What are you putting in your childrens Easter Baskets?

[PollyannaMom]

Any bunny-replacement ideas for when you have one child out of three who does not like chocolate bunnies?

My brother and I always got popcorn bunnies as a kid. - Not sure if they still make them, though. If not, maybe a big marshmallow one (like Peeps-style)?



OP - I'm also trying to back off the candy a little this year. I'm replacing some with books and matchbox cars.

 

[luvdisneyalways]

We have the same baskets we use each year and I always give my girls a book, this year I am giving my DD5 a little girl devotional book DD2 is getting the Story of Easter. We usually put in m&ms and a lollypop (like the push pop or ring pop) The truth is my kids like candy, but if you searched in the basket on the cabinet in my kitchen you would probably find halloween candy still there, not touched. I found t-s at the Dis store for 1.99 (long sleeve Marie) after Christmas and I might roll them up and put them in the basket this year.

 

[walkena]

My DS9 is getting a few things for easter in preparation for our trip in April/May:

Pirate terry wrist band (2 kinds)
Pirate button badge (for his hat)
Pirate spinning light toy (for Fantasmic)
Lindt white chocolate mini easter eggs (only likes white chocolate)
Mini M&M's Character "bunny ears" candy
Pirate shoe laces

Yes - Pirate everything

 

[ohiominnie]

Ours usually get some candy and one gift. Gifts in the past have been a beanie baby, a dvd, a book, a small LPS set....something to that effect.

This year ds may get the iPenguin (like an iDog) and dd may get a computer program (Kid Pix). That an a little orthodontically safe Easter candy and that's it.

Their baskets aren't huge....so we can't over do it. They use the same basket from one year to the next also.

 

[calliemom]

our easter bunny has always left small gifts for our daughter...she's a big reader and this year it will be a book or 2 from the "spiderwick chronicles"...she is crazy for these books (this year) with some small "candy" treat.

 

[ohiominnie]

The truth is my kids like candy, but if you searched in the basket on the cabinet in my kitchen you would probably find halloween candy still there, not touched. I found t-s at the Dis store for 1.99 (long sleeve Marie) after Christmas and I might roll them up and put them in the basket this year.

Yup, that's ours too. We all like it, but enough is enough. We usually throw out the extra Halloween candy at Easter. Then throw out the extra Easter candy mid summer some time. Because you have to buy "bags" of candy and we don't put that much into their baskets, there are always 1/2 full bags left over. One year I found the extra stash in the garage almost a year later. Dh was supposed to take it to work and munch on it there.

Then there was the year I had my gallbladder out on the Thursday before Easter. We quickly made their baskets and threw the rest of the candy in a drawer. We found it the next ski season when we went to get out our ski pants!

 

[momto2girls]

We reuse baskets from year to year too.

We will have some candy, a couple of books, a DVD, some Littlest Pet Shop toys, stickers, maybe a My Little Pony.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

DS and DD are each getting a Pottery Barn Kids bunny rabbit (Baxter and Bitzy), personalized Pottery Barn Kids lunchboxes, and they're each getting a Doodle Pro (blue for DS, pink for DD).

They're not getting candy in their baskets this year since they're so little.

As a side note, I remember one year the Easter Bunny brought me John Cougar Mellencamp's new 45 record single "Jack and Diane" for me to play on my Mickey Mouse record player (which I STILL have!) LMBO! Does that date me just a tad?

The Easter Bunny was always so good to me and somehow knew I loved music!

 

[3js13]

We reuse or baskets every year. My dd4 is getting outdoor stuuf bubbles, a soccer ball, hula hoop, sun glasses and side walk chalk. DD1 is getting bubbles, an outfit, and a baby doll. They will get every little candy. We also do a egg hunt filled w/ change and jelly beans. I normally only spend 20 on each basket. I think this year it only cost me $25 to do both baskets.

 

[mericletwins]

i am 33 and we always got gifts in our baskets growing up. So did my friends growing up. my hubby is from LA area and he got gifts too. Not sure, but most people I knew got a small amount of candy and a few toys/prizes. my kids always get swimsuit, flip-flops, one summer outfit, books, small toys (like a barbie/power ranger action figure), shampoo, toothbrush, and a very small amount of candy. Their cousins have gotten gameboys, and other big ticket items. We try and keep it to under 30 per basket (including clothes).

Ditto here. I am 38 and the Easter bunny filled our basket with candy and small toys. We don't like to do a lot of candy so we sub with other stuff that we are going to be buying anyway, like goggles, sunglasses, flip-flops, bubbles. Then we throw in a movie. My kids get books for EVERY occasion, but I'm an English teacher and an avid reader myself.

 

[mjrich73]

We are going to Disney in May, so I got my dd a Disney princess tin bucket and my ds a Disney Cars tin bucket, instead of a basket. In my dd's bucket, I put a Disney Princess flashlight, watch, t-shirt and small toy. In my ds's bucket I put a Disney Cars flashlight, watch, t-shirt and small toy. I ordered them each three more trading pins yesterday and will put them inside easter eggs, with a couple of disney dollars. I also plan to get them each a small chocolate rabbit.

 

[Oceana]

We usually keep easter simple. We will be going on a vacation (not to disney) the next week.

They already got egg chairs from Ikea I told them were from the Easter Bunny but I just couldnt hide something so large.

They will be getting wool easter eggs with fairys inside perhaps some automnobloxs and a new pair of crocks

I may save the cars for birthdays

They dont need toys or candy or anything really. So a nice new pair of shoes for spring and a little something is all that they need

julie

 

[pinkrose]

My kids are ages 12 (boy) and girl (10 on April 2). So far, all I've bought are their buckets. Hallmark has some really cute ones that aren't "too young" for them. Other than some candy, I'm at a loss as to what to put in them. I usually put vacation things in (when going on a wDW trip that year). We are taking them on a surprise WDW trip in Oct, so I can't put vacation things in there. I may get some books and dvd's, cd's, ect. Maybe movie gift certificates. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[3js13]

Pinkrose, my step daughter is also 10. This year I'm putting a book, new sunglasses, a purse and some accesories and a webkinz. I spent about $20 on her basket. She is really girly so I go to claires and get her little things from there.

 

[kinntj]

With both kids having birthdays so close to Easter, they get practical stuff. So far they got:
DD4:
spring/summer outfit
travel etch a scetch
small hollow Easter chocolate bunny
Ariel sunglasses from the Disney Store
flip flops
Easter book
pair of socks
disney dollars

DD3:
summer dress
sandals
Small handheld Dora game
Jasmine sunglasses
Easter book
hair pretties
small hollow Easter chocolate bunny
disney dollars

We only give them 1 candy item and that's it. Their grandparents give them plenty for Easter too and give them the junky stuff, so we don't have to.
Next year we're going to WDW after Easter, so they will get a Disney themed basket then.

 

[mama4]

I haven't done mine yet but we do all the "spring/summertime toys" that I would have ended up getting anyway. Jumpropes, sidewalk chalk paddle balls, frisbee, tennis balls and wiffle balls, jax etc. Most of it I can find at the dollar store, or 5 below and if not I hit Target.

TJ

I like this idea too. I also sometimes do a new swimsuit/beach towel if they need one.

 

[NemoMOm]

Wow - I'm feeling major culture shock!!! OK, this is my first time approaching a "flame-able" comment, I fear...I read this thread because I had never heard of children being given Easter presents in the form of Easter baskets, we just used to baskets to collect eggs at a hunt. I have 8 year old twin boys - we have a fun egg hunt (yes, they're chocolate eggs), and then one of their grandparents does usually give them a small (but tasty) chocolate egg. After the hunt, it's off to church, and we usually have a lovely family dinner together.

Have I missed a major shift? Is the Easter gift-giving more of a US trend or is it common in Canada too? How about the UK?

I know you are all doing this out of love for your children, and if this is your custom, I hope you all enjoy it together. Are birthdays bigger too? What about other holidays? We have really turned Valentine's into a friendship celebration rather than a chocolate marathon both at home and at the boys' school. Hallowe'en seems big on the decorating, but ramping down on the pig-out. I'm just really surprised at the Easter turn of events.

Don't anybody tell my mother...she'd freak!

I don't know if this is a shift in culture because I'm 30 and I always recieved very nice baskets filled with goodies and a few small toys. My mom was a single mom and she would bring things home for weeks so she could afford the baskets. Since this was over 20 years ago I don't think this is a major shift. It sounds like your family may have had different customs and they sound very nice.



For DS

2 yrs

Toy Story Bubbles
Kids gardening set
DVD
Sidewalk chalk
Disney stickers
1 piece of choc. (he will beg for it all so he gets 1 piece!)

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Wow - I'm feeling major culture shock!!! OK, this is my first time approaching a "flame-able" comment, I fear...I read this thread because I had never heard of children being given Easter presents in the form of Easter baskets, we just used to baskets to collect eggs at a hunt. I have 8 year old twin boys - we have a fun egg hunt (yes, they're chocolate eggs), and then one of their grandparents does usually give them a small (but tasty) chocolate egg. After the hunt, it's off to church, and we usually have a lovely family dinner together.

Have I missed a major shift? Is the Easter gift-giving more of a US trend or is it common in Canada too? How about the UK?

Growing up, we got baskets of candy from the Easter Bunny - no gifts from Mom or Dad. I have known families who have given large gifts at Easter (like bikes), particularly if one of the children has a winter birthday and it wouldn't make sense to give a bike at Christmas where they live. We are somewhere in the middle. I do get a gift or two for my girls for Easter from DH and me - DD4 is getting a bathing suit for her Bitty Baby (not sure why she keeps asking for one, but fortunately American Girl makes one) and DD7 will probably get a Gamecube game or a DVD. We are going on vacation the week before Easter, so DD7 will get a new book to read on the plane and DD4 will get new Color Wonder stuff. I have just thrown away the Halloween and Valentine's candy, so I put some candy in the basket but will also put bubbles and chalk in DD4's basket and a Webkinz in DD7's basket. We do a neighborhood egg hunt the day before Easter, then a small one at our house Easter morning. We do more that my parents did, but we do not treat Easter like Christmas or birthdays. I think there is a lot of variation based on what you grew up with!


Forgot to add: they are both getting Tooth Tunes in their baskets to counteract the candy!

 

[beattyfamily]

Wow - I'm feeling major culture shock!!! OK, this is my first time approaching a "flame-able" comment, I fear...I read this thread because I had never heard of children being given Easter presents in the form of Easter baskets, we just used to baskets to collect eggs at a hunt. I have 8 year old twin boys - we have a fun egg hunt (yes, they're chocolate eggs), and then one of their grandparents does usually give them a small (but tasty) chocolate egg. After the hunt, it's off to church, and we usually have a lovely family dinner together.

Have I missed a major shift? Is the Easter gift-giving more of a US trend or is it common in Canada too? How about the UK?

I know you are all doing this out of love for your children, and if this is your custom, I hope you all enjoy it together. Are birthdays bigger too? What about other holidays? We have really turned Valentine's into a friendship celebration rather than a chocolate marathon both at home and at the boys' school. Hallowe'en seems big on the decorating, but ramping down on the pig-out. I'm just really surprised at the Easter turn of events.

Don't anybody tell my mother...she'd freak!

I'm 41 and when I was little the Easter Bunny left us each one big, solid Easter Bunny. That ws it. Then we'd get a new Easter outfit (dress, gloves, purse and hat) to wear on Easter and to Church.

We'd also go to the local town Easter Egg hunt as well.

Now for my own kids, we put out the same Easter basket each Easter Eve and the Easter Bunny comes and fills their baskets with one solid Easter Bunny, some chocolate eggs, jelly beans, one Reeses egg each, and usually one Easter-type item like a cheap Easter toy, Easter/religious coloring book, stuffed bunny, or a religious item; this year I think the Easter Bunny is leaving them Bible playing cards that have a trivia game and the other is a bible memory card game.

We will also go to the local town Easter Egg hunt and my sister likes to bring filled eggs to hide for the kids. That is our new family tradition.

 

[EllyLovesDisney]

Thanks for all the replies
I got alot of great ideas from you guys. I love the idea of a swimsuit and flip flops!
I am 30 (in 2 days ) and my mom always made us huge baskets filled with gifts and candy, they were amazing and I was upset when I stopped getting them when I was 20! We also got gifts for Valentines day and the like but RARELY on a non holiday.
Dh on the other hand never got an Easter basket at all, maybe just a chocolate bunny. He also got new toys whenever he wanted them so I don't think he cared.

I love hearing about everyones different traditions!