Easter Basket Ideas That Aren't Food

Easter Basket Ideas that Aren’t Food Related

Pinwheels – They’re not just for yard decorations. My son has one and he loves blowing on it and watching the colors spin – must be magic. He also uses it as a sword.

Colorful paper – you can use it to make origami or the pinwheels, or any number of things really. Here is some easy to follow instructions on making your own pinwheels - http://www.leslietryon.com/3dcolorcutout/makepinw/makepinwheel.html

Water Guns – They’re not just for water fights. You can also put colored water or paint in them and color different art projects.

Toy Guns – They’re not just for boys any more. There are all kinds out there. One of Thomas’ favorites are an old fashioned “pop gun”, he absolutely loves it.

Books – I love buying Thomas books, and better yet Thomas LOVES books. He looks at them so much that a lot of them have been taped back together. Every time we’re in town I try to buy him one new book. They don’t have to be expensive books, kids don’t mind. Most of the books I buy for Thomas are from the dollar bins in Target, or other dollar store books. He has more expensive ones too, but some of his all time favorites are the dollar or less books.

Chalk – Who doesn’t love chalk? And there are so many different things you can do with it, it’s not just for writing on the side walk like it was when we were kids.

Balls – Thomas loves balls. They’re great for playing with outdoors or inside. There are so many different kinds of balls. Besides sports type balls like basketball or soccer balls or foot balls, there are sensory balls that you can buy for younger children, there are glow in the dark balls, temperature sensitive so they change color when you touch them. This list can go on for what seems like ever.

Art Supplies – Crayons, Markers, Colored Pencils, Paint. You could do a whole art themed basket.

Note Pads – Little note books, Journals, Magnetic note pads (I love these. I have five of them hanging in my kitchen.)  Shaped note pads, Post-it notes. This list too could go on and on. Another bonus with these is they will be used, and usually you can find them pretty cheap.

Spring Themed Toys – Butterfly nets, Bug Jars, Fishing Poles, Little Gardening tools – gloves, tiny shovel, tiny rake, bucket, watering can.

Card Games – Cards for Go-Fish, Apples Apples, Uno , War, Slap Jack… this list can go on. Kids don’t really play these games anymore. With Technology they have so many different options for toys we always forget the easier and cheaper things that we used to play with as children.

Tub Toys – Little squirting animals, floaters, sponges, bubble makers. It seems like every time you shop for tub toys there are more and more possibilities. This could even go for older people as well – a nice tub pillow, bath fizzies, and bath bombs.

Spring Clothing – Cute onsies for the babies, or a new swim suit for other kids, maybe pool shoes

Gel Pens – I used to love these when I was younger. You could get spring colored ones, ones with glitter add a pad of black paper and any little girl will be thrilled, or little boy for that matter.

Preschool Weebles – You know “Weebles wobble but they won’t fall down”. My son loves these. There are also some Giant versions for the pool that you can find in the pool / summer isle.

Tooth Brush – You can buy these at the dollar store. They’re good tooth brushes and

Winter Toys – You can get them on clearance this time of year and use them in different uses during the summer. I bought Thomas an “Igloo Maker” and we will be using it in the sand box. You could buy them light plastic sleds that can be rolled up and use them in a water slide in your yard over the summer.

Bubbles – My son loves bubbles. And again there are a ton of different types of bubbles – flavored edible ones, glow in the dark ones, and the original ones. You could also add a bubble kit to play with.

Play Dough – You can buy it or make it yourself. I found a great recipe for Kool-Aid play dough – I will never buy play dough again.

Match box /Hot wheels cars

There are an infinite number of possibilities that you could put into the baskets. You can stick to a theme or just pile it in there. I personally like to keep it cheap and buy things I know I would be buying for Thomas in the future anyways – two birds one stone kind of thing. What are some ideas that will be put into your kid’s Easter Baskets?