Need help with Easter basket ideas for kids? This post is full of Easter basket fillers that kids will actually use. This Easter basket gift guide is perfect for kids as they start spring and summer activities, and need a refresh in outdoor activity supplies.
- What are the best Easter basket ideas?
- Easter Basket Ideas to Kick Off Spring and Summer
- What Age Are These Easter Basket Ideas For?
- How to Create a Meaningful Easter Basket for Kids
- The best Easter basket ideas
- Outdoor Toys for Easter
- Spring Fever Cures
- Road Trip Favorites
- Swim Toys and Gear
- Garden Supplies for Kids
- Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Easter basket ideas?
Looking for the best Easter basket ideas for kids? Let’s make this super simple.
Easter baskets don’t need to be overwhelming, expensive, or filled with tiny plastic toys and candy that disappear (or break!) in a day. I’m here to help you create Easter baskets that are fun, functional, and totally usable, especially for kids who are ready to get outside and play.
From toddlers to big kids, I’ve rounded up Easter basket fillers that work for the whole crew – yes, even my twelve-year-old is still excited for these each year.
RELATED: Looking for some Easter themed activities? Check out my list of Easter ideas!
Easter Basket Ideas to Kick Off Spring and Summer
I love Easter baskets, but I also love things that are usable, realistic, and not going to add to the toy-palooza that already engulfs my kids.
We do not need more tiny toys or piles of candy over here.
So here’s my favorite Easter trick: I use baskets to get my kids ready for spring and summer.
Instead of random toys, I fill their baskets with things they’ll actually use in the coming months, things I was probably going to buy anyway: outdoor toys, swim gear, gardening supplies, road trip activities, and what I call ‘Spring Fever cures’ (craft kits, puzzles, and books).
Easter lands right at the start of spring (at least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere), which makes it the perfect time to restock the things kids will reach for all season long.
Think of it less like a toy basket and more like a “let’s get ready for warm weather” basket.
What Age Are These Easter Basket Ideas For?
Yes, I’m “Busy Toddler,” but these Easter basket ideas aren’t just for toddlers and preschoolers.
My twelve-year-old still gets many of these items in his basket, and he’s just as thrilled. Why? Because things like chalk and bubbles don’t come with an age limit. They’re timeless.
So don’t get caught up in age suggestions. Find Easter basket fillers that match your kids’ personalities and interests, no matter how old they are.
How to Create a Meaningful Easter Basket for Kids
Every year, our Easter Bunny brings my kids spring and summer gear they need for the season. This tradition goes way back to my own childhood, and I love carrying it forward.
It’s practical. It’s fun. And it makes Easter baskets budget-friendly because I’m often buying things I would have purchased anyway.
Quick note:This is not a list of what goes into our Easter baskets every single year. This is a running list I’ve built over the past decade of parenting. Pick and choose what works for your family.
RELATED: Looking for other toy ideas? Check out The Best Toys for Kids list!
This year I separated the ideas into categories.
Don’t miss the Monica Geller level of sorting:
- Outdoor toys for Easter
- Spring fever cures
- Road trip favorites
- Garden supplies for kids
- Swim gear and toys
The best Easter basket ideas
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Outdoor Toys for Easter
Toy Boats
THE ABSOLUTE BEST. I bought these for my kids and they defined Summer 2025. Every creek or lake we visited, these came with… and a flock of kids would crowd around. They’re bigger than you may expect (about 12 inches long), but they stack together for easy travel. I cannot recommend them enough.
Reusable Water Balloons
These are so much fun and so different – but just as awesome as traditional water balloons. They don’t leave you with a bunch of little balloon bits all over the yard, they don’t hurt when they hit you, and they’re seriously cool to play with. My kids and their neighborhood friends have found so many uses for these… way more than traditional water balloons allow.
Jump Rope
Jump ropes are hot right now on my street, and why not?! This set is fantastic. I love that it’s a two-pack (but they do sell a single). What’s shocking is how many games my kids play with jump ropes that aren’t actually jumping rope…
Play Scarves
I bought this set of outdoor play scarves for my kids and the neighbors in spring 2022. Absolutely magical hit. They use these for everything from tag to capture the flag. They’re a brilliant catch-all toy.
Dance Ribbons
This set is fantastic that we’ve had since 2023. It’s under $10 for 12 dance ribbons and the chance to live out your rhythmic gymnastics dreams. We’ve had this set in my neighborhood for years and ages 3-13 love them.
Magnifying Glass
This 3 pack? Yes, please (they also sell it as a set of 2). Magnifying glasses breed curiosity and I love having this as an outdoor set. Kids gravitate to them.
Giant Box of Chalk
Yes, this is a tad big for an Easter basket… separate it into smaller groups for each kids basket (save the rest for later). This is my preferred brand of chalk – I refuse to offer another suggestion. This brand is the best.
Critter Cage
We’ve had this one for years – just one to share with all the kids and it’s been perfect for catching and releasing bugs safely. This single toy sparks a lot of play and adventure.
Small Nets
I would guess we have at least 10 of these small nets in our outdoor toy collection. Why? Because kids love them so we need just about enough for each kid in the neighborhood to have their own. Kids love having nets.
Spray Bottles
I finally found spray bottles that don’t break after one use. This set has been awesome. Doesn’t matter their age: kids love spray bottles.
Bubbles
Long live the bubble wand! I tuck one of these into my kids’ Easter baskets and use the rest for present toppers and random gifts throughout the spring/summer as needed.
Beach “Purse”
If you have a shell or rock kid, these are the best. We are obsessed. These live in my car for emergency collections, which is pretty much every time my kids get out of the car. These seem random, but they’ve been a shocking hit for a few years.
Spring Fever Cures
Paint Your Own Stepping Stone
My kids made these stepping stones years ago and they have lasted outside in the Seattle rain. I honestly couldn’t believe how well these turned out – or the years they’ve lasted.
Bead Pets
These make the cutest final product and my kids are hooked. I’m really impressed with how many key chains they’ve made from just one kit. The box says 6+, but I vote more like 8+.
Mosaic Kit
We loved doing this kit. It was a 151486 out of 10. It was fun to do and it made the best final project – that’s still at my front door all these years later.
Paint A Bird House
My kids have a soft spot for bird houses. This one is fantastic and a great answer to “there’s nothing to do today.” This version is already built but if you’d like them to build one on there own, try this link.
Clay Charms
This was a gift for my 11 year old and she has loved it. Keeps her plenty busy, and she makes really cute charms for all of us. We’ve all been super happy with this sweet little kit.
DIY Wind Chime
I cannot get over how sweet this kit is. You design, paint, and assemble your own wind chime. An absolutely perfect craft-turned-decoration for spring.
60-Piece Puzzle
I don’t think there’s anything better than a puzzle, except maybe a springtime puzzle. I will take pretty much any excuse to get my kids a new puzzle…
300-Piece Puzzle
My kids started leaning into 300 piece puzzles around age 6, and they’ve loved them ever since. There’s a fast simplicity to them that we all still love – and this one is perfect for springtime.
Kids & Tweens Baking Book
When they say “I’m bored,” kids often need some inspiration. How about some recipes the pre-teens can actually make on their own (and that taste delicious). We have loved this book, especially on days when we need a little boost.
Kids & Tweens Cookbook
Same things apply that I said for the baking book, but let me tell you: the recipes in this book are so good, they’re often ones I make for the kids. And the notes about the “hows” and “whys” behind cooking make this book a real learning opportunity.
Road Trip Favorites
Car Scavenger Hunt
My kids’ favorite pack!! This set is fantastic because it’s reusable, doesn’t require reading, and there’s so many of them. My kids don’t get tired of these. They use them on day to day errands and on big road trips. Perfect for preschool to tweens.
Car Bingo
The absolute classics!! We still love these and keep them in the back of the car – and we have since about 2018 when we got this set when my kids we preschool ages… they still love them as tweens.
Game On Activity Book
Our favorite reusable activity book. This has been a solid win for years. I pull it out only on road trips, so I think it carries a big of excitement. They know it’s going to be a fun time when this comes out.
Where’s Waldo Travel Edition
Where’s Waldo but in a small travel edition… it’s a solid win. Just like regular Where’s Waldo, this doesn’t get old. It’s a perfect “backseat book.”
On-the-Go Game Pad
We LOVE this game pad with classic games like dots & boxes, categories, tic-tac-toe, fortune tellers, and hangman. My kids love having these pre-made game boards and it makes it 1000 times easier for them to play with any adult passengers in the car, passing this pad back and forth.
Swim Toys and Gear
Gems
This is our number one pool toy. I have a handful of these that live in my swim bag. The rest we use in kinetic sand and outside because they make the best decorations for imaginary cakes.
Shark Pool Toys
An absolute favorite. I can’t remember life before these lived in my swim bag. These have been a solid win from the kiddie pool to the deep end.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
One of my all time favorite games released a waterproof version last summer, so we spent an entire season taking this everywhere. It’s the most chaotic version of Slap Jack ever.
Spot It! Waterproof
Another GOAT – but now waterproof so you can bring this along and entertain the kids who don’t want to swim (I swear, I always have one out of the pool).
UNO Splash
Uno, but make it waterproof. Need I say more?
Fabric Strap Goggles
You will forget all about traditional goggles after you try these. I will never go back! Fabric strap goggles are so easy to take on and off wet kid hair, and without any fuss. These are the best. Here’s the link to see them in blues and greens.
Swim Suit
I always put a new swim suit in the Easter basket – it’s an item they need and they get so excited opening it because it really makes the upcoming summer seem real.
Swim Trunks
One more swimsuit option – we have had great luck with this brand and own several pairs. We like that the liner is compression not mesh.
Sunglasses
Another fun item and one that after a long Seattle winter, we never can find last year’s set. It’s the curse of the PNW. This year we started using sunglass strings for the kids’ sunglasses, and it’s been a game changer.
Garden Supplies for Kids
Kid Garden Tools
A brilliant set that we have loved for many, many years. This also is a great option to split apart between sibling Easter baskets. I have this exact set, from this link, and they’re wonderful!
Seed Packets
My parents always put a seed pack or two in my Easter basket as a kid and it’s a tradition I’ve kept. It’s simple and sweet.
Kid Gardening Gloves
These gardening gloves are the cutest and make kids feel like they’re really doing it! With all the mud in our yard, these gloves see a surprising amount of action.
Pull-along Wagon
This is a treasure and the perfect “basket” for their Easter gear. We got this when my youngest was a preschooler. It’s still being drug around by my 10 year old.
Kid Tool Set
One of the best sets we own – we’ve had these in our yard since Easter 2018. They’re great for play and for supporting kids helping in the yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
That’s person to each family that celebrates Easter. This list was created from my decade of building Easter baskets – these are items that have worked for us in various years (but never all at once!).
I’m 40+ years old and I still love an Easter basket. My MIL brings me one. Actually between the basket my MIL brings me and the incredibly hilarious adult Easter egg hunt my Mom still hosts, I’m rolling in the childhood Easter lifestyle still.
I personally don’t but my friend who is a librarian has a fantastic list of Spring books.
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Sarah says
I started on your smart Easter basket recommendations many years ago and am still finding treasures in your list. She’ll bags purchased! This year I got what I thought was a brilliant idea and have purchased their favorite Lego parts in bulk from Etsy. Instead of finding candy filled eggs, they will find Lego filled eggs! Love reading your ideas!
Jody Ferguson says
I’ve been waiting for your list – love how practical, fun and colorful your basket ideas are! I have seven grandkids so I love when there are multiples that I can divide. So love your site! 🐰🩶
Chelsea @ Life With My Littles says
I love this idea so much! We are going to have a yard soon, and since we’ve never had one before, we are lacking in fun outdoor toys! This is a great idea! Thanks!
Randi says
I would add a ball either their favorite color or character from their favorite TV show. They’re usually just a dollar or two
Lindsey says
Great ideas! Thank you!