imaginative gift giving
Non-candy Easter Basket fillers
When I was a child, we received candy just twice a year -- at Halloween and at Easter. These days, my children seem to get candy every time I turn around -- a treat for practicing their instrument, a reward for good behavior in class, an incentive to make a goal at a soccer game. That's why I have begun to fill my kids' baskets with non-candy items. Yes, we will still have Peeps and a chocolate bunny (it wouldn't be Easter without them), but they will be just part of the items found in the basket. If you are in a similar candy-overload dilemma, you might consider supplementing some of the usual treats with these non-candy items:
LEGO pieces
A kid can never have enough LEGO pieces, can he? It's a fun collection that can always be added upon, enabling your child to build even more creations. For fun, take those newly purchased LEGOs and build a build a rabbit, lamb or chicken. You can find the free patterns here.
Playmobil pieces
Maybe your child collects Playmobil instead of LEGOs? Why not add characters or pieces to an existing set. Or, if you want to stay with an Easter theme, check out the Playmobil Easter Bunny Tree-House.
This house might be too big for the Easter basket, but its many accessories would fit nicely.
Doll clothing Berenstain Bears
Did your daughter receive a special doll last Christmas? If so, why not put doll clothing or accessories into her Easter basket. The new items will encourage her to play with her doll again (which may have been set aside since Christmas). You might be able to find a special Easter outfit for her doll. My daughter received a MyTwinn doll last Christmas. I may purchase her and her doll matching Easter outfits. She could wear her outfit to church on Sunday, and then dress her doll in the matching outfit for our Easter dinner.
Paper Dolls
Speaking of dolls...Easter would be a neat time to introduce your daughter to the fun of paper dolls. Best of all, this gift costs only the price of cardstock and ink for your printer. Find free downloadable paper doll patterns all over the internet; here are some of my favorites:
My Little Pony
Making Friends paper dolls
I’ve printed these out on magnet sheets to make a fun magnetic dress up game for my children.
Jan Brett’s Hedgehogs Marbles
Pony Beads
A package of pony beads is very inexpensive, and your children will love working with them if you include patterns for a bunny or chick backpack tag. Incidentally, the Making Friends website also has many other great patterns for pony beads -- including animals, holiday themes, sports figures, cheerleaders and more. The patterns are free, too!
You can pick up a bag of marbles very inexpensively at many grocery and discount stores. But to make this gift really special, add a book on how to play different marble games. We like
Check it out here:
Sidewalk Chalk
Although sidewalk chalk has become a standard item in many Easter baskets (and thus, a rather predictable gift), we encourage you to take it a step farther. You could make your own chalk using candy, soap or candle molds to make uniquely shaped chalk. Here is a recipe for sidewalk chalk. Use the money saved on the chalk to buy a unique chalk tool or a book on drawing chalk art. Some examples:
Crayola Rainbow Rake
I hope these ideas inspire you to try something different this year!