Easter is just around the corner, and I’m already thinking about what to put in my kids’ Easter baskets this year. After years of trial and error (and way too many plastic toys that broke within days), I’ve learned a thing or two about Easter Basket stuffers that are actually worth the money and won’t end up in the trash by Memorial Day.

I love the Easter season – the egg hunts, the family brunch, the excitement on my kids’ faces when they see their baskets. But I’ll be honest, figuring out what to actually put in those baskets can be tough. You want things that are fun, small enough to fit, and ideally, something they’ll use more than once. If you’re like me and want to move away from the single-use plastic toys and mystery candy that tastes like waxy disappointment, I’ve got you covered.

Easter Basket Stuffers

Easter Snacks They’ll Actually Eat

Let’s start with the practical stuff. Kids need to eat, right? Instead of loading up on chocolate bunnies that will melt in the car (been there), I like to include snacks I know my kids will actually enjoy.

Annie’s Variety Snack Pack has been a game-changer in our house. It’s a box of individual serving crackers in different flavors, and my kids go crazy for them. They’re perfect for Easter baskets because the individual packs are small enough to tuck in alongside other goodies, and I don’t feel guilty about it because they’re made with real ingredients. Plus, these make great on-the-go snacks for the weeks after Easter too.

Another favorite in our house is Annie’s Organic Butterflies. These fruit snacks are organic, come in individual pouches, and honestly taste better than the conventional brands. My kids don’t even realize they’re getting something slightly better for them – they just know they’re delicious.

Easter Basket stuffers

Easter Toys That Last

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that LEGO never goes out of style. My kids have been playing with LEGO sets for years, and they actually use them. The LEGO Easter Bunny and Chick Building Set is perfect for Easter baskets because it’s small enough to fit but substantial enough that kids can actually build something meaningful. It’s also not character-specific, which means it has staying power beyond just this season.

LEGO sets are great because once they build the bunny and chick, they can take them apart and build something else entirely. We have bins of LEGO pieces from sets we’ve collected over the years, and my kids still play with them regularly. That’s the kind of Easter basket gift I can get behind.

Creative Play That Keeps Them Busy

Play-Doh is another one of those classics that actually works. The Play-Doh Easter Basket Set comes with multiple colors in smaller containers, which is perfect for Easter morning. My kids love Play-Doh because they can make literally anything, and as a parent, I love it because it keeps them occupied for more than five minutes.

The nice thing about getting Play-Doh in the Easter basket is that it’s something they can use over and over again. We keep ours in a bin, and on rainy days or when they need a break from screens, it’s one of the first things they reach for.

Easter Basket fillers

Easter Sensory Toys Worth the Hype

I was skeptical about squishy toys at first, but these Easter Squishy Stress Toys have actually been a hit with my kids. They’re not just trendy – they’re genuinely calming for kids who need something to fidget with. I’ve noticed my oldest uses hers when she’s doing homework or watching a movie, and it seems to help her focus.

These come in cute Easter shapes like bunnies and eggs, so they fit the theme perfectly. And unlike some of the cheaper versions I’ve seen, these actually hold up. We’ve had ours for months and they’re still in good shape.

Easter Basket ideas for kids

Outdoor Fun That Gets Them Moving

Spring means finally getting outside after a long winter, and these foam glider airplanes are perfect for Easter baskets. They’re lightweight, easy to throw, and my kids can spend an hour in the backyard seeing whose plane can fly the farthest. The best part? They’re made of foam, so when they inevitably crash into the fence or a tree, they don’t break.

We’ve had these for a while now, and they’ve held up surprisingly well. They’re great for taking to the park or the beach, and they fold up small enough that I can throw them in my bag when we’re heading out for the day.

Easter Candy Everyone Actually Wants

Let’s be real – Easter baskets need some candy. But instead of the standard chocolate bunnies that taste like they’ve been sitting in a warehouse since last Easter, I go for candy my kids actually love. Nerds Gummy Clusters are a huge hit in our house. They’re the perfect combination of crunchy and chewy, and honestly, I sneak a few for myself.

If you want to include a variety of treats, these pre-filled Easter eggs take all the work out of stuffing individual eggs. They come with candy already inside, which saves you time and honestly, they include better candy than I would have picked myself. My kids love the surprise element of cracking them open.

Bath Time Toy Favorites

Bath bombs have been a game-changer for making bath time less of a battle in our house. These Mr. Bubble bath potions are perfect for Easter baskets because they’re colorful, fun, and actually get my kids excited about taking a bath. They fizz and change the water color, which apparently is the most exciting thing ever when you’re five.

The nice thing about bath products as Easter basket fillers is that they get used up, so you’re not adding more stuff to the toy bin. And honestly, anything that makes bedtime routines easier is worth its weight in gold.

More Easter LEGO Options

I mentioned LEGO earlier, but if you’re looking for something slightly bigger, this LEGO Creator Cute Bunny set is fantastic. It’s a 3-in-1 set, which means kids can build a bunny, a rabbit, or a hamster. My kids love these Creator sets because once they’re done with one build, they can take it apart and make something completely different.

This one is a bit larger than the smaller Easter set I mentioned earlier, so it’s great if you want to make LEGO the main gift in the basket. It keeps them busy for a good chunk of time, and then they have multiple building options afterward.

Easter Books That Celebrate Spring

If you haven’t jumped on the Bluey train yet, where have you been? Bluey’s Easter lift-the-flap book is absolutely adorable. My kids love Bluey, and this book has become part of our Easter tradition. The lift-the-flap feature makes it interactive, which keeps younger kids engaged.

Another favorite is Pete the Cat and the Easter Basket Bandit. If your kids are in the Pete the Cat phase (or if you’re trying to introduce them to it), this is a fun Easter story. Pete’s adventures are always entertaining, and this one has a nice message about sharing and kindness.

For younger kids or toddlers, I love these Where’s the Easter Bunny board books. They’re perfect for little hands, and the interactive element keeps them engaged. We read these leading up to Easter morning, and they’ve become a yearly tradition.

Books are always one of my favorite Easter basket additions because they’re something we can enjoy together. We read these before bed during the week leading up to Easter, and it really builds the excitement for the holiday.

Another classic that’s been around forever is It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny. If you grew up reading this one, it’s such a sweet feeling to share it with your own kids. It’s a simple story that little ones can follow along with, and the illustrations are adorable.

Creative Easter Activities That Keep Them Busy

My kids are at the age where they love anything crafty, and these paint and sticker activity books are perfect for Easter baskets. They combine painting with stickers, which somehow makes it even more exciting than regular coloring books. We pull these out on rainy afternoons, and they keep my kids entertained for hours.

If you’re looking for something a bit more involved, this paint your own bunny craft kit is a great option. It comes with everything you need – the bunny figurine, paints, and a brush. My kids love projects like this where they can actually create something and then display it in their room afterward.

For kids who love paper airplanes (is there a kid who doesn’t?), this paper airplane squadron kit is fantastic. It comes with pre-printed designs and instructions for folding different types of planes. My kids have competitions to see whose plane flies the farthest, and it’s become a favorite weekend activity.

Nature and Science Fun

I’m always looking for ways to get my kids interested in nature, and this mini garden terrarium kit is perfect for that. It’s small enough to fit in an Easter basket but substantial enough to be a real project. My kids loved planting the seeds and checking on their garden every day to see what was growing.

These kidnoculars are another hit for nature exploration. They’re designed specifically for kids’ hands and eyes, which makes them way easier to use than adult binoculars. We take these on hikes and to the park, and my kids love spotting birds and squirrels.

The growing hatching dinosaur eggs are one of those things that seem gimmicky but are actually pretty cool. You put them in water and they slowly hatch over a few days. My kids were obsessed with checking on them every morning, and it taught them a little bit about patience too.

Things They’ll Actually Wear and Use

Practical gifts can be fun too, especially when they’re cute. These bunny slippers have been a huge hit in our house. They have grippy bottoms so kids don’t slip on hardwood floors, and they’re cozy enough that my kids actually want to wear them. We go through slippers pretty quickly, so getting a fun pair in the Easter basket feels special but also serves a purpose.

For older kids, stackable charm bracelets are a great option. They can collect them and mix and match, which kids seem to love. These are simple enough for everyday wear but feel like jewelry, which makes kids feel grown up.

I also love including practical beauty items that make kids feel special. These Lip Smacker party packs come in fun flavors and cute packaging. My kids feel so fancy using their “lip gloss,” and I don’t mind because it’s basically just flavored chapstick.

Easter-Themed Extras

If you want something specifically Easter-themed that’s also really sweet, these crochet Easter bunnies can be personalized with your child’s name. They’re handmade, which gives them that special keepsake quality. My kids still have theirs from last year and sleep with them occasionally.

The GUND Easter basket playset is adorable for younger kids who love pretend play. It comes with a little bunny and accessories, and it’s the kind of toy that gets pulled out year after year during Easter season.

For toddlers and preschoolers, this Fisher-Price learning tablet is educational and entertaining. It has different activities that teach letters, numbers, and shapes. My youngest loves hers, and I appreciate that she’s learning while she plays.

If you’re looking for something cuddly, the Melissa & Doug bunny is such a classic. It’s washable (thank goodness), super soft, and the perfect size for little arms to carry around. We have a few Melissa & Doug stuffed animals, and they hold up so much better than cheaper alternatives.

Finally, these shimmer and shine stickers are perfect for sticker-obsessed kids. They’re metallic and sparkly, which apparently makes them way more exciting than regular stickers. I include a pack in each basket because they’re small, inexpensive, and my kids go crazy for them.

Easter gifts for kids

What I Skip in Easter Baskets

After years of doing this, I’ve learned what not to include. I skip the plastic grass (it gets everywhere and my vacuum cleaner hates me for it), cheap plastic toys that break immediately, and any candy that I wouldn’t want to eat myself. Life’s too short for bad chocolate.

I also try to avoid anything that comes with a million tiny pieces that I’ll be finding under the couch for the next six months. If it can’t be contained or doesn’t have real play value, it doesn’t make the cut.

Making Easter Baskets Work for Your Family

The truth is, every family is different. What works for my kids might not work for yours, and that’s completely okay. The goal is to create an Easter basket that feels special without creating a bunch of waste or spending money on things that won’t get used.

I like to think about Easter baskets the same way I think about birthday gifts – would I buy this for my kid on a regular day? If the answer is yes, it probably belongs in the basket. If I’m only considering it because “it’s Easter,” I usually skip it.

This year, I’m keeping it simple with snacks they’ll eat, toys they’ll actually play with, and maybe a book or two. The Easter bunny (okay, fine, it’s me) is learning to be more selective, and honestly, I think my kids appreciate it more when there are fewer, better-quality items in their baskets.

What are you putting in your kids’ Easter baskets this year? I’d love to hear what works for your family!

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Easter treats

Amazon Easter Basket Shopping List

Here’s a quick reference list of all the products mentioned in this post:

Snacks:

Building Toys:

Creative Play:

Sensory & Fidget Toys:

Outdoor Fun:

Candy & Treats:

Bath Time:

Books:

Nature & Science:

Wearables & Accessories:

Easter-Themed Favorites:

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