Another Easter Basket ???

[indimom]

The other easter thread got me thinking, that I should ask some of you other budget-minded folks for some ideas!
I run an in-home day care (15 kids total, no not all here at the same time). Most are between 10months and 6yo. I've spent over 10 years coming up with gift ideas for Christmas, Valentines, Easter, Halloween, etc.... and I'm clean out. I'm DONE with giving them the same old JUNK.
I need a little help with Easter. So far I have gotten each of the little ones a Disney Bucket with Shovel from the Target Dollar Bins, and the Large Bubble Wands from WalMart ($1 also). I need some other small items to fill out the buckets and would prefer not to do sidewalk chalk/sunglasses/etc. since I've done those to death. I'm also avoiding candy, stickers, etc. (We hunt eggs and that's the only type of thing that fits in those. )
Anyone have any great ideas???? I already did bath bubbles/sponges and such at Christmas so that is out too... Although I did LOVE that idea since it was useful AND fun. Anything like that would be GREAT!
HELP PLEASE!!!

 

[PA Princess]

Sorry, I think sidewalk chalk would be perfect in those buckets...my kids always need more.

Other ideas...jump ropes, blow up beach balls, book, pinwheels.

 

[MandM-Mom]

A favorite here is using cookie cutters to cut rice crispie treats dipped in colored chocolate putting them on stick and placing them in easter grass poking out of basket or mug/container I get cheap at christmas tree shop( I try to add styrofoam then cover with grass so they stay put, my daycare kids look for these every year I add a card for a free ice cream from our local shop and everyone is happy.

 

[indimom]

Sorry, I think sidewalk chalk would be perfect in those buckets...my kids always need more.

Other ideas...jump ropes, blow up beach balls, book, pinwheels.

I forgot about blow up beachballs and haven't done that in years...and I LOVE the pinwheels - I've never even thought of that, but they would love something colorful in their yard/garden... Great idea!
I did look at the sidewalk chalk again the other day, so I may go that route too. Sometimes I forget that just because I'm bored with it, the kids probably aren't.
Thanks!

 

[indimom]

A favorite here is using cookie cutters to cut rice crispie treats dipped in colored chocolate putting them on stick and placing them in easter grass poking out of basket or mug/container I get cheap at christmas tree shop( I try to add styrofoam then cover with grass so they stay put, my daycare kids look for these every year I add a card for a free ice cream from our local shop and everyone is happy.

That is completely CUTE!
A couple questions, do you cut them out, then dip them so they are completely coated?? I'm guessing a round flower would have the least waste?
About how big of a pan do you use and how thick do you make the treats before cutting out? I'm not sure I have cookie cutters thick enough to go all the way through a rice krispie treat?

 

[indimom]

Does anyone think toothbrushes would be okay? We use them after breakfast and lunch and we are due for new ones anyway... The kids would probably get a kick out of them if I got character brushes instead of solid colors.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Does anyone think toothbrushes would be okay? We use them after breakfast and lunch and we are due for new ones anyway... The kids would probably get a kick out of them if I got character brushes instead of solid colors.

I love that idea!

And I'd like to suggest rubber duckies. You can purchase them pretty inexpensively at Orientaltrading.com. I did Christmas themed ones for little gifts for ds to give him home daycare 'classmates' since they were safe for even the littlest kiddos. Ds is 4.5 and he still loves to get new rubber duckies!

 

[MSSANDRA]

What about non candy snacks?? Packs of things like gold fish or pretzels. Kids and parents love them and less "stuff" to deal with because you simply eat them.
I like the rice crispy idea or do sugar cookies the same way but you really have a nice gift with the bucket and bubble as it is!

 

[disykat]

Is it normal for daycare providers to give their kids gifts every holiday or is that just something you enjoy doing?

I'd have a special treat, do some themed activities and say "Happy Easter."

 

[debsays]

I always remember when I was a little one I use to always get a BoLo Bat. Which is now called paddle/ball. So I've held on to that tradition and that's one item that's a must in every Easter Baskets we give.

 

[MandM-Mom]

That is completely CUTE!
A couple questions, do you cut them out, then dip them so they are completely coated?? I'm guessing a round flower would have the least waste?
About how big of a pan do you use and how thick do you make the treats before cutting out? I'm not sure I have cookie cutters thick enough to go all the way through a rice krispie treat?

Yes I cut them then dip them, I dip sometimes just the top half or sometimes the whole depending on the cookie cutter I use, last year I just did just the ears of the rabbit but did the whole egg then added some sprinkles. I cover my large bar pan with plastic wrap and spread the cereal mix in that so its the thickness about 1/2 inch or so, I think metal cutters work better, they are usually thicker. As for the scraps left over dh husband always finishes them off no problem so I don't worry about waste!

 

[Halle]

Does anyone think toothbrushes would be okay? We use them after breakfast and lunch and we are due for new ones anyway... The kids would probably get a kick out of them if I got character brushes instead of solid colors.

Great idea! We had a neighbor who was a dentist and gave out toothbrushes on Halloween, my kids loved it and looked forward to it. One year they got candy and were disappointed.

 

[badblackpug]

I was at Target today and the dollar bins had a lot of little Easter things in them. I can't really tell you exactly what, because I didn't look (we don't celebrate Easter) but I did notice pastel colored egg shaped sidewalk chalk. It might be worth checking out.

 

[jessica52877]

Crayon roll ups. I make them every year for my son's class and then sometimes for birthday parties. They hold crayons and are easily able to be taken from here to there.

 

[indimom]

Is it normal for daycare providers to give their kids gifts every holiday or is that just something you enjoy doing?

I'd have a special treat, do some themed activities and say "Happy Easter."

I'd say giving gifts depends on the day care. Since mine isn't a center and I'm very personally involved with all these kids (most are in my care from six weeks to six years), I do like to give gifts.
I don't actually do gifts for the "smaller" holidays like Halloween and Valentines Day. Usually things like safety flashlights or blinking badges at Halloween and goodies and a card at Valentines. But I do like to do a gift for Christmas and Easter. I try to stay in the $5-10 range, since it can get pretty expensive with 15 kids to buy for.

 

[indimom]

Yes I cut them then dip them, I dip sometimes just the top half or sometimes the whole depending on the cookie cutter I use, last year I just did just the ears of the rabbit but did the whole egg then added some sprinkles. I cover my large bar pan with plastic wrap and spread the cereal mix in that so its the thickness about 1/2 inch or so, I think metal cutters work better, they are usually thicker. As for the scraps left over dh husband always finishes them off no problem so I don't worry about waste!

Thanks! I wasn't sure if they would hold up if they were too thin, and wasn't sure what to do if they were too thick for my cookie cutters. I appreciate the tips. I'm going to give this a try for our snack that day. Very very cute.

 

[indimom]

so I'm just going to say thanks for all the ideas: rubber ducky, paddleball, and the Easter chalk. I'm going to get to Cincinnati this weekend, so I can look around some more then. I think I've seen Disney themed paddle balls at Dollar Tree so I'm going to see if those are still there.
I've seen the crayon rollups on some of the WISH pre-trippies, but I don't think I've got the skills for that one. The only thing I've sewn in the last 15 years are the occasional button and a couple (nice square) throw pillows. I've seen these at craft shows though, so I'll have to keep that in mind for another year. The kids would love those!
Thanks again for all the replies and suggestions.

 

[miknsusn]

I have 2 more ideas for you. What about seed packets that they can plant at home. The Easter Bunny always leaves 1 pk each of veggie and flower seeds for our kids and they are a big hit-especially sunflower seeds for the plants that grow 7-8 feet tall! Also, our kids preschool and the nursery at our church used to take pics of each child wearing Easter Bunny ears (you can buy for about $1) and give it to us in a decorated frame. We still have them all. Good luck choosing what to do-sounds like you are a great care provider for these lucky children

 

[3boymthr]

Here's an idea - not necessarily for the littlest ones but for the older one's. At Target in the toy department there are bins of little toys. One of the items is almost always punch balloons. My kids love these things. They're usually come in a package for 4 for @$2. My kids also love decks of cards - mini or standard size.

BTW - love the flower idea and if you want to make sure they have all they need to get the seed started, Home Depot and Lowes sell little seed starter kits for sunflowers and a couple other flowers (marigolds I think). They include the seeds, a little wax paper cup, lid to help it get started soil and a peat moss cup. Last year they were less than $1/kit. We used them for cubscouts and the kids really had fun getting the seeds started.

 

[indimom]

My kids love helping me plant flowers for Earth Day, so I know they would love having their own to plant. Good ideas! Thanks.