27 Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas for Kids

Easter baskets don’t need to be wall-to-wall jelly beans. A basket with a few small things to do, wear or play with gets more use than a pile of candy, and it carries kids into spring rather than into a sugar crash on Sunday afternoon. A little chocolate is fine. The rest of the basket can work harder.

Here are 27 non-candy Easter basket ideas, grouped by type. Most are small and inexpensive, many under $10, and the age notes are rough guides.

For getting outside (1 to 7)

Easter falls right as Chicago starts to thaw, so outdoor gifts get used straight away. Our springtime Chicago bucket list has plenty of places to try them.

1. Sidewalk chalk. The thick, chunky kind for little hands, or a set with stencils for older kids.
2. A bubble wand or a bottle of bubble solution with a big wand for giant bubbles.
3. A jump rope, plus a printed list of a few jump rope rhymes.
4. A kite. A small, simple one that flies in a light breeze. Lakefront parks are ideal.
5. Seed packets and a small pot, like sunflowers, beans or cherry tomatoes, which grow fast and are easy for kids.
6. A bug viewer or magnifying glass for poking around the backyard or the park.
7. A frisbee or a small bouncy ball for the playground.

For making and creating (8 to 13)

8. A small watercolor set with a brush and a pad of thick paper.
9. Play dough or modeling clay in spring colors.
10. A sticker book or reusable sticker scenes, good for preschoolers.
11. A friendship bracelet kit or a bead set for ages 6 and up.
12. A sketchbook and colored pencils, which feel more grown-up than crayons.
13. A small craft kit, like a paint-your-own wooden bird, a sun catcher or a simple sewing card set.

For reading and learning (14 to 18)

14. A spring-themed picture book about rabbits, gardens, rain or baby animals.
15. A chapter book that starts a series, for early readers who are ready to binge. Our guide to building a kids’ home library on the cheap has tips for finding them for less.
16. An activity book with mazes, puzzles and dot-to-dots.
17. A small science kit, like a crystal-growing set or a mini magnet kit.
18. A pocket field guide to birds, flowers or trees, to bring on spring walks.

For wearing and using (19 to 23)

19. A new pair of fun socks with bunnies, chicks or carrots.
20. A sun hat or baseball cap ready for warmer weather.
21. Kids’ sunglasses, since spring sun on the lake is brighter than it looks.
22. A water bottle for school, the park or sports practice.
23. Hair clips, scrunchies or a headband in spring colors.

For bath, bedtime and playtime (24 to 27)

24. Bath toys or bath crayons for toddlers and preschoolers.
25. A small stuffed animal, ideally a bunny or a chick.
26. A coupon for an outing, like a trip to the zoo, a picnic at a favorite park or a museum visit. Our list of free museum days can help you plan one.
27. A small card or board game the whole family can play on Easter afternoon.

Putting the basket together

A few practical tips make non-candy baskets look full and feel special:

• Pick one anchor item. A kite, a book or a puzzle sits in the middle. Smaller items go around it.
• Aim for four to six items per basket. More than that and the good things get lost.
• Use the basket itself. A sand bucket, a small watering can, a gardening tote or a sun hat turned upside down can all be the basket, and then they become part of the gift.
• Skip the plastic grass. Shredded paper, a folded tea towel or a bandana works and is easier to clean up.
• Use plastic eggs for small items. Fill them with hair clips, stickers, coins, small erasers or coupons for later treats.
• Think about choking hazards for kids under three. Avoid small pieces, beads and small balls in baskets for little ones.
• Match the basket to the child. If siblings share a basket theme, give each a different anchor item to avoid arguments.

If you’re hosting an egg hunt, the same plastic eggs work outdoors too. Put a sticker or a slip of paper inside each one for kids to trade at the end for a small prize, and keep a couple of extra eggs in your pocket for whoever finds the fewest.