Easter Basket Ideas

Infants  :  Toddlers  :  Ages 4-8  :  Tweens & Teens

Consider the basket.  Easter baskets don't really need to be baskets at all.  Each year I wander through the house looking for something to stuff all the goodies in.  It can be a regular styled Easter basket, but here are some other ideas.  Plastic Pail with Shovel, Clay Pot, Hats, Mixing Bowl or a plain cardboard box covered in wrapping paper.   

Infants

For infants you can stick to simple Easter Baskets.  I would pick a cute book, a rubber ducky or a Baby Einstein Bath Puppet (like the one pictured) and the new Baby First Moves DVD.  According to our mom tester, "it is very entertaining --her daughter moves and grooves while she's watching it.   She loves to clap when the kids clap and smiles all the time while she's enjoying the music.  Our mom reviewer liked the Pilates bonus at the end. 
 

Pink Bunny Candy Rattle (Kaloo) Newborn, $7.99
This adorable wrist rattle was given to my daughter at the New York Gift Show.  She was fussy because I was dragging her around the show and they were kind enough to give her one for entertainment.  She loves it!  The bunny fits nicely on her wrist, it is soft and the ears are totally chewable.  This is a great little gift for the new baby.  They are also available in teddy bears with blue!

Let's Play Together Chase N' Crawl Duckies (Playskool)  Here's another great infant toy.  It's for infants age 6 months and up and it gets them moving - if they aren't already!  There's a clicking dial, the ducks eyes open and shut - so there's plenty of action!  At $7.99 it's a great gift for those who can't eat chocolate!

Socks (Trumpette)  Your grandchild might not appreciate these, but mom certainly will.  These socks are just great!  I received some for my daughter and she wore them all the time.  First, they look like shoes and secondly they stay on - keeping her little toes warm.  They are fun, sassy and come in an egg carton.  What could be better for Easter! They start at $24.50.

Toddlers

Easter Bunny Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head (Playskool) This set of colorful  limited edition spuds includes one Blue Bunny Mr. Potato Head and one Pink Bunny Mr. Potato Head. They each include lots of mix-and-match potato parts. $19.98

Play-Doh Make N' Display (Hasbro) Finally you can create something cool with Play-Doh and not have it dry out and fall apart.  These great kits retail for just $4.99 and are great basket fillers! You get four tubes of Play-Doh, one tool and one dome to display!  A great alternative to candy!

Crayola Color Wonder Finger Paints ($10.99) As a parent I really steer clear of finger paints.  Especially since my son likes to put his hands on everything, but this new Color Wonder product was fabulous!  My kids and I had a blast using the clear finger paints and watching the pictures come to life.  The colors are vibrant and you can mix them if you're fast.  Finally finger painting has come indoors and doesn't require a smock.  This product is wonderful for older children too!   $16.95 

Dora's Egg Hunt (Ages 2-5, $17.00)  Help Dora and Boots search for eggs (cascarones) that have special surprises.  Kids will have fun with Swiper who is always around to swipe the eggs.  Includes two bonus episodes.

Veggie Tales - An Easter Carol (Ages 3-8, $15.00)  This video teaches kids the true meaning of Easter through a remake of the Dickens Christmas story.  A fresh fun Christian cartoon that grandparents and children will enjoy together.

Boys & Girls Ages 4 - 8

Fur Real Friends Newborn Piglet and Lamb (Hasbro)  Our testers just love these cute little lovable critters.  Their fur is soft, they make adorable movements, are perfect take-along size and make realistic sounds.  The kids have had a blast playing with them.  They are a great alternative to a "REAL" rabbit which people sometimes get this time of year!  They don't require any "real" food, water or care and will never be dropped off at a shelter!  $12.99

High Intencity makes really cool charm bracelets, charms and now "Glam to Go" where a girl can show off her personal style -- and have her favorite lip gloss at hand!  The ring features a mirror for easy application, and the lip glosses are sheer and pretty -- not too grown up for almost tweens and perfect for tweens.  Our 7 and 9-year-old testers loved the sparkly lip gloss -- and mom's liked them too! Slip one into a Easter Basket and watch your granddaughter's eyes - or lips -- sparkle!

MODifiable Markers (The Bead Shop) These are cute mini markers with a twist.  You draw in one color and the “MODify” your picture with the with the color-changer marker. They are the perfect size to mail, or would nicely fill an Easter Basket with color and are affordable at $5.95.

Tweens & Teens

Thoughtful Girl Journal  (eeboo) Here's a great gift really for anytime of year.  The Thoughtful Girl Journal includes space for reflection, 16 pre-perforated stationary sheets that fold for mailing, 2 sheets of stickers and a Birthday and Address log.  Smart grandparents can fill in important dates and addresses in advance! You can select the one that's just right for your granddaughter - there's The Artist,  Naturalist, Poet and more.  At just $7.95 you can get one for now and one for Summer! 

High Intencity makes really cool charm bracelets, charms and now "Glam to Go" where a girl can show off her personal style -- and have her favorite lip gloss at hand!  The ring features a mirror for easy application, and the lip glosses are sheer and pretty -- not too grown up for almost tweens and perfect for tweens.  Our 7 and 9-year-old testers loved the sparkly lip gloss -- and mom's liked them too! Slip one into a Easter Basket and watch your granddaughter's eyes - or lips -- sparkle!

Ugly Dolls (Pretty Ugly, LLC)  All ages, Price Range $6.00 - $25.00
Be popular with the tween in your life!  Save them from ugly teeth full of cavities and get them an Ugly Doll!  They are cool on their backpacks, great to snuggle with in bed and just plain fun!  Stuff a few in a basket --who knows -- you might even want one for yourself!

Headband and Hairclips (Andrea's Beau) $8.50 - $18.50
Our testers, aged 8 and up just loved the beautiful headbands by Andrea's Beau.  Tired of the old plastic headbands that hurt, our testers were thrilled to wear these beautiful headbands that are stylish and hip - and comfortable!  They loved the colors are beautiful and really compliment any outfit.  You can buy them online, and their prices are really reasonable.  Clips start at $8.50 and headbands $18.00 and up.

Pedre Watches -- Why just settle for flowers in a garden or in a vase?  Your granddaughter will surely appreciate this more than chocolate! Our teen tester, aged 16 just loved this watch which she said was fun, trendy and feminine.  She also really loved the little flowers that are sewn on the strap. These hip functional watches are gracing the wrists of stars all over Hollywood. They are made by Pedre and they have been featured by in InStyle Magazine and Vogue.  This watch retails for $75.00 and can be found at ravinstyle.com or call Toll Free (800) 969-2151 for a retailer near you.

Do you have a great Easter suggestion?  If so send it in!