Non-candy Easter basket ideas that replace sugar with educational, fun, and interactive items instead! These sugar-free Easter basket ideas are perfect for toddlers and even have some great activities to do with your kids. Revamp the weekend by focusing less on sugar (these sugar-free carrot cake balls can help with that too!) and more on fun.
As a kid, I remember the mountains of chocolate surrounding the Easter Holidays. Actually, that and an Easter egg hunt (that lead to more chocolate) is all I remember.
However, at 2.5 years old, my daughter still doesn’t get traditional chocolate (you read about her sugar-free birthday here, complete with a dairy-free smash cake!) there will be no buckets of chocolate in her Easter basket either!
Instead, my game plan is to use non-candy Easter basket ideas like practical items and experiences.
I'm not quite sure when a religious holiday turned into bunnies bringing chocolate, but a sugar overload isn't my idea of the perfect gift for my little one. Now, I've got nothing against indulgence, I love desserts as much as anyone else (check out these chocolate crunch bars). I'd just like to focus on the Holiday or the theme of spring more than the sugar value.
Note: five years later and I am still rocking non-candy Easter basket fillers! These Easter basket ideas work just as well for young toddlers to growing kids.
Why These Easter Basket Ideas Are Perfect For Toddlers
While I'm not saying we completely avoid sugar in the house- we don't. I just don't believe we need it in excess. These Easter basket ideas are great because:
- they focus on play instead of sugar
- some are educational
- they're activities you can do with your kids
- some of the ideas are experienced-based which lasts longer than sugar
Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas
Below you'll find over fifteen awesome sugar-free Easter basket ideas! These items range from something to do, play with, or experience. I've used a range of items that we've used personally. Likewise, I've also included some basket ideas that we plan on using in the future!
Seeds
I'm excited about this as I think Easter (and Spring) makes for a great learning tool! Seeds are an amazing non-candy Easter basket idea and it’s exciting to think that my daughter and I can plant together and watch something grow.
Not only does this gift keep going but it'll help teach her to care for something and nurture something.
And check out how to start them off indoors if you're not in a warm climate (I wish haha).
Fruit For The Play Kitchen
We have a play kitchen for my girls as they love to pretend to cook (and help me in the kitchen!). I bought these wooden fruits and have been giving them out in stockings as well as Easter baskets one by one.
Gardening Tools
I'll get Baby Bear little gardening gloves and her gardening tools to help me plant the seeds.
A little watering can is also a terrific addition through from last year that can go horribly wrong 😛 Baby Bear mainly just poured water all over herself each day thinking it was hilarious haha
Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas: Coloring Books
Coloring books are great for kids to keep busy but also to learn dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Likewise, sticker books are another option here!
The super large coloring books are amazing for the really young toddlers. Personally, I love the individual, no-mess, water coloring books for the car too!
Stamps
An awesome activity for toddlers! Stamps are a great way to get creative and learn. We love these animal stamps from Melissa and Dough.
Water Bottles
My girls can always use a new water bottle for school/daycare! Heck, I can use a new one too haha. We have a wide range of them, to be honest. We have quite a few including this water bottle which is super easy to use.
Journal & Pencil
Keeping track of feelings, experiences, anything is a wonderful way for kids to let out their feelings in a positive way- which makes for ideal candy-free Easter basket ideas. Assure your kids you won't read it and that's it's only for their eyes. Alternatively, if anyone has a budding author this is an even better gift!
This Easter basket idea isn't the best for toddlers however I've found that having her own "journal" makes baby bear feel special and draw random things. So, there's that.
Candy-Free Easter Basket Ideas: Healthy cookie mix in a jar
As I said, I love indulgence! I think giving cookies in a jar is an amazing gift because it's also time for you and learning about baking. My daughter loves these Paleo Cookies and baking is something we can do together so it’s even better.
Puzzles
Stimulate their minds, give them a TV alternative and something creative all at once. I adored puzzles as a kick and I hope baby bear will too!
Hair Accessories
For all the girls out there, who enjoy doing their hair little elastics and clips are a wonderful way to fill a mini basket. My daughter loves getting new accessories even though it’s a struggle to do her hair 😛
Skipping Rope
Easter marks the beginning of spring so little outdoor activities Easter basket ideas to include. If you have multiple kids get the long ropes and tell them to rock some double dutch!
Side Walk Chalk
Again, with the weather getting nicer and kids wanting to be outside chalk is a great way to get creative and to have fun! The large chalk sticks are wonderful for toddlers. though as the mom I totally end up doing most of the coloring!
Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas: Bath Bombs
Homemade bath bombs are a wonderful gift for kids (especially these sleepy time bath bombs). They're easy to make and gives bath time an extra bit of fun. My kiddos love mini bath bombs also.
And you're struggling to make bath bombs, in general, check out this post on how & why you should learn! Or just jump in and purchase my course on How To Make Homemade Bath Bombs- with video demos of each step it shows you everything you need!
Rain boots
This is the perfect time to get them something they need! And with everything melting rain boots will be a necessity. Similarly, rain boots are cute, encourage puddle splashing and outdoor play and thus make a wonderful addition to non-candy Easter basket ideas!
Glow Sticks
I've yet to meet a child who doesn't think glow sticks are a hoot! We sometimes use them as nightlights 😉
An Experience
If you traditionally do actual gifts on Easter why not opt for an experience rather than an object? Gifts like a trip to the museum, a special lunch, an adventure park, a class are all wonderful Easter basket ideas that they might appreciate more than the latest toy. Plus, it'll be time spent with you which is even better.
Don’t forget to pin these Non-Candy Easter basket ideas!
There are lots of ideas you can use to make your Easter a little less sugar-fueled. Once Baby Bear is older she will, of course, get some sort of treat in her basket along with her "gifts". However, these candy-free Easter basket ideas not only give kids a lot of fun but also stimulate development. Plus, without candy, there are far fewer sugar crashes!
Shelby aka Mama Bear
Kasia
Some great ideas for Easter. Sweets are not always the best gift. I like the idea of an experience or something you can do together after all that's what the holidays are all about.
fitasamamabear
Thanks Kasia! I definitely think sweets can be part of it (umm I'd die without chocolate!) but I like having it based around something else. The "experience" part I'm trying to work into a few gifts because at the end of the day kids just want time with you, not always stuff 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
Sara
I love this! I've been looking for some ideas to forgo candy at Christmas, Valentines Day, and Easter. The seeds and gardening tools are precious! Definitely stealing that idea!
fitasamamabear
Glad I could help! I feel like EVERY holiday is so candy focused and it drives me bananas 😛
Farrah
These are all really great ideas! :] I know I definitely wouldn't mind seeds + gardening tools! 😛
fitasamamabear
Right?! Half the things in this basket are totally fun for me too!
Tiffany
Great ideas love all of them! I never would have tuightbof seeds...how fun though!
fitasamamabear
It's funny because I'm not a gardener (I try so hard but fail so much!) but my daughter is right into it!
Christina @ Hugs and Lattes
These are great ideas! I think candy and chocolate is good on occasion, but I can't handle it all the time. I have a mom friend who would put grapes in her son's Easter eggs during their Easter egg hunt, and I thought that was genius! Bath bombs are something I would want in my Easter basket!
fitasamamabear
Ohhh grapes is an awesome idea!! I did almonds, blueberries and energy balls last year haha this year I was going to go with homemade gummies. it sounds so funny but she loves them and I love not dealing with a crazy sugar high 😛
ARHuelsenbeck
When our oldest kids were small, they had a little stuffed animal in their baskets as well as a little candy. When child #4 was born, child #2 gave him a plush bunny that had been a basket toy. Andy was so attached to that bunny. He named him Fluff and carried him everywhere. I had to stitch him back together a few times when he got loved to pieces. Fluff even went along in his overnight bag on his first elementary school sleepovers.
fitasamamabear
Awwww!! I was that kid that had a stuffed animal forever. Named Sheeba haha and I wouldn't go anywhere without him. Little stuffies are a wonderful idea also!