candy-free items to fill our baskets. Don’t get me wrong, candy is great, but the big chocolate bunnies that are so common this time of year, I can do without. I’m more of a dark chocolate with peanut butter or raspberry filling kind of candy person. But this post is about candy-free Easter treats, so here are a few:
- Stationery: I just love paper! And journals, especially in themes that are of interest to your child, make a great gift. Not only paper, but everyone needs pencils and pens, and mini erasers just seem to be in right now. There are so many pencils with fun designs, and pens with positive messages. You could even add stickers that you pick up from some local businesses that your children love.
- Books and bookmarks: Small books that can fit in a basket are always a great gift. So why not pair up a small book with a homemade bookmark. Childhood Whimsy is a new Etsy shop where you can find bookmarks in different themes such as, dinosaurs, Matilda, Mary Poppins, and space. They will even customize and make a specialized theme for you.
- Gift Cards: Gift cards are great even for the youngest kids. They will feel so special going into their favorite store with their very own gift card. Gift cards for experiences are fun as well. Check out gift cards from Funstruction for your young builders.
- Playdough: With the push these days for going plastic-free, this homemade playdough in an eco-egg is the perfect solution. These can be customized in favorite colors, as well as, scented or unscented dough.
- Outside fun: Bubbles, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, and small balls make fun basket fillers, and are a great way to get your children outside enjoying the Spring air.
- Inside fun: Think small items such as matchbox cars, small Lego pieces…
- Art Supplies: Markers, colored pencils, upcycled crayons, coloring pages, foam stickers, construction paper, and small stamps. The list in this category goes on and on.
One thing that I’ve always found challenging is finding items small enough to fill those eggs. From our list above, homemade play dough, small matchbox cars and Lego pieces, mini erasers (out of the package), stickers, and small stamps may fit in an egg (depending on how big the eggs are), but what else can we fill all those eggs with?
- Games: Actual games may fit in a basket, but most likely they won’t fit in an egg, but you can always add game pieces or dice in the eggs.
- Coupons: Not actual coupons for the grocery store, but coupons that you make yourself. Print some of our coupons, fold them up, and they will fit perfectly in eggs. We’ve included some blank coupons so you can write in something special for each one, or use the ones where we’ve added something special, such as staying up 15 minutes past bedtime, or 20 more minutes of screen time.
- Coins: Especially quarters if your children enjoy arcade games. Other coins, besides quarters, are great too, especially when you include multiple coins in each egg, then work with children on how much money is in each coin. Math is everywhere!
