Non-Food Easter Baskets

What to use for baskets:

• The cheap wicker Easter baskets they sell at the store
• Other stores have more fun “baskets” like fabric animals and colorful pails
• Colorful organizational totes at the dollar store (we get these the most – fun and functional for after Easter!)
• Decorative bowls
• Toy containers: baby doll bath tubs, strollers or cradles, Lego containers, etc. (holds the goodies and doubles as a toy)
• Real baskets from a home or craft store
• Instead of using Easter grass, use fabric, a new piece of clothing, a baby blanket, etc.

Easter Basket Ideas (other than candy):

• Sidewalk Chalk (make your own without any toxic ingredients if you have the time)
• Playdough
• Gak  (another homemade ooze recipe)
• Bubbles
• Crayons (melt old or new crayons down and more into molds for personalized crayons)
• Color books (or print coloring pages from online)
• Babydoll or stuffed animal sleeping bags (See how HERE – Sleeping bags are good for boys or girls, just alter the color combinations!)
• Spongeballs (great water toy or baby toy. Cheap and easy!)
• Chipmunk or other animals from a glove
• Teddy bears or a socktopuss  from colorful socks
• Letters, shapes, or number sponges for bath time
• Felt Food for play kitchens (Lots of stuff out there!)
• Dinosaur tails for imagination play
• Superhero capes (I can personally attest that super hero capes are for boys AND girls!)
• Eggs full or small toys (think plastic dinosaurs, army men, Legos, etc)
• Eggs full of colorful goldfish or cheerios (love this idea for my Godchild)
• Stickers or stamps (My basket always had a ton of Lisa Frank stickers! Here’s a link on how to make your own stickers)
• Pencils and stationary (there is so many free printables out there, you could probably print your own out as well)
• Art supplies (one of my favorites as a kid)
• Kites (we always got one of these in our basket!)
• Balls or other sports equipment
• Make your own airplane kits (you can buy these for a dollar or two at craft stores usually)
• Sippy cups or drink cups (I bought a bunny cup with a straw for my Godchild)
• Puzzles and other games
• Flash cards or playing cards
• Hair or jewelry accessories
• Dress-up items
• New clothes or shoes
• Movies or music (Veggie Tales Jonah DVD is $5 at Target, along with some other kids movies)
• Books and comics
• Sand toys
• Bath toys
• Kids gardening supplies
• Bug catching supplies
• Craft kits
• 
  

Theme Baskets:

• Art supplies – paints, crayons, color books, notebooks, etc.
• Sports/outdoor equipment – Frisbee, balls, 2 person paddle games, etc.
• Baking or food – Aprons, play food, plates and other containers
• Bathtime – foam and sponge shapes, containers, other bath toys
• Beach or toy box- Sand pails, shovels, measuring cups, sifters, funnels, etc
• Gardening/bug catching/exploring – bug containers, nets, child-size shovels, boots, pots, explorer hats and vests
• Superhero: Capes, KIDS comics and movies, action figures
• Dress up – Jewelry, shoes, clothing, etc.
• Game Time: Games and puzzles, snacks for family game night