As Easter approaches, I’ve tried to think of different things to put in my little ones Easter baskets as an alternative to candy. Most of the plastic Easter eggs measure anywhere from 1.5 x 2.5 inches to 2 x 3, but you can find them in larger sizes as well. It took a little bit of brainstorming, but this is what I came up with:
1. Legos - You can get Lego Duplo for your smaller munchkins or a set of the standard size for your older children. You might want to think about a theme that your child might like best. Best of all, you can find Legos everywhere! The legos below can be found at Toys R Us – http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3780397
2. Puzzle Pieces – Pack the pieces so that the puzzle cannot be completed until all the eggs are found. The possibilites with this are endless. Just pick the theme that suits your child the best. The puzzle below is available at Pottery Barn Kids. http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/boys-travel-puzzles/?pkey=e%7Cpuzzle%7C9%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C8&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-
3. Crayons – What kid doesn’t like fun shaped crayons? Include a great coloring book in their basket and there you have it. I found these on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/93909996/babys-first-colors-all-natural-kitty-egg
4. Stickers – These are a really affordable way to pack those Easter Eggs with something fun. I found the stickers pictured below at Sticker Giant. – http://www.stickergiant.com/goofy-happy-faces-24-pak_ihaf5.html
5. Alphabet Magnets – If you don’t already have a set of these, they are a great idea! My little ones love putting new words together. I found these on Amazon. – http://www.amazon.com/Educational-Insights-AlphaMagnets-Letters-Set-Multicolored/dp/B000F8XC6Q/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1331828654&sr=8-12
6. Bouncy Balls - I don’t know a little boy or girl that doesn’t love bouncing these in the driveway to see how high they can go. They are available in an array of colors and styles. I found these at Oriental Trading – http://www.orientaltrading.com/race-car-bouncing-balls-a2-12_4039-12-1.fltr?Ntt=bouncy+balls
7. Stamps – This one is perfect for your “mini me” crafter. The set I have chosen is available at Paper Source, but you can find a wonderful assortment at any craft store. – http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Happy-Animals-Rubber-Stamp-Set/2901.010/497148.html
8. Fingertip Flashlights – Santa left these in our stockings this year. My boys love to play with them under the covers at night after storytime. It has been a couple months and they still haven’t lost interest in them, which is amazing. I found these at Restoration Hardware, but they are available at quite a few online retailers. – http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1531138&categoryId=cat1830011
9. Felt Food – These are perfect little pieces for someone who loves to play in their own kid sized kitchen. You should be able to easily squish them into a plastic egg. They are available in desserts too, if you just do a quick search on Etsy, or make them yourself. Etsy has pdf patterns as well. This is a set I found on Etsy. – http://www.etsy.com/listing/91871201/small-playset-felt-food
Last, but not least…
10. Cash & Coins: The idea of putting money in Easter eggs might not tickle your fancy at first, but think about how excited your little one gets when they find a shiny new penny on the sidewalk. You don’t have to load them up with a ton of cash, but a few pennies in one, a quarter in another and maybe a crisp dollar bill in their “special” egg might be just the thing. Then watch with delight as they count their pennies. Make a learning experience ou of it teaching them how to count by 5′s, 10′s, and 25′s. To top it off you can include a cute little piggy bank in their basket if they don’t already have one. I found this cute one at Toys R Us. – http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11811393&CAWELAID=1055214261
Have fun with it and think a little outside the box to come up with something special for your little ones. Have a great day!