Easter basket traditions?

[tms295psu]

How does everyone handle their Easter basket traditions? We started off just winging it... Now I feel I need a better plan.

Easter baskets have always just showed up complements of the Easter bunny on Easter morning. 5 years in I'm getting tired of purchasing new baskets to make them appear. Do you put your baskets out empty for the bunny to fill? Does your family get a group basket or one per kid?

Last year I did one "from the bunny" basket that was left out the night before empty... The bunny filled it with a few candy treats to share, eggs, chalk, etc. then I filled small baskets of "they need them anyway" items for spring from mom and dad.

How
Does your family handle it?

 

[tms295psu]

I'm just trying to avoid turning Easter into another "Christmas" with going over board

 

[ElenaRN]

DD is only 3 so this year is really the first year she will know what going on.

My mom always put the basket out the night before, so that will be my plan of action too.

Only problem with that is that ill have to wait until the night before to put it all together.

 

[theladyloki]

My aunt started to feel the same way with my cousins, so one year, she just decided to get them each a very generic/standard/plain basket and re-use it each year. The kids were always too excited about seeing what was in the basket that they never really paid attention to the basket itself, even when she was buying them superhero and princess ones.

So with the plain ones, a couple of days later, when the kids were off playing with whatever the Easter Bunny had brought them, she'd sneak off to take the baskets to use them the next year.

I should add, she'd usually try to add like little keychains and stuff that she could hang/decorate the basket with as part of their "goodies" so the reuse of the basket was less obvious - instead of some of the items just sitting in the basket, she'd use it as a form of decoration.

I know when I was a kid, I never really paid attention to the baskets themselves; come time for a garage sale or donation trip, they were usually one of the first things to go!!!

 

[taymaesmom]

Growing up we had the same basket every year, we just put it out the night before and the easter bunny filled it. That was normal to us. That is also what I have done with my girls, they are 19 and 14 and we still use the same basket. The day after Easter I pack it up with the other easter decorations.

I do spend alot of the easter filler but I have always filled it with stuff they would need any way, new swimsuits, towels, sun glasses, sandals, beach toys, chalk, bubbles, etc. as they got older they still get alot of the same things but instead of chalk and bubbles they get Bath and Body works stuff. This year both girls need shorts so they will get 3-4 pairs, a few t-shirts, sandals/flip flops, cell phone cases and lots of candy. I really tend to go overboard with the candy!

Dh said growing up the easter bunny used a different basket each year and it would always be a basket, sometimes it was a sand bucket or a duffle bag or a purse for his sister. And the easter bunny would hide the basket so they had to hunt for it every year too! Wish I had known that I would have loved to hide the basket too!

 

[rachael95]

I got my son a sturdy bucket with Mickey Mouse on it his first year. He plays with it all year long. I then re-used that bucket for his second Easter basket last year. He'll probably have that as his Easter basket this year too and he plays with the bucket in the bath tub, snow, living room, everywhere. Once it breaks, I'll probably buy another.

What goes inside: a little candy (our baskets as kids were 99.9% candy and I'm trying to get away from that for him), a book, maybe a stuffed animal or small toy. And plastic Easter Eggs that I put the candy or maybe stickers or something in. I think his favorite part last year (and the entire year long since I let him keep them) was to play with those silly Easter Eggs.

I did buy edible Easter grass last year and will definitely do that again this year. Not because it tasted good (it didn't) but because it was so nice not worrying that my son or cats might eat the plastic. Plus, less stuff for landfills.

 

[RachaelA]

I go overboard. I have a shopping problem

Baskets go out the night before (1 for each kid) and then the easter bunny fills them. Stuff inside is just whatever I think they'll want and probably some stuff that is practical (sippy cup, plate, etc).

Oh and starting this year, the easter bunny is going to hide the baskets. DH is SO SO SO excited for that part!

 

[powellrj]

Come back when you have been doing it for over 30 years!! LOL

What I did when the kids were little was go with buckets. They are really cheap and we would reuse them after the holiday. I would put a movie, a new spring type toy, some small item like trading cards and then some candy.

We have little people in our lives again, so I have started going with a stuffed animal and some candy and it seems to be what they like. They don't watch movies like my kids did, every thing is streamed and they don't really do cards (like pokemon), but I still do a spring toy. This year they are getting cool water guns.

 

[MandiC]

I refuse to make Easter into Christmas #2.
The kids leave out baskets the night before, Easter Bunny fills them and hides them. We do some candy and a few small/cheap spring toys (jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, kites). At one point I would do the "Oh well we have to get them swimsuits anyways, why not put them in the baskets" but the point for me is Easter is not about presents, nor is Christmas. They get a fun little surprise and necessary things are given when they are needed, not for a holiday.

 

[chrismb22]

I had a hard time finding a basket I liked (that fit!) but I finally got one at Pottery Barn kids. It has his name on it etc and it just disappears right after Easter -- it's for the Easter bunny to fill.

I do a little candy, animal crackers etc. I usually have a theme but this year it's all over the place. The only Toy Story character he doesn't have is Jessie (talking) so I got him her and a Phineas and Ferb DVD (he is just getting into them so it's perfect) and I am going to get a couple books or stickers, sunglasses etc. My problem is, I hate a lot of JUNK around the house (aka party favor toys) but don't want to go overboard. I don't want mini-Christmas LOL

 

[ajwolfe]

My kids have never really paid any attention to the basket, but we do reuse each year. I typically do a themed basket based on their current needs or interests. Two years ago they got fishing poles, nets, etc since they were both into fishing at the lake. Last year was the big Duck Dynasty obsession in our house so they got t-shirts, can koozie's, bracelets, etc. This year with Disney trip right around the corner they are getting their autograph books, a new Disney shirt and a new pin to trade. There is always candy in the basket as well, but we try to limit it to a chocolate bunny and a couple small things so we don't have a ton of left over candy after they hunt eggs too.

 

[pigletgirl]

When we knew I was carrying a daughter and her name was set, my MIL ordered DD's custom made Easter basket. It's something that she'll be able to use over the years.

That being said, we don't plan on doing too much for Easter. Just a few books and a toy or two. DD's birthday is a month after Easter this year so her basket will be a slim thing!

 

[henry72]

Growing up we reused the basket but I can't seem to get my mom to do that for my kids. Yep, she is the Easter Bunny for us. She delivers their baskets and I set them out on Easter morning. There is one basket per kid and then I usually set out last year's basket for the egg hunt. When they were little the toys were just bubbles and chalk but now that they are older she has branched out a little. This year it is a book, a $15 Wii game and a small toy in each basket along with some candy. Sometimes DH and I add something - last year it was the smaller $5 pillow pets from Target. I haven't decided if we will add something this year.

 

[RachSal]

Great grandma made each the kids their own basket with their name sewn into it when they were born. I keep them away with the Easter decorations and put them away when they are empty. I prep them in secret and the baskets only come out on Easter morning.

 

[Pesky]

So I have two of the baskets the kids have used before (thank you, sale at Joann's!) that are by the kids' beds in the morning. There is a trail of plastic easter eggs leading the way to the mother lode with are in 2 other baskets (I have 'em so I use 'em). The plastic eggs can be small or big and contain things like candy, cheerios, bunny crackers, plastic bracelets, hair clips, plastic dinos, cars and -ta dah! -- money (our spare change -- shhhhhhh). The money ones are the most prevalent so makes it easy for us. When the kids were real little we also picked up the eggs with the Little People inside. For the baskets, I let the kids play with them beforehand and say the EB will take them and fill them like Santa does the stockings.

For the baskets themselves there is a little candy because it's not Easter without that! But I tend to focus on the following items for Easter:
* gardening stuff -- last year the big gift was fairy houses and fairy garden things and this year I scored a solar-powered butterfly thing for the garden on clearance for DD
* outdoor activities -- sidewalk chalk, bubbles, butterfly garden with larvae (if it is warm enough -- last year they just got the certificate), kites, frisbees, camping gear, water bottles, even summer clothes like a t-shirt or something, etc.
* art and craft stuff
* swimming -- goggles, swim suits, flip flops, swim cover-up, beach towels, pool and water toys
* books and movies

Between those categories, I can usually scrounge up enough to put in the basket so it is fine. This year, they are getting candy, a couple movies, a book each, bubbles, 2 mugs I picked up on sale at the Disney Store, the solar-powered butterfly, a kite, swim goggles, sticky mosaics and swim suits. Also, forgot that they are getting little chalk eggs that have dinos inside so they have to "excavate" them (DS is HUGE into dinosaurs and wants to be a paleontologist). That Easter Bunny is so helpful getting ready for summer.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Disclaimer: Neither of my boys ever believed the Easter Bunny was real but we always have a blast playing it up. He still fills a basket for my 21 year old because the little guy would be upset if he did not get something

We use the same basket they got for their 1st year over and over every year. The night before Easter, we sit out the basket and carrots for the bunny. A few years the younger guy wanted to set a bunny trap and we did.
Basket go right inside the door, carrots on the porch.

In the morning the carrots have been nibbled and there is bunny poop (chocolate covered raisins). Baskets are filled. We get up early to head to sunrise service and there is always some type of quite toy or activity that can go along. When they were little, always a stuffed bunny to cuddle with at church. Always a fun new t-shirt and a few toys or items. sometimes a movie, a DS game, a small lego set, a super hero, etc. A little bit of candy or other snacks including something to take along to eat at church. As older DS got older, its mostly a gift card or two and a bit of candy or favorite snack. I may spend a bit more, but its not over loaded and I avoid junky stuff that they really don't play with. I spend about 40-50 on a basket.

 

[chris31997]

It is a family basket, but there is no basket. Usually the stuff is on the table. Sometimes it is just candy, sometimes it is something we need, or something for a trip coming up.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My kids have never believed in the Easter Bunny. Was never introduced. They get a basket that they know is from me. It usually has a few pieces of candy and a small toy of some sort. Then we fill several dozen plastic eggs and they have and egg hunt which is where must of their candy comes from.

 

[puffkin]

We reuse the same baskets every year. It seems wasteful not too. They always get a little candy, some plastic eggs filled with jelly beans or change, a movie or cheaper video game, a toothbrush and maybe one other cheaper toy or book. I try to avoid it turning into second Christmas. My one son also has a mid-March birthday so we usually are running low on ideas by Easter. I probably spend at most $30-$40 on the basket for each of them. We also never do clothes or necessities for christmas/birthday/easter unless they are asking for something in particular (for instance we got DS8 a football jersey for Christmas).

The Easter Bunny displays their baskets on the kitchen island. I like the impact when the turn the corner and see it. We hide the eggs all over the house (its usually too cold to do it outside) and then they find them once they check out their baskets.

Funny tradition...at our house Santa always brings a toothbrush in the stocking and the easter bunny always brings a chocolate rabbit. So right after Rise of the Guardians came out and DS insisted they know each other, we started putting a chocolate santa in the stocking and a toothbrush into the easter basket because Santa and the Easter Bunny were jealous of each other. My DS thinks its HILARIOUS.

 

[msmama]

I never even considered getting a new basket every year!! My son gets a little bit of candy (a very little big) usually M&M's and jelly beans (which I eat). I picked up a Jake and the Neverland pirates umbrella at the disney store the other day. In the past, if he got anything bigger it was something spring-like - rain boots, rain coat, gardening stuff, etc.

The big thing at our house is the hiding of the little plastic eggs!! It was my favorite part of Easter as a kid so I force it on my son who isn't quite as excited as I was.

This year his birthday is the week before Easter and we head off to Disneyland the week after so it will be an extra lean year!!