If the thought of the Easter Bunny delivering your child a basket full of sugary-sweet treats has you hopping around in panic this time of year, we get it. Candy can feel like it’s coming non-stop from every direction–mythological creatures, grandparents, school parties, birthday parties, friends–and there’s usually not even enough time to consume all of the candy from one holiday to the next. (Raise your hand if you still have bags of candy hidden in your cabinet from Valentine’s Day? From Christmas?)
While kids may love candy, parents can’t help but worry about the negative effects of sugar on their child’s behavior, mood, and of course their teeth. So while it’s totally fine to let little ones indulge in the chocolate bunnies, mini eggs, and jelly beans at Easter time, it’s a good idea to stuff some candy alternatives in their Easter baskets, too.
To inspire you, we rounded up a few sugar-free Easter ideas that are just as sweet but even more fun.
Egg-cellent Toys
Affordable fresh eggs may be hard to find these days, but there’s no shortage of egg toys for kids of all ages. From matching eggs to surprise eggs, you can find a fun alternative (or addition) to candy-filled plastic eggs in your kid’s Easter basket, plus they’re super fun for kids to play with all year long.
TRY Battat Education EggXpress Yourself! Match & Learn Eggs
Bedtime Bunnies
While adding a stuffed bunny to your Easter basket instantly adds a cute factor, there’s a fluffle of bedtime bunnies out there that are just as welcome at bedtime. School-aged children will love having their own bunny-inspired alarm clock to set and wake up to, while little ones of all ages will be excited to listen to a bunny bedtime book long after the Easter Bunny visits.
Spring Jammies
If your kid loves wearing Christmas pajamas all year, a fresh new pair of spring PJs will be a welcome Easter basket treat. (Matching sets for siblings, optional.) Look for a style that’s lightweight, but with structure if your kid needs a new go-to for all those school pajama days.
TRY Kids’ Spring Plaid Matching Family Pajama Set
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Gardening Set
A kid-friendly watering can and gardening tools make a great outdoor toy for spring and summer. Look for a water-proof set so you can store it outside without worrying about rot or rust. If you’ve got a green thumb on your hands, add a pair of gardening gloves, a few seed packets and pots or a pre-packaged grow kit for kids.
Fresh Prints
With more than half of the school year past, it’s a good time to check your kid’s supplies and closet to see what needs a refresh. Lunch containers, snack bags, and drink thermoses all come in fresh spring colors and prints, as do girls and boys tops & tees if they’re more in need of a wardrobe refresh.
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