Natural Easter Basket Ideas

I loved my Easter baskets as a child, and I want to recreate this for my kids. But naturally, of course! Here are tons of fun & natural Easter basket ideas.

I loved my Easter baskets as a child, and I want to recreate this for my kids. But naturally, of course! Here are tons of fun & natural Easter basket ideas.

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I don’t know if there’s a more joyful and hopeful day than Resurrection Sunday!

We do Easter baskets at our home. Sure, they’re a commercial invention, but I have great childhood memories of discovering my basket on Easter morning, and I want to recreate this for my kids.

With one small catch! I wand to, of course, do this tradition as naturally as possible! One thing is for sure: There are no Peeps, artificial dyes, or high fructose corn syrup candies in our Easter baskets, thank you very much!

I also don’t love all the plastic that comes along with this holiday. So for our family’s Easter baskets, I found some natural linen bags that I fill with wholesome goodies. I include some healthy(ish) treats, along with items for indoor and outdoor play.

It’s a nice mix, and it allows us to partake in the holiday without totally veering off course from our normal lifestyle. I consider it a definite win-win!

Natural Easter Candies

You don’t have to fill a basket with all kinds of yucky ingredients to please the kids. These days, there are tons and tons of more natural options that aren’t laden with dyes, artificial ingredients, and refined sugars. There are even candies that fit this bill made specifically for the Easter holiday, so you can still get all those fun bunny and egg-shaped treats for the kiddos.

SURF SWEETS JELLY BEANS
Natural Jelly Beans

“Healthy” jelly beans made without artificial dyes.

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SURF SWEETS JELLY BEANS
milk chocolate bunny Easter candy
Chocolate Bunnies

Milk Chocolate Bunnies for the win!

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milk chocolate bunny Easter candy
ORGANIC Chewy Candies - organic starbursts - Lovely Co
Organic Chewy Candies

Think of these as organic Starbursts ?

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ORGANIC Chewy Candies - organic starbursts - Lovely Co
Zollipops Zaffi
Zollipops Zaffi

This candy is very affordable, but made without sugar, gluten, dairy, or GMOs. Instead, it’s sweetened with xylitol, erythritol and stevia. Plus, it supports teeth health.

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Zollipops Zaffi
Native Honey Sticks
Native Honey Sticks

Kids will love the punch of sugar; you’ll love that it’s all natural, plus includes important nutrients and enzymes.

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Native Honey Sticks
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

These delicious peanut butter cups are fair trade, organic, and non-GMO. And each one contains just 5 grams of sugar.

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Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
YumEarth Organic Sour Beans
YumEarth Organic Sour Beans

Traditional jelly beans are total sugar bombs—swap them for this naturally flavored organic, vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO alternative.

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YumEarth Organic Sour Beans
Organic Chocolate Bunny
Organic Dark Chocolate Easter Bunny

The classic Easter treat, with a healthier spin. This chocolate bunny is made of certified organic dark chocolate. Bonus: It comes wrapped ready to give in a clear gift bag tied with a ribbon.

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Organic Chocolate Bunny
Enjoy Life Chocolate Easter Candy
Enjoy Life Chocolate Easter Candy

Perfect for tucking inside Easter eggs, these premium mini chocolate come in three flavors and are made with all-natural ingredients. They’re non-GMO, allergy-friendly, and certified gluten-free

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Enjoy Life Chocolate Easter Candy
Natural Bunny Lollipops
Natural Bunny Lollipop

These Easter bunny-shaped lollipops are organic and non-GMO and get their signature sweetness from all natural flavors.

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Natural Bunny Lollipops

Natural Easter Toys

But it’s not all about the candy. I find that my kids are just as excited (if not more excited!) about the toys that we put in their Easter baskets. I don’t go crazy—there’s nothing too expensive in there—but I do like to put little things, like building blocks or coloring books.

Fresh Veggie Garden
Fresh Veggie Garden

In many parts of the country, Easter kicks off planting season. This fun gardening kit is perfect for teaching kids about growing your own food. It includes heirloom seeds, starter soil, wooden plant ID stakes, growing instructions, and a growing journal to keep tabs on their bounty.

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Fresh Veggie Garden
LEGO BrickHeadz Easter Bunny
LEGO BrickHeadz Easter Bunny

A fun Easter-themed version of a classic kids’ toy with pieces big enough for little hands.

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LEGO BrickHeadz Easter Bunny
Kids Apron Set For Boys
Kids Apron Set For Boys

Teach kids about the joys of cooking with this mini chef kit. The set comes with an apron, oven mitts, a rolling pin, a wooden spoon, cookie cutters, and a whisk.

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Kids Apron Set For Boys
HEVEA Kawan Rubber Duck
HEVEA Kawan Rubber Duck

For the youngest set, a 100 percent natural rubber ducky to make bath time more fun.

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HEVEA Kawan Rubber Duck
Under the Nile Toy Bunny
Stuffed Bunny Toy

One of the softest stuffed animals you’ll find, made with organic cotton, fair trade, the works.

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Under the Nile Toy Bunny
Green Toys Flower Maker Dough Set
Green Toys Flower Maker Dough Set

This springtime-inspired toy is manufactured in the United States by Green Toys, a company known for manufacturing safe and eco-friendly toys.

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Green Toys Flower Maker Dough Set
Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow!
M & D On the Go Water Wow!

Like the coloring book that keeps on giving, these activity books contain reusable white pages that reveal color when wet.

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Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow!

Natural Easter Activities

Activities are also fun, since these are things the whole family can enjoy together. I love the interactive experience, and feel like that quality family time is such an important part of holidays like Easter. It’s not just about the baskets, after all!

A Kite!
A Kite!

What kid wouldn't love a cool kite in his or her basket?

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A Kite!
Natural Beeswax Crayons
Natural crayons

Where would my kids be without crayons and coloring? I love natural beeswax crayons because if (when!) they end up in baby's mouth, it's all good.

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Natural Beeswax Crayons
Kids playing card set
Playing cards

Fun games like these playing cards are a great way to shift the emphasis away from candy while still being fun.

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Kids playing card set
Natural sidewalk chalk
Natural sidewalk chalk

Imagine the look on your neighbor’s face when you tell him you only use natural sidewalk chalk. Ha!

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Natural sidewalk chalk
Bat and ball set toy activity for kids
Bat and ball set

A sporty toy like this makes a great Easter gift.

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Bat and ball set toy activity for kids
Comic Book Bible
Comic Book Bible

Fun way for kids to get into the reason behind the season!

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Comic Book Bible
The Bible Storybook for Girls
Bible Storybook for Girls

A Bible storybook for girls who love beauty…

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The Bible Storybook for Girls
Easter Stickers
Easter Stickers

Stickers are a guaranteed kid-pleaser, and these are just right for the holiday.

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Easter Stickers
Easter Stamps
Easter Stamps for Easter Baskets Stuffers

Fun egg-shaped stamps provide hours of entertainment. Use them to decorate hard-boiled eggs or let kids “ink” themselves.

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Easter Stamps
Eco-Eggs Coloring Kit
Eco-Eggs Coloring Kit

This egg dying kit puts a natural spin on the classic Easter activity of dying eggs. All dyes are made with natural and organic fruit, plant, and vegetable extracts.

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Eco-Eggs Coloring Kit
Easter Egg Decorator Kit
Easter Egg Decorator Kit

Like an Easter version of spin art, this little gadget turns an egg while you use the included non-toxic markers to make cool striped designs.

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Easter Egg Decorator Kit
Easter Coloring Book
Easter Coloring Book

A themed coloring book is easy to tuck inside an Easter basket, and provides hours of entertainment.

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Easter Coloring Book
Easter Mad Libs
Easter Mad Libs

A great option for older kids beginning to learn the rules of grammar that’s sure to have the whole family laughing.

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Easter Mad Libs
Easter Headband Craft Kit
Easter Headband Craft Kit

Let kids make their own special Easter accessories with this fun craft kit.

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Easter Headband Craft Kit

Natural Easter Baskets

If you’re going to fill the Easter baskets with natural options, why not make the basket itself a little more natural and environmentally-friendly? I love the fact that these choices are not only better for us and the environment, but they can also be used from year to year. It may seem like an unnecessary expense, but in the long run, it will actually save you both time and money. Two things I’m always looking to save!

Mini Easter Baskets
Mini Easter Baskets

When it comes to baskets, I love this mini handwoven option. They're made in Africa with natural materials, so each one is totally unique. They're just the right size for tiny hands. Plus, by purchasing these baskets, you are directly supporting the weavers who created them.

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Mini Easter Baskets
Easter Bunny Baskets Jute Burlap
Burlap Bunny Baskets

Here's another nice and natural basket option.

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Easter Bunny Baskets Jute Burlap

How About You?

What do you fill your kids Easter baskets with? Do you go the all natural route, or do you let things go a little bit for this special day? I’d love to hear all about your family’s traditions. And, of course, I’m always keen to get more great ideas for my own family. So with that in mind, please share all about your traditions in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear more from you!

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Genevieve Howland

About the Author

Genevieve Howland is a doula and childbirth educator. She is the bestselling author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth and creator of the Mama Natural Birth Course. A mother of three, graduate of the University of Colorado, and YouTuber with over 135,000,000 views, she helps mothers and moms-to-be lead healthier and more natural lives.

55 Comments

  1. Great ideas! Those chocolate bunnies have artificial flavoring, though.

    Reply

  2. my son loves “honey candy” they are manuka honey cough drops. I always use them when people are giving out lollypops or other candies. He tells people they are healthy candy 🙂

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  3. I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and do not celebrate Easter because of it’s pagan (the idolatrous worship and customs of false gods) origin. We obey Jesus’ command to memorialize his death only. (Mt 26:26-28; 1Cor 11:23-26) And the first of the Ten Commandments to ‘not to have any other God against His face and not to make any carved image of Him to bow down to it.’-Ex 20:3-6. So, since we want God to be pleased with any effort to worship Him, we must avoid the things He hates and to obey HIs guidelines for worship. And, through his Son Jesus he has asked us observe the Lord’s Evening Meal annually in place of the Passover, and to think on the meaning of the occasion which brought in the New Covenant arrangement with all it’s blessings. I hope my comment answered your question about my view of this holiday and what I am looking forward to this time of the year.

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  4. We generally do one ‘basket’ together for both my kids, 4 and 2. We got them a book about gardening, and they both got to pick out two kinds of flower seeds to plant in our large yard! I make my own gummy bears, so it’s a nice treat for them!

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  5. Hi Mama,
    Thanks for your ideas!
    In Russia, traditionally we use red onion skins to die eggs. It’s cheap, natural and gives eggs beautiful rich golden red color.

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  6. A kid’s gardening kit is a great idea that my mom has done for her grandkids!

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  7. I prefer to give small toys and gifts as well. But, of course my son can get a small bag of candy too. Luckily the Whole Foods in TriBeCa has a candy kiosk of sorts, so I get to choose some of his favorites and know there isn’t any junk in them.

    If anyone gets peeps, they’re great for arts and crafts! Glue them to some construction paper or build a peep pyramid. Fun use for a horrible candy.

    Reply

  9. I like your idea and the basket is looking so fabulous with colorful eggs.

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  10. I make my kids candy using Enjoy Life chocolate chips. They melt awesome. They get pennies in their Easter eggs and they get one gift each. Something fun they normally do not get. One year the girls got Build-A-Bear Hello Kitty dolls because I had a coupon and got one for free!

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    • I know this is an old post, but I am SO happy I read this! My son was diagnosed with an egg allergy. Through elimination, we’ve also found that he’s allergic and/or sensitive to dairy, coconut, and peanuts. I was trying to figure out what I’d do for his chocolate this year, and had considered the Enjoy Life chocolate chips I occasionally put in their pancakes. I just wasn’t sure how they’d melt. Since they are somewhat pricey in terms of chocolate chips, I didn’t want to accidentally ruin them by trying to melt them (been there, done that with other experiments). But after reading this, I’m so giving it a go!

      Reply

  11. We finally got our own land and plan on starting a big garden this year (have to wait for all this snow to melt first!) so the kids are getting their own gardening tote with real metal tools, real leather child size gloves (these are the cutest thing ever!), water shoes, a new placemat, an Easter book, a movie, new sun hats, my daughter is getting a child size apple slicer and my son a cherry pitter, and stickers. There are also getting a vegan chocolate bunny filled with gummy bears, a bunny sucker, jelly beans in eggs, and cheddar bunnies in eggs (No artificial dyes).

    Reply

  12. I decided last year when my daughter was 2 to do a Candy Free Easter basket, she got play money, new Disney Character socks, hair clips, some new eating utensils and a few other things. She was thrilled. So this year I am sticking with candy free and I bought a bunch of fun new beach toys. We live 10 minutes from a fun little beach that we love to go to in the summer so I knew this would be the perfect time to give them to her. I also splurged and hot her a new Melissa and Doug wooden cookie baking set. I ALWAYS got tons of candy for Easter and really try to keep my daughter candy free as much as possible. The only treats in our house are yummy earth lollipops for when she has SUPER days!

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  13. Between your article and all the other comments, I’ve gotten some more ideas…thanks!
    My son is 3 and we don’t do junk food or candy, so it’s usually some sort of little toys in his basket. This year, he’s really into those small, metal John Deere tractors, so I bought some attachments for them, little monster trucks, and bubbles. It looks like Christmas when we come home from my in-law’s after Easter dinner…everyone gets our son tons of things! I think it’s too much, so that’s why we just do something little for him ourselves.
    I love the idea of the homemade chocolate bunnies. I’ll have to get some molds and melt some Enjoy Live soy-free chocolate chips into them for an extra treat. And the coconut rolled dates…never thought of those!

    We’re doing Resurrection Eggs this year and we also watch Veggie Tales Easter a couple times the week/weekend of Easter. We tried the natural dyed eggs last year and we’ll do that again. The only problem is, I can’t find white pastured eggs, they’re mostly shades of brown or the pastel eggs. So, my eggs don’t look very pretty, but at least I know they’re good quality eggs anyway. 🙂

    We’re Evangelical Christians, so we don’t do the Easter Bunny thing (not that it’s wrong, my family just choose not to introduce it and teach the true meaning of Easter only). We go to church Easter morning, do a little egg hunt at our house (just the three of us), give him his basket, then go to my husband’s side of the family for dinner.

    Thanks again for your great articles…I follow on Facebook!

    Reply

  14. we opt for their favorite treats from the health food store that we dont buy often. it could be glass bottle of chocolate milk or their favorite beverage. They get a fruit, their favorite trail mix, their favorite organic chocolate all to themselves. or i make a batch of raw cookies and dry fruit. Just getting these things they dont have to share with a sibling or mom is heaven to them. we naturally color our eggs and grow wheat grass nest. They love tea so we will buy them a favorite flavor for them special and they think that is special long after Easter. As a family we either get new outdoor things for spring /summer or season pass somewhere we can spend time together. And because we believe in reading a new book is always tucked in. Just like Christmas we try not to focus on getting but being together and having fun. We may do a hunt or water gun fight, a outdoor picnic, the park or a walk.

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  15. We dont’t do Easter baskets but we love Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Honey Mints. They just have 3 ingredients, honey, mint, and dark chocolate. They come in a bag of probably 20, and are individually wrapped in a very spring color. 🙂 I am not sure if every TJ’s has them but I hope yours does too!

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  16. Our little one’s Easter treat will be a small bug box with caterpillars so we can watch them cocoon and set the butterflies free. I hope he likes it!

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    • Love this idea! Easter is all about rebirth and beginnings so watching caterpillars grow and change into butterflies fits so perfect!

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  17. I purchased the organic pops today. So yummy and my kids love them!

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  18. It is tradition in our family to have a chocolate Easter bunny in each child’s basket.
    However, I am having a difficult time finding a chocolate bunny without soy in the ingredients. Any suggestions? Not too expensive if possible because of filling seven baskets.
    Oooh and I love Cadbury eggs, but those have soy too 🙁

    Reply

  19. Lots of great ideas. We like to keep it very simple- my son (age 3) will be getting a kite, bubbles and perhaps a book with the Easter eggs, last year he got sunglasses and side walk chalk. I don’t think it’s necessary to turn it into another Christmas/birthday holiday, but a little something is always special. My husband grew up with dried fruit in their plastic Easter eggs, as another idea!

    Reply

    • I love the dried fruit idea, although my kids aren’t fans but maybe as they grow they will enjoy it more! I try not to turn Easter into a big present holiday also, although I went a bit overboard this year. I am trying to scale back on all holidays.

      Reply

  20. I appreciate it! I’m grappling a bit with how I want to share with Griffin and this could help.

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  21. Made those “peeps” yesterday – thanks for the link! Have been wanting to make homemade marshmallows and they turned out great!

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  22. Pustefix is a German bubble brand that is non-toxic and biodegradable, plus the bubble are really pretty.

    Reply

  23. We learned the hard way that it is better to give our kids their Easter baskets on the Saturday before Easter. That way, they have plenty of time to play with their toys/eat their goodies. Then, we can concentrate on the real reason for Easter on Easter Sunday without all the distractions. It makes it a lot easier to get off to church without any crying/complaining!

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    • I LOVE that idea! We celebrated with an egg hunt on Saturday last year, but saved the Easter baskets for Sunday. Big mistake.

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    • Our family observes Lent, but celebrates 50 days of Easter…so many days to give a little treat here and there, instead of all at once on just Easter Sunday 🙂

      Reply

  24. I just discovered these natural dyes http://www.naturalearthpaint.com/
    This year I’m just putting toys in the Easter basket as my son is only 16m. But when he’s older I’ll make fruit gummis, chocolate molds. I hope I’ll find some naturally flavored/ colored/ refined sugar free jelly beans. When I was a kid the Easter bunny would leave a trail of jelly beans to our basket. I hope he can do that with healthier jelly beans!

    Reply

  25. If you want naturally died red eggs, we’ve found that yellow onion skins do the best job. Just put a bunch of yellow onion skins in a pot with water and then boil them for a long time. Strain the skins out and then soak the eggs in the resulting dye. We are also Eastern Orthodox Christians, and we always have lots of red eggs in our Pascha basket! 🙂

    Reply

  26. We have so many toys and I don’t like to do candy. This Easter I did a sun dress for my daughter and a yellow submarine romper for my son. We spend the day with extended family and great grandma does an Easter egg hunt with money in the eggs.

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  27. Do you have your own recipe for the veggie side walk chalk instead of purchasing them from amazon?

    Reply

  28. We have always created our own egg hunts around the house. We put quarters and chocolate candies inside and hide them all ove the place, this never seems to get old. I think another great idea is to place do-it-yourself projects in the baskets for the kids to do that day.

    Reply

  29. Between the original post and these comments you gals have given me some great ideas for Easter! I think for my girls (I have a 3yr old and a 4mo old), it’ll be mostly things for out side play and maybe a new spring/summer outfit complete with some shoes or sandals, from the Easter bunny! My oldest is finally old enough I feel, to start being introduced to the religious aspect of the holidays so maybe her first bible! A new teething toy for the baby and an egg hunt with some friends. I’ll probably fill our eggs with change and spend the evening letting the 3yr old putting it in her piggy bank. (She LOVES that task). A thought for the mommas who’s babies are starting to use there fingers for picking up food, those organic yogurt bites and puffs go perfectly inside the plastic eggs! We did that for our oldests first Easter.

    Reply

    • So cute about the coins in the piggy bank. Griff would love that too!

      Reply

  30. How about some pics of your natural “basket” and pics of other basket ideas? Always wondering about options here- thanks:)

    Reply

  31. The time before Holy Days became so commercial. . . . .as a child we made nests out of grasses and wild flowers and put it at the end of our bed. A few candies and colored eggs were put in the nests after we went to sleep.

    Reply

  32. Last year my son got books and a soccer ball. For his first Easter, he got a piggy bank. I like to keep the holidays about family and being thankful for what we have but it is nice to make it fun for the kids too. This year he is going to get gardening gloves and books. We are also going to a community Easter egg hunt but I probably won’t let him eat any of the candy. At 28 months, he still hasn’t had any so no point starting! Thanks for sharing your ideas, Genevieve!

    Reply

  33. My kids have been begging for their own lucky bamboo plants, so they will get those in their baskets. Also planning to get a couple books, sunglasses, new garden trowels, packages of seeds for their garden, and a few sweet treats. The bunny always seems to “accidentally” spill plastic eggs all over the yard that the kids have to go pick up. Those have coins in them. When I was a kid, we always each got a package of strawberries in our baskets and I LOVED it. Strawberries weren’t available in stores during the winter, so it was nice to taste berries again.

    Reply

    • Aw, this is sweet! Love how strawberries were so special to you 🙂 That’s the way it should be 🙂

      Reply

  34. The Easter Bunny is bringing my 15 month old a basket of her own little gardening tools and kits to plant flowers/herbs. I got everything in the dollar section at Target. We are excited to celebrate spring!

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  35. Not sure what I am doing yet. I have always given my oldest a book in his basket. Thanks for all the great ideas.

    Reply

  36. Some easter basket treats we love… maple candies, mini raw honey jars, honeycomb and chocolates all from the local farmers market! Some eggs get filled with loose change or occasional dollar bills. Movies are always good. Maybe some arts and crafts supplies.. last year he brought a large unfinished wooden lettee for each of the kids initials along with some paint and brushes to help decorate and that was fun too!

    Reply

  37. We are Eastern Orthodox Christians, and there is a tradition of doing Pascha (Easter) baskets every year! We fast from meat/dairy/alcohol/oil for Lent, so we gather up all the foods that we have been fasting from and place it all in a basket: Cured meats, cheeses, hard boiled eggs, milk chocolate, baked goods, bottle of wine, etc. (Small toys/games for the children also make an appearance). At the end of the midnight service, the Priest blesses all the baskets with Holy Water, and everyone takes their baskets to the church hall to break the fast! Some families do one large basket, while others do smaller baskets for each of the children. It’s a joyous tradition, one my husband & I have done together since our engagement, and we will continue it with our little one who is joining us in the fall. To keep it ‘natural’ we try to stick with organic, fair-trade chocolates and locally sourced meats, cheeses, eggs & baked goods. I love those natural crayons & chalk ideas you shared, I will have to keep those in mind for the future : )

    Reply

    • That sounds like a very joyous tradition! That’s an intense fast. Beautiful!

      Reply

    • We are Orthodox Christians too and I came here to say this. Thank you! And good strength for the rest of Lent!

      Reply

  38. We (I mean, the Easter Bunny!) will be filling our kids’ baskets with mostly practical gifts: new sandals/shoes for summer, sunglasses for my boys (because they broke theirs from last year), and new kites. And for food, I’m going to add a couple individual packs of Annie’s organic cheddar bunnies and then fill up some (reused) plastic eggs with artificial/dye free chocolate candy drops (basically, m&m’s…but with cleaned up ingredients). And I’ve heard that the Easter Bunny that comes to my mom’s house will be bringing the Frozen DVD (which we have STILL not seen yet) and some new pajamas. Should be fun and the kids will be thrilled with these things! 🙂

    Reply

    • You’re not alone, mama, we haven’t seen Frozen yet either 🙂

      Reply

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