These Are the Best Candy-Free Easter Basket Fillings for Little Kids
I’m not religious, but I’ve always enjoyed celebrating the secular version of Easter. It feels like it marks our official arrival from winter, with all its chickens, pastel eggs, flower napkins and grinning rabbits. I’m here for all of this – and this year it means making baskets for my niece and nephew Jr.
They are between three and one years old, which means I try to stay away from anything that involves chocolate or marmalade, and instead I hunt for non-candy treats. I am quite happy with the success achieved and it would be wrong to keep all these ideas to myself, so I am here to share them with you today.
Crayons
Sure, crayons are good all year round, but rabbit-shaped crayons are special at this time of year. I noticed them for the first time , which made me gasp a little (I told you I love the holiday), but I had a hard time justifying spending nearly $ 20 shipping crayons. Instead, I chose this adorable and more affordable option , which comes in packs of two in a Happy Easter box. But you can also search for “rabbit crayons” on Etsy to get tons of results. (There are also many options for egg-shaped pencils if you’d rather go that route.)
Sidewalk chalk
What I love about Easter is that when we’re lucky, we can spend at least part of it outside. The cold has left the air and the kids want to run freely – and then they want to decorate the sidewalks with chalk. I have looked through a lot of sidewalk chalk and dig this set the most because of its unusual patterns. But this little starter kit from Melissa & Doug is great for the youngest artists.
Art supplies without clutter
Sometimes you want little kids to be busy with art, not a mess to clean up when they’re done, which is why I’ve always been a fan of clutter-free artwork. My nephew loves animals, so he got the Melissa & Doug “ Water Wow! On the farm “; they also have a variety of other versions, including those with vehicles, dinosaurs, safari animals, and ocean creatures.
Sunglasses
Now that it’s getting warmer, they’re going to be spending a lot more time outside, so a couple of shades come in handy. These floral sunglasses from Carter’s are perfect.
Books
I always put at least one book in my son’s basket; they are perfect for filling baskets when you need something else. I wanted to get an Easter book for my 1 year old niece, so I chose The Itsy Bitsy Bunny . (For my son, I pre-ordered the new Dogman book, Mothering Heights .)
Easter Bath Bomb
After such a fun day, they will want to unwind in a beautiful relaxing bathtub with an Easter bath bomb that hides a stuffed toy ! Of course, there are a number of other bathroom-related items that can make great basket fill, including bubble bath, a new rubber duck, or a bath paint set. (None of them have soft material hidden inside, though.)
The basket itself
You might have a special basket that you use for your kids every year, like most of us do, and that’s okay and good. But if you want to change something for a child age two and older (or, like me, it is for someone else), I have a suggestion. This Bilibo seat is one of the most wonderful things my son has ever owned, and would make a nice basket for all their treats as well.
I’ve written about Bilibo before because it’s more than just a fun chair – it’s something kids can incorporate into any number of creative scenarios. For about $ 30, it’s definitely a waste of time; but it’s great for fussy kids who need to swing and spin, and they’ll surprise you as well by playing with it in a variety of unconventional ways.
More ideas
If you still need some cheap and easy ideas, there are always stickers, bubbles, clay, or seasonal window holders in their bedrooms.
It also never hurts to add a couple of your favorite non-candy snacks or treats, such as pastel goldfish crackers for toddlers or your favorite flavored baby food bag .