Easter baskets?

[apirateslifeforme]

My little dude (3.5 years old) is totally getting spoiled again this year. So far, the bunny has a Paw Patrol Easter book, Paw Patrol stamp set, Paw Patrol bouncy ball, Paw Patrol stickers in an egg, Paw Patrol (sense a theme here? ) temporary tattoos, 3-pack of Paw Patrol 3D drinking cups, Paw Patrol candy bones, set of 5 Batman Hot Wheels cars, a Hot Wheels motorcycle, Monster Jam Grave Digger vehicle, 2 Easter Kinder Joy eggs, a small bag of Yum Earth gummy worms, a small bag of Jelly Belly ice cream cone jelly beans, SpongeBob SquarePants bubble bath, a box of SpongeBob gummy Krabby Patties, a small container of gears for building, and a small container of plastic superheroes (like "green army men" from back in my and my parents' day). He also often asks me to paint his fingernails, so I bought a deep blue nail polish for him, but I don't know if I'll put it in his basket or just give it to him next time he asks.

In years past, he would get a bottle or sippy cup, an Easter-themed book (his first year was The Story of Easter board book, his second year was a children's bible, last year was The Story of the Easter Bunny), a romper or t-shirt, small stuffed toy, a DVD, a canister of puffy snacks or bag of yogurt melts, and a special PEZ (his daddy collects PEZ and wanted him to have some special dispensers of his own).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Personally, I’d be kinda upset if it was my birthday and I got a comb and a bag of lettuce. Those are grocery list items, not gifts.

For me those would be considered gifts

No seriously I was the 18 year old freshman in college who asked for Hy-Vee (grocery store) gift cards for birthday or Christmas. In fairness I preferred gift cards at that point for years. That gift card was one of the best gifts you could give me. Now in the literal sense no my mom didn't buy me a comb and a bag of lettuce but hey with that grocery gift card I could have done that

*Know your audience is probably the more apt advice*

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I can't remember when at least my mom stopped with the baskets but they were well before some of the other posters that have commented. Don't have any issues with whatever you want to do just giving that experience.

Most often from what I remember is fake grass, chocolate and candy. Maybe some of those mostly useless but still great fun for a little while toys. I think silly putty may have been in there when I was a bit older. I remember taking that and putting it on the comics section of the newspaper lol.

When I was a young kid my sister and I would do some dyed eggs that would end up being hidden for the hunt and then plastic eggs filled with candy or chocolate would also be hidden. My mom was good at doing multiple places inside and partially outside taking into consideration the age difference (3 years) and height difference (quite a lot) and would direct my sister to eggs she hid with her in mind. The egg hunt was the part I most looked forwarded to at least when I was a young kid.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Yep, I think we're roughly the same age. Back then it was unheard of in my area to get toys or trinkets in an Easter basket. It was all candy. Maybe the other gifts were given separately, but NEVER in the basket.

One candy I haven't see in years is a hollow chocolate egg that can be filled with smaller treats like jelly jeans or speckled malted eggs.

Does anybody actually buy those cellophane wrapped baskets full of cheap toys from Walmart or the drugstore? I can see making your own personalized basket, but those pre-made ones shout "I don't give a damn."



I was taught that Easter is THE most important Christian holiday in a religious sense.

Me too, that's why I never liked the idea of it being a big "present" holiday.

Funny thing I've noticed about the pre-made baskets, I see a lot of families buying those with the kids in tow - like, "here, pick out the basket the Easter Bunny is gonna bring you." I have no idea how they play that off on Easter morning.

 

[Floridaman999]

Ah, the annual ritual where things like chapstick and shoes are passed off as gifts lol

I’m not singling anyone out but when was it decided that Easter (which is probably the second most important Christian holiday) has become the time to restock the kids for summer?

Personally, I’d be kinda upset if it was my birthday and I got a comb and a bag of lettuce. Those are grocery list items, not gifts.

You mean to tell me you don't comb your lettuce before you eat it? I've said it before and I guess it's time to say it again.

I can't even.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

I still baffled why jelly beans are called Jelly Bird Eggs. Is there a avian species known as a Jelly Bird?

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Funny thing I've noticed about the pre-made baskets, I see a lot of families buying those with the kids in tow - like, "here, pick out the basket the Easter Bunny is gonna bring you." I have no idea how they play that off on Easter morning.

I have never and would never buy the pre-made baskets and don't buy Easter stuff when the kids are with me. To this day though, I don't have the slightest idea of whether my oldest thinks her basket comes from us or the Easter bunny (youngest is too young to have a clue or care). She's never seen us leave it out and we've never taken credit, but we've also never really acknowledged the Easter Bunny or gone to get pics with him or anything like that. She's 8 and still believes in Santa but it's hard to think she'd believe a large bunny goes around leaving gifts. I don't know, maybe that's just me. Even as a kid, the idea of a giant rabbit basically acting as a small-time Santa never seemed believable to me.

 

[easyas123]

I can see I'm probably in the minority here, but when my kids were young they got a simple Easter basket, but no toys - now they are older and they get nothing. I never experienced the holiday as a major (or minor ) gift giving situation, although that is how my husband grew up.
My kids are 21 & 23. One has moved out, the other is in about 6 weeks. I can't honestly recall the last time I did a Easter basket for them...much like a previous poster, at some point when they were young teens I think it transitioned to a bowl of candy on the counter, and then eventually to nothing. It's not a holiday my husband and I get each other anything for either, nor have we ever! To me I see it as more of a religious holiday and we aren't so it's not huge on my radar.

That being said my husband did bring home some watermelon flavored peeps last week. Yuck!

It is HARD to walk by a peanut butter egg though

 

[kimblebee]

You mean to tell me you don't comb your lettuce before you eat it? I've said it before and I guess it's time to say it again.

I can't even.

Maybe I could eat my lettuce WITH the comb

 

[DisLiss]

Does anybody actually buy those cellophane wrapped baskets full of cheap toys from Walmart or the drugstore? I can see making your own personalized basket, but those pre-made ones shout "I don't give a damn."

I was taught that Easter is THE most important Christian holiday in a religious sense.

I am not trying to paint a broad group of people with one brush here at all, but in my experience, single uncles love to buy those pre-made baskets. I've seen at least 3 different uncles in unrelated family branches give pre-made baskets to people. But not necessarily the Walmart type (although one of them was exactly that type), but our local candy store makes pre-made baskets and I've seen guys give those to their nieces/nephews.


And yes, I was absolutely taught Easter was the most important holiday.

 

[bianca]

My dining room is currently being taken up by a 3x6 foot box that holds a Captain America 12V Dune Buggy that I have purchased for the grandsons. I decided last year after spending around $100 for a bunch of stuff that my daughter had to police, to do just one big gift. I always used Easter as a large gift giving event when my girls were younger, as their birthdays were in November and December, respectively. Who wants to receive a nice bike that you can't ride in Michigan snow? Now the grandsons are repeating history with November birthdays. I just keep their birthdays more low key and celebrate the coming of summer with something they'll really love. Plus, I was able to order it from DisneyStore.com a few weeks ago and get it for 25% off!

 

[DisLiss]

We try to do more little toys and books than candy. This year, DD(6)is getting a Welliewisher doll she wanted, some Disney pins for trading, some LOL things, a Polly pocket toy, a few small easter themed toys, kinder eggs, and a small amount of candy.

Side Note: I am past the years of getting American Girl catalogs in the mail, so I had no idea what WellieWisher dolls were. I looked them up out of curiosity and they are quite cute!

 

[TipsyTraveler]

My DH and I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day with each other, nor do we give the kiddo anything. My MIL has gotten my son Valentine’s gifts each year so far, which I’ll admit I find kind of odd. I’ve always thought of Valentine’s Day as primarily a romantic holiday between couples, not a toy-gifting holiday between kids and extended family. Plus, the in-laws are so low-key about most holidays and special occasions — birthdays are barely even acknowledged, maybe a text message — that making Valentine’s Day a gift-giving occasion seems like a very random choice.

We don’t give him anything for Easter nor do the grandparents, although there’s a neighborhood egg hunt happening this year that I’m hoping to take him to. I think he’ll love that. As he gets older (he’s two now) and becomes more aware that these holidays exist, I might start doing baskets, V-Day gifts, etc. It just seems like such a chore to have to keep up with near-monthly celebrations. Not to mention the “stuff.” The last thing he/we/the house needs is more stuff.

 

[amberpi]

It just seems like such a chore to have to keep up with near-monthly celebrations. Not to mention the “stuff.” The last thing he/we/the house needs is more stuff.

Yeah, we don't do little gifts for the kids for any occasion - they don't need cheap crap from the Dollar Store, I'm pretty sure we could start one out of our house. They get enough of that crap from school and birthday parties. I would have done some art supplies for the children but we have 4 packages each of crayons, markers, colored pencils, and one of the grandparents just bought the girl a 180 piece art set, so I thought....maybe we have enough of those, and bubbles, and sidewalk chalk, etc. The stuff has to stop!

 

[tcufrog]

What did he use? My kids got slime stuck in a blanket my grandmother made my oldest. I have yet to figure out a way to get it out.

It turns out that he used apple cider vinegar.

 

[wenrob]

It turns out that he used apple cider vinegar.

No kidding? Adding to my grocery list right now. Thanks!

 

[tcufrog]

Happy to help. Test it somewhere inconspicuous though.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

This is a fun thread OP! I always love reading what people do for various holidays.

My boys are 23 and 25 and I still make them Easter baskets! Well, not actual baskets, beginning when they were young, I used large pails. When they were little they loved catching minnows, tadpoles, etc. so pails were always useful.

I have always given them lots and lots of their favorite candies as well as a few gifts. When they were little the gifts were something they were interested in at the time; small Lego sets, baseball cards, hockey cards, tennis and ping pong balls, books etc. Now that they are adults I give them a gift card. They have been bowling together almost every weekend, so they are each getting a gift card to the bowling ally. My oldest mentioned that he needed some new shorts, so I bought him a pair and bought them both new Boston Bruins t-shirts, my youngest happened to mention that he is low on socks, so I grabbed him a few packs of those.

I always did egg hunts. I would hide around 100 eggs inside filled with candy and when they got older, I put money in them. We host the big family gathering and I do a huge egg hunt outside and we all participate. My niece and nephew are now 30 and 31 and married and like I said, everyone joins in to hunt for eggs!

I also make a basket for my Mom and husband.

I still make my boys candy/treat/snack boxes for both Halloween and Valentines Day.

Everything I do is as much for my own enjoyment as it is there's.

 

[fla4fun]

I still baffled why jelly beans are called Jelly Bird Eggs. Is there a avian species known as a Jelly Bird?

Maybe it’s a relative of the Orange Bird . . .

We never got the premade baskets, but I remember seeing the premade stockings at Christmas and wishing I would get one instead of my regular stocking. Looking back, I know I got much better stuff in the regular stocking, but the premade ones were so bright and shiny . . .

 

[NAB]

Just bought a 2 set Lindor bunny at Costco for my son and his girlfriend today. They are coming to visit this weekend , live 5 hours away. I wasn’t planning on get him anything but the price was right and on sale.

My daughter won’t be home for Easter either but the following weekend and she likes the big Kinder Eggs so got her one .

Last year when they were still home we all shared candy out of bowls left out. Used to fill 100 plastic eggs and hide them in the house ,glad when they didn’t care to do that anymore . It was a lot of work...plus I found eggs long after Easter...lol I think the kids were 13 and 16 when they said I could stop they didn’t care. They both got one larger bunny ,no toys.

I have already bought my husband at least 3 solid bunnies in which he has eaten already...plus I have had some mini eggs out in a bowl that have seemed to have disappeared..lol