Easter creates a conundrum for parents: how can you celebrate the holiday, have fun, yet avoid loading the kids up with candy? This year, limit the candy. Instead, make your young child's Easter basket one filled with gifts and goodies that he can use to learn, play, and create.
Fill the Easter Basket With Art Supplies
If your little one likes to create, you are in luck. Go to Michael's or Jo-Ann Fabrics and load up on supplies she can use to create her masterpieces. Look for small boxes of crayons, stickers, stamps, stamp pads, paint brushes, chalk, markers, glitter glue, and mini coloring books. You might also look for little packages of foam shapes, pipe cleaners, and pom poms.
Small Toys Make Good Easter Gifts for Kids
As you purchase gifts for your toddler's Easter basket, remember to think small. If your child has a Leapster, opt for a new cartridge. Get a mini puzzle, a matchbox car, some pieces of railroad track, dollhouse furniture for her dollhouse, mini lego boxes, and some mini board books. Look for bubbles, bath paint, and a rubber duck or toy boat for bath time play.
Accessories Are Just the Right Size for Easter Baskets
Even toddlers can be delighted with accessories, and this is your chance to make purchases you will have to make regardless of the holiday. If she loves Dora, buy her some Dora socks and a pack of Dora underwear. If he is crazy about trucks and cars, get to the drug store to purchase some Cars themed sunglasses. Purchase a t-shirt for spring that she'll love to wear, and roll it up, then stand it in her basket. If you know that a bathing suit purchase will be necessary for the summer, make it now and stash it in the basket. Get a baseball cap, stitched with the name of his favorite baseball team, or a sun hat for her.
Load Your Toddler's Easter Basket With Outdoor Toys
Don't forget to leave room in the Easter basket for gifts that will get your child moving. Purchase a small ball, a jump rope, a frisbee, bubbles, or sidewalk chalk. Get a bell for her tricycle and some rocket balloons and a pump. If he loves a particular sport, buy small equipment for it. For a soccer lover, purchase some shin guards. For a gymnast, purchase a leotard or tights.
Alternative Edible Easter Basket Gifts
Though we traditionally think of Easter baskets as candy receptacles, there is no reason you need to put any candy in it at all. If you want to put edible treats in your child's basket, you might consider his favorite granola bars or dried fruit. Perhaps she loves Goldfish crackers or peanut butter filled pretzels. Purchase snack packs of these treats, or create your own snack packs with snack sized Ziploc bags.
Rethinking Easter Baskets and Gifts
Today, most parents are acutely aware of the obesity epidemic now affecting America's youth. Whether your child is overweight or not, he will benefit from an Easter celebration that turns attention to fun and activity and away from candy. Get creative and have fun building a basket brimming with goodies that will get your toddler playing, creating, and moving.
More Ideas to Inspire a Healthy Easter this Year:
- Healthy Easter Gift Ideas for Children – Easter basket and egg hunt ideas that don't involve candy
- Best Children's Health and Fitness Gifts – more gift ideas that will get your child moving
Christine Harmon - Christine Harmon is a published author, trainer, and mommy obsessed with health, fitness, and all that makes the body work ...
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