Easter Basket Ideas: Candy-Free (Almost) Edition

By Katie

Starburst Jelly Beans are my absolute favorites

Easter means a lot of things to a lot of different people. For many, it is a major religious holiday marking the resurrection of a Savior. For others, it simply marks the official start of Spring. For kids, it means candy and a visit from Santa's second-cousin, the Easter Bunny.

I love Easter. Always have, since I was a kid. So I like planning some fun activities for my kids. The thing that I loved as a kid but hate as a parent is the unreal amount of candy and junk food that abounds. What's worse is how delicious it all looks. What's the absolute worst is that I steal a few pieces here and there... a few times per day.... until it's all gone. Just when I thought I had recovered from Halloween...

So I try to be creative with the Easter baskets. There has to be at least some candy. Of course. But here are a few other less-sugary alternatives:

Stickers. I absolutely love stickers. They are so much less messy than markers, paint and glue and more fun than crayons. If you plan ahead, you can order stickers online in bulk for a much cheaper price than the tiny two-sheet packages at most stores.



Books. This is a great gift for kids of all ages. If you have a tech-savvy 'tween or teen, give them an iTunes or Amazon gift card so they can download their own selections.

Clothing. Do not buy practical things. Buy a T-shirt with their favorite characters, or even fun underpants.

DVDs. Get them a movie or DVD of their favorite TV show. You can make it Easter-themed (try Veggie Tales) or just something that you know they will love to watch over and over (and maybe some ear plugs for you).

Outdoor toys. What better way to kick off Spring than with a new kiddie pool, sprinkler or bike? For higher priced items, take a look on Craigslist or your local Freecycle site to see what other families may be unloading during their spring cleaning.

You can contact Katie by emailing her at katie@mumblingmommy.com.

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