Easter is one of those celebrations where children are programmed to expect candy. Parents often find themselves trapped between tradition and the threat of obesity, not to mention diabetes. With the onset of spring, department and grocery stores heap shelves with chocolate eggs, marshmallow goodies, hoards of chocolate woodland creatures, and of course the traditional chocolate rabbits.
As any parent of a child who is diabetic or on a restricted diet knows, there are alternatives to buying candy and other calorie-laden foods associated with a holiday. The suggestions listed below are easy to find and are popular items for children.
Easter Basket Ideas for Older Children
Older children who are used to getting candy might not be disappointed if a few sugar-free candy treats are included in the Easter basket. It's tough to break old habits.
Teens like:
- Movie tickets or a free-rental gift card that can be redeemed for a favorite movie.
- Gift cards (Pass up restaurant gift cards to avoid adding calories.)
- Favorite teen magazines
- Music CDs, electronics
- Scrap-booking materials or art supplies
- Gemstones
- Coins (Birth year sets are good choices and collector coins)
Older children and tweens might enjoy:
- Collectible cars, travel games, playing cards, posters, word puzzle books
- Notepads, blank journals, diary books, colored pens, mechanical pencils
- CDs, CD Player
- Flower and/or vegetable seeds, or seedling plants (Include a pair of gloves and a few small tools. Make sure there's a place the child can grow the plants. Live in an apartment? Try container gardening for vegetables or flowers
- Paints, sketch pads, pencils
- Bubble bath, jewelry
- Ceramic figures and stained-glass window hangings for painting
- Collectible sport figures, sporting event tickets, trading cards
- Favorite magazines or book
For the cost of a few bags of candy and one of those large waxy chocolate bunnies, one can purchase a coveted CD or favorite hobby supplies.
Easter Basket Ideas for Young Children
Some items listed below may not be suitable for toddlers. Parents should always read package warnings and exercise good judgment before giving any child a new toy. Young children especially, need supervision at all times.
- View Master and extra reels
- Blocks, soft or hard (depending on the age)
- Candyland game
- Large drawing pad, coloring books and large crayons
- Play Dough
- Go Fish card game (and other children's card games)
- Bath sponge toys
- Stickers, posters, books
- Fingerpaint sets
- Sports or action figures
Outdoor Toys for Children and Family Fun
- Remote Control Vehicles (Age appropriate)
- Jump ropes, hula hoops
- Sidewalk chalk
- Water toys
- Sand buckets, plastic gardening tools
- Bubble kits
Enjoy a low-calorie Easter celebration without sacrificing the fun. Children learn good habits by the examples adults set for them. Nutritional choices don't have to be dull or boring and Easter family traditions can be updated to include healthy practices. There are many more great ideas to fill Easter baskets with little or no candy, so feel free to add to the list or create one of your own.
Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
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