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Easter baskets are usually filled with candy. Plastic eggs stuffed with sugar filled jelly beans and a big chocolate bunny. A few toys, pencils and other little goodies surrounded in plastic green grass. This is how my Easter baskets used to look. If you play the Easter bunny like I do you’re most likely challenged with what to put into the baskets, should you add candy and if so what kind and how much. The challenge of not going overboard but embracing the childhood fun of finding the hidden Easter basket full of surprises – what to do?
If you are like me, you need some inspiration and not just the Target bull’s eye and red cart that you could potentially fill to the brim and then wonder how you spent so much money in just one hour. Not falling into the world of mass consumption and waste – we’ll it is easier said than done, I know!
5 Ways to Make an Easter Basket Unique and Fun {with or without the candy}
Get Crafty!
If you have time and you’re a crafty person consider making your own bubble mix and making your child a special bubble wand. They’ll love it and have hours of fun bubble play ahead of them for just pennies spent out of the Easter bunnies pocket {cough, cough – you’re pocket}!
Focus on Jesus
I found this also on Pinterest and I like the idea of the UnEaster basket though I don’t think we could do this 100% but I like the idea of incorporating some of these ideas to focus on what Easter is really all about. How do you make sure you’re focusing on Jesus and the religious aspect of Easter for your Easter baskets?
A Garden Basket!
No candy needed for this basket! Just seeds, planting tools, gardening gloves and supplies! Adorable! I love, love, love! I have to say I would probably add some candy hidden in the basket just because my kids would be sad without just a few pieces. Wouldn’t yours?
Source: designmom.com via Andrea on Pinterest
Make your own Easter Grass!
This is cheap and simple. Just take scrap construction paper and old office paper and use your paper shredder. Afterwards you can recycle the paper Easter grass and you’ve been thrifty and eco-friendly!
Think Outside Play
Jump ropes, side walk chalk, knee pads, sand toys, kits and anything fun to do outside! Flip flops, swim shoes and anything and everything will encourage a child to play outside, get dirty and enjoy the natural elements. My children love when I add these types of items to their baskets and sure enough – they end up outside right after they find their baskets!
Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas
If you’re looking for adorable and eco-friendly Easter gift ideas, you’re in luck. I have done some shopping and here are some of my favorites, all on Amazon.com. They combine science, fun, being green with some organic candy for a treat!
- Dunecraft Organic Veggies Science Kit
- Eco Friendly Easter Eggs, made from 100% renewable content and are fully compostable after use
- Eco-Eggs Coloring Kit
- Eco Friendly Easter basket grass, made from 100% recycled paper
- Liva Girl Personalized Burlap Bunny Basket Bag
- Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans
- Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups (Warning, these are very addicting and SO good!)
- Weird but True 7: 300 Outrageous Facts
- Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Lip Balm, Superfruit Blister, 0.15 oz, 4 Count
- 4M Potato Clock
Meaningful Gift Ideas
My kids do not believe in the “Easter Bunny” anymore but of course, they are expecting an Easter Basket on Sunday. It is a tradition and we all enjoy the hiding and hunting for the baskets. What I do not enjoy is how Easter has become all about “stuff”. They are expecting big things, not just stuffed eggs.
For my family, Easter is a celebration, not just one with parades, egg hunts and baskets. We observe the holiday as Christians. Over the years, the children have focused more on the “other” stuff, not what is important, and I am struggling with how to reel them back in to what matters most. Of course, I blame myself. I did not start out gift giving simply and now I am paying the price but there is always time to change.
If you’re looking for simple but meaningful Easter basket gifts, try a few of these ideas.
- Start a New Tradition with Meaning. A perfect example is giving each child a perennial to plant each Easter. It represents life and resurrection.
- Give the Gift of Experiences. Instead of filling a basket with toys or candy, consider giving movie tickets for time with friends and family or a coupon for one-on-one time with mom or dad. Make memories and spend time together, that’s the best gift to give.
- Give a hollow chocolate egg. Yes, hollow to represent what they found in the tomb. I found an adorable little printable poem from Happy Home Fairy.
- Teach them about Jesus. Give them a cute stuffed bunny and add a Bible verse to each quality of a bunny. I found the versus and the idea from Focus on the Family and I just love this!
- A Coin Purse. Help children learn about tithing by filling their coin purse to give at church on Sunday. Each Sunday we have a noisy offering and the children love to empty my wallet and shake the can as they fill it with coins. Now they can add their own coins!