Need some great ideas for your toddler’s Easter basket? Trying to avoid too much candy? We’ve got you covered.
In this article, you’ll find fun, healthy, and entertaining Easter basket ideas for toddlers that will help you avoid the candy binge and keep your little one happy on this beautiful holiday!
Easter is a time of celebration and joy and a perfect time for kids to learn about the meaning of the holiday. Even if you’re not into the holiday’s religious aspects, this is a great time to offer gifts and share precious time with close friends and family members.
Kids love Easter because it means Easter baskets and egg hunts.
Usually, Easter baskets are filled with chocolates, candies, and other sweet treats that are abstained from over the tradition of Lent.
However, what often happens with a basket full of candies is that kids want to eat them all at once!
As delicious as these treats are, they’re also typically high in sugar, saturated fats, and artificial ingredients.
As conscious parents, we want to ensure our little ones follow a healthy diet. That doesn’t mean no candy at all – moderation is healthy – but it does mean that we can encourage healthy gifts and teach kids to appreciate them all the same.
Best Easter basket ideas for toddlers
Below we’ve included a list of Easter basket ideas for toddlers that are healthy and fun alternatives to a basket full of candy.
It’s OK to let your little one enjoy some candy at Easter time, especially since they’ll see chocolate and other holiday-themed sweets everywhere they go, but be mindful of a candy binge.
This is a time to celebrate and be joyful with close friends and family, so we don’t let our little ones get sick or start bouncing up and down with sugar, only for things to end in a big sugar crash!
Below we’ve included toys, supplies, and non-candy options for your little one’s Easter basket to help them have a fun day!
1. Age-appropriate books
The Easter bunny delivers more than just candy.
Books are a great addition to any toddler’s easter basket. Reading is a great way for toddlers to spend time and improve their literacy skills.
A love of books serves children into adulthood, so start them early by offering books as gifts.
Reading is also an excellent way for parents and children to bond.
Choose children’s books with Easter themes to get the most out of our books as Easter gifts!
2. Art supplies
Art supplies are fantastic Easter basket stuffers to entertain your little ones for hours. Include markers, crayons, and Easter-themed (or any) coloring books as part of their Easter treats.
Art supplies encourage kids to use their imagination, get creative, and show off their talents. They also serve kids much longer than candy gifts and can be used repeatedly.
3. Toys for the outdoors
Outdoor toys such as water guns, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and frisbees make lovely Easter gifts. Spring, the Easter season, is when kids want to start going out to play more and more, and the suitable toys will offer plenty of spring and summer fun!
4. Puzzles
Puzzles and games are an easy, compact, and fun addition to your toddler’s Easter basket. Not only do they entertain, but they also encourage problem-solving skills and overall cognitive development. Make sure puzzles are challenging but not too complicated!
5. Stuffed animals
Kids adore stuffed animals, so add a plush friend to your little one’s Easter basket and watch their eyes light up. This may be one of your favorite Easter basket ideas because a stuffed animal will be your little one’s companion for years.
Try an Easter-themed stuffed bunny or any of your youngster’s favorites from the animal kingdom.
6. Bath toys
Bath toys make bath time fun and relaxing and are especially helpful when your youngster is reluctant to get in the bath!
Ducks, boats, and other floating toys will keep them entertained and are an easy, cheap addition to their Easter basket.
Non-candy Easter basket ideas
You don’t need the candy to create a tasty Easter basket. Some candy is OK, but remember that fruits, nuts, and other healthy foods can be delicious Easter basket fillers too!
1. Fresh fruit
Instead of a basket full of chocolate candy, add some fresh fruit to your youngster’s Easter basket.
Clementines, pears, and strawberries are tasty and healthy snacks that make a colorful addition to any Easter basket! These fruits are packed with vitamins and other essential nutrients, which is a great way to encourage healthy eating when candy Easter eggs are everywhere!
2. Dried fruit
Dried fruit is another great non-candy Easter basket filler.
Dried mango, apricots, and cranberries are so tasty that they feel like candy anyway!
Be careful not to add a lot of dried fruit. This preservable alternative to fresh fruit has been dehydrated, which means the sugar and calories are more concentrated.
So, if kids snack on dried fruit as much as they snack on candy, their digestive system may feel a little upset.
A little goes a long way!
3. Granola bars
Granola bars are a delicious and healthy alternative to typical Easter candy. You can make them at home or use store-bought.
Remember that store-bought granola bars are much higher in sugar than those you can make at home, so if you’re conscious about your youngster’s sugar intake, opt for an easy homemade granola recipe!
4. Trail mix
Mix various nuts and dried fruit pieces to make a healthy trail mix, and add it to your kid’s Easter basket for a healthy snack.
You can use whatever nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and flavors your little one loves to satisfy their snack cravings without relying on candy all day.
Consider your little one’s chewing abilities and the choking hazard of nuts and seeds.
Easter egg hunt ideas
In addition to fun-filled Easter baskets, Easter egg hunts are a fun aspect of the holiday.
Kids love to run around with a basket and find as many colored eggs as possible. Counting how many eggs you found and comparing them to your friends is a great way to spend an afternoon and helps kids enjoy the holiday even more.
Below we’ve included some fun and creative ideas for your next Easter egg hunt!
1. Color-Coded
This egg hunt game works great for a small group of kids.
Color eggs with as many different colors as there are eggs in the group.
Hide eggs of various colors in equal amounts around the designated egg hunt area.
Each child is assigned a specific color to find. This way, each child can find their own eggs and achieve personal success while joining the overall egg hunt with others.
Make it more cooperative by assigning a pair of kids to one color.
If you need more colors, use different patterns and color combinations.
2. Scavenger hunt
If you want a more challenging alternative to the regular egg hunt, make it a scavenger hunt.
Set out puzzles, riddles, and clues to help kids find the location of the next egg.
This one is great for teamwork, as kids can work together to find the next location.
3. Blindfolded Egg Hunt
A blindfolded egg hunt is a hilarious alternative to the standard hunt.
For this to work best, keep the hunt area small, such as a large indoor space or an outdoor space with clearly defined boundaries.
Kids wear blindfolds and must find eggs using only their sense of touch!
4. Obstacle Course/ Complete Challenge Egg Hunt
You may need some extra participants to pull this game off, but it’s incredibly fun if you can make it work.
Instead of just looking for eggs, kids must find ‘referees’ – adults or non-hunters who hold eggs and give out eggs based on witnessing kids complete a particular challenge, such as jumping jacks, climbing, or other physical challenges.
This way of playing is fun and often leads to loads of laughter, especially when the challenges are silly!
Conclusion
Easter doesn’t have to mean candy binges and sick toddlers. The non-food items above will keep your little one entertained throughout Easter.
The non-candy food items will ensure your little one stays healthy even during holidays.
Remember that while we want our kids to be as healthy as possible, balance is vital.
Candy eggs and other treats are a normal part of Easter, so try to balance treats and healthy options.
Hopefully, these Easter basket stuffer ideas will make Easter morning memorable for your little one.
Whether you include the Easter bunny, take part in the more religious side of the holiday, or take an entirely secular approach, the main thing to remember is that this is a time to share the love with those close to us (and sometimes that looks like sharing a chocolate bunny or two!)