13 Unique Easter Basket Ideas for Kids

Last year, a Virginia-based lifestyle blogger I follow shared that she and her husband have a pretty unique Easter tradition. To celebrate the arrival of spring and prepare their children for the warm weather ahead, they fill each of their kid's baskets with a new swimsuit and a pair of flip-flops. The gifts are simple but give their family an excuse to set up a sprinkler in the backyard and spend some quality time together.

Because I prefer activities and experiences over things, too, that idea really resonated with me. So, I've decided to do something similar with my own family this year and gift items that they'll actually use. Here are 13 fun non-candy Easter gifts that you and your crew can enjoy at home together.

Peter Rabbit Read-Along

Make your baby's first Easter one for the books, and build their basket around The Tale of Peter Rabbit. You can gift them a set of cozy, organic cotton pajamas; a bunny-shaped play mat and illustrated board books to read together. Don't forget to include an heirloom picture frame, so they can look back on this special milestone someday.

Rainy Day Adventure Kit

Remind your little ones that "April showers bring May flowers," and fill their Easter baskets with rainy day essentials. You can start with classic yellow raincoats, and then add in umbrellas or rainboots, rainbow chalk and some blooming lollipops. They'll be prepared for the stormy season ahead and look forward to playing outside no matter what the weather.

Cookie Decorating Class

Forget the chick-shaped marshmallows — satisfy their sweet tooths and make lasting memories by decorating Easter cookies. If it were up to us, we'd fill everyone's baskets with these pastel thumbprint cookie stamps, spatulas and tubes of icing. Then we'd set aside some time after brunch for crafting shortbread bunnies and covering them in sprinkles.

Beachy Staycation

It's time to break out the bathing suits! If you live in the South or somewhere else that receives plenty of sun, then surprise your kiddos with an inflatable pool and Easter baskets full of cute sandals, mineral sunscreen and beach towels. This pink Minnidip pool is beyond easy to set up and will bring a taste of Palm Springs to your backyard. (Not to mention that it will look so cute in your Instagram pictures.)

Easter Eggs-cavation

Instead of an Easter egg hunt, wow your little ones with an Easter eggs-cavation. Start by clearing off the table and laying down newspaper to designate the official "dig site." Then fill their baskets with clay dinosaur eggs, toy chisels, notebooks and on-theme stickers, so they can identify and document all the species they encounter. You could even throw in a plush dinosaur buddy to keep your young paleontologists company.

Kids' Container Garden

What better way to welcome spring than by planting a garden? Get the whole family outside by swapping their Easter baskets for these canvas totes. Each bag includes a hand spade, a hand rake, a hand shovel and a watering can, plus wooden stakes to mark veggies. You could also add a few seed packets and even a garden-to-table cookbook.

Neighborhood Bike Tour

Show your cuties just how wonderful spring can be, and gift them a bike trailer for neighborhood cruising. You can build-up to the big present by packing their Easter baskets with safety gear (like customizable helmets) or fun accessories (like bells and seat bags). If they're old enough to ride on their own, lean into the latter options.

Egg-citing Movie Night

If your family's full of movie buffs, then prepare a special screening of It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. You can load their baskets with snacks (like juice boxes and bags of popcorn), or opt for one big family gift that includes a popcorn maker, an interactive poster and a game to play after the credits roll.

Spring Photo Shoot

Easter is the perfect eggs-cuse to take some family photos. Treat this Instax Mini camera as the group gift, and then fill everyone's baskets with film packs and accessories. The kids can take turns using the camera and compiling their favorite images into a spring photo album. Don't forget to save a few candids for the fridge!

Bird Watch and Nature Walk

Bird-watching season is in full swing! Get your family in on the fun by gifting everyone a pair of binoculars, some birding flashcards and a book about identifying eggs. Be sure to include some wooden birdhouses and paint kits, so you can craft and chat about what you saw after the nature walk.

Road Trip Activity Pack

If you're heading somewhere special for Spring Break, then fill their Easter baskets with supplies for the journey. Start with this USA coloring cloth (so they can visualize the route), and then include adventure books and games for the car. You could also throw in reusable snack bags, mini toothbrushes, water bottles and sunscreen.

Family Fire Pit

Candy is nice, but campfire s'mores are even better. Kick off the spring season by gifting the whole family a portable fire pit, and then treating everyone to s'mores supplies, a new lantern and a game set. Once the sun goes down, you can enjoy dessert with a side of family bonding.

Backyard Stargazing

Take countless tours of the universe together by investing in a telescope for the backyard or patio. You can fill the kids' baskets with astronaut ice cream (yum!) and pocket-sized guides to the night sky. And if you live in a city or somewhere else that's too bright to see the stars? Simply swap the telescope for the planetarium projector.