Candy-free Easter basket ideas for the win!
This Easter season, go beyond chocolate with these candy-free Easter basket gift ideas for kids. From brain-teasing puzzles to hands-on STEM projects, I have curated basket ideas that will make this year’s Easter baskets exciting—without the need for a sugar rush. These unique ideas will give you inspiration for fun craft ideas to fill an Easter basket with. Kids love to get creative and will be thrilled to receive a variety of fun activities that they can play with at home or take on the go! From sensory bottles to brain games, these gift ideas are still sweet, even though there is no sugar.
For the STEM Explorer:
Let kids discover the world of STEM with gift ideas that encourage curiosity and hands-on learning. Kids can zoom in up to 1000x with a handheld microscope, explore magnetism, or conduct science experiments with magic sand and a crystal-growing kit. They can also play detective with invisible ink or learn to code with a robot coding mouse. Grab all of these STEM-themed gift ideas and add them to your basket, or choose your favorites for endless hours of fun and learning for kids. Items can include handheld microscopes, magnet wands and magic sand.
For the Crafty One:
Encourage creativity with kids by assembling a DIY craft kit basket. Fill it with a recycled craft book for kids, like my book Fun & Easy Crafting with Recycled Materials, and essential craft supplies like construction paper, paint, craft sticks, and pipe cleaners. The best part is that many projects use recycled materials you can find around your home—making this a creative and eco-friendly Easter gift idea. Items can include craft supplies—paintbrushes, washable paint, pom poms, markers, craft stickers, etc. Kids will be hopping for joy while creating endless crafts with these supplies. For more endless Easter craft ideas like decorating Easter eggs with cool whip or making Easter bunnies out of egg cartons, visit: thebestideasforkids.com/seasons/easter/
For the Challenge Enthusiast:
Give kids something to talk about with this brain games Easter-themed gift basket. Fill it with conversation starters like my book The Ultimate Book of Would You Rather Questions, which provides 1,001 questions for kids to ponder. Add additional conversation trivia cards with Brain Quest cards that encourage learning across various subjects. Enhance the basket with some math games like Adsumudi, hands-on challenges like Kanoodle, and wooden brain teaser puzzles. Whether you mix and match or include them all, these brain game gift ideas will keep kids engaged and entertained for hours. Items can include brain teaser puzzles, brain quest smart cards, kanoodle, etc.
For the Sensory Seeker:
The sensory seeker will love this sensory-themed basket. From Play-Doh in Easter eggs to fidget-friendly toys, there is something for kids of all ages here. Kids can practice calming techniques with the sensory tubes, squish mazes, and thinking putty. For a portable, travel-friendly sensory toy, add Pushpeel to your basket—it’s perfect for on-the-go entertainment. Choose a mixed sensory toy pack or pick a few of these sensory-themed toys to include in this year’s Easter basket. Items can include Play-Doh Easter Eggs, sensory tubes, squish mazes and more.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With a community of over 2.7 million followers across social media, author and mother Kimberly McLeod (IG @bestideasforkids / FB @thebestideasforkids) created The Best Ideas for Kids for busy parents, teachers, and childcare providers. The Best Ideas for Kids is a popular platform with DIY craft ideas, screen-free activities, recipes, and printable worksheets that keep kids entertained for hours!
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Images provided by Kimberly McLeod
