I've been putting non-candy items in my kid's Easter Baskets for years. It started because my son has a peanut allergy, and thankfully just doesn't like chocolate, (we used to fill his plastic eggs with cheese puffs). I was shopping one year, and realized, instead of filling the basket with more candy and junk, why don't I just get them things they actually need - I've gotten them things like new baseball gear, books, hair accessories, toothbrushes, socks, and summer clothes.
Here are fifty practical ideas and non-candy items:
- Books (I try to get titles from the school book fair)
- Toothbrushes (I got the battery operated ones, the kids loved them!)
- Summer sports gear - batting gloves, eye black, uniform gear
- Swim Goggles
- Deck of Cards
- Card games like Uno, Phase 10, Skip Bo, Old Maid, Spoons
- Bath bombs
- Lotions
- Slime Supplies (saline solution, glue, glitter)
- Lip balm
- Art supplies
- Coloring Books
- LEGO® mini kits
- Temporary Tattoos
- Stickers
- Gum
- Food - crackers, cheese puffs, cookies
- Sidewalk Chalk
- Sunglasses
- Flip flops or Crocs
- Swimsuit
- Summer Clothes
- Squirt guns
- Jump rope
- Science Kits
- Kite
- Trading cards: Pokemon, football, baseball, basketball, etc.
- Action figures
- Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars
- Nail polish
- Hair ties, bows, ribbons, barrettes, headbands
- Makeup
- Jewelry
- Mini play dough
- Foam stickers
- Painting kits
- Mini puzzles
- Silly string
- Flash cards
- Fun socks
- Yo-yo
- Small wooden peg games
- Travel Games (checkers, battleship)
- Silly, twisty straws
- Grow capsules or creatures
- Hidden pics and word find books
- Sudoku Books
- Glow sticks
- Mini flashlights
- Redbox gift cards (get the codes at redbox.com)
