I am one of those moms who avoids giving my children candy at all costs. I don’t mind a cookie or a donut every now and then, but candy is where I draw the line. You can imagine how stressful it is for me on holidays where candy is the star of the show (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter) and I have to somehow keep the influx of candy out of my children’s grubby fingers. It’s especially tough when grandparents and aunts and uncles send them little treats for these holidays and mommy has to make sure it goes straight into the Red Bag of Cavities (I literally have an old Christmas gift bag stuffed with holiday treats that is currently hiding at the top of our pantry; we use it for rewards and, most often, bribery).

One way I try to keep the candy eating to a minimum is by not participating in the candy smorgasbord during the holidays. Instead, I fill my kids Easter baskets with a variety of other small non-candy treats and I think it goes over pretty well. Turns out, there’s a ton of things you can use to fill an easter basket without resorting to candy!

Ideas for Toddlers

Around this time last year, I shared with you 10 Candy-Free Easter Basket Ideas that are still my go-to goodies that I fill my kids baskets with (go check out my post for the full list of ideas!). 

This is what I’ve put in my kids baskets this year:

• a new pair of flip-flops
• a large plastic egg filled with temporary tattoos
• a small knit bunny from Clearly Lovely, a wonderful fair-trade online boutique
• bubbles
• a pair of kiddie binoculars
• a small toy (a Moana necklace for my daughter and an Avengers punching bag for my son)
• a small figurine that “grows” in a glass of water

Overall, I think the kids will love their goodies and I can’t wait to watch them hunt for their baskets (we have a basket hunt inside the house and a plastic egg hunt outside if the weather is nice). I think the kids really enjoy what they get in their baskets and they don’t seem to even notice that there’s not a single piece of candy. Mommy win!

Ideas for Older Kiddos

For now, I know I can get away with small trinkets like these for another couple of years, but it’s going to be a bit more challenging as they get older. I’ve tried to come up with a few ideas for older kids that I think will work, though:

• a new book
• an iTunes gift card (or a new CD if those are even around in the next few years!)
• a new DVD
• a “gift certificate” for extra screen time
• a new outfit
• nail polish or lipgloss
• a diary/journal
• magazine subscription
• a necklace or earrings
• a beach towel

Maybe as they get older I’ll add one of those small chocolate bunnies, but for now I’m going to ride the no-candy train for as long as I can get away with it! Lord knows I can’t keep the rest of our family from showering candy upon my kids, but that’s what grandparents are for, right?

What do you put in your kids Easter basket? At what age do you stop doing the Easter basket altogether? 

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