Prepping for Easter baskets

Filling Easter baskets for our kiddos has become one of my favorite springtime traditions! As someone who didn’t grow up with them, I’ve really grown to love the opportunity they give me to highlight an important holiday in our faith, support small businesses, replenish basics at the turn of the season, and create some magic for my little ones. And personally, as a creative person, they’re just really fun for me to collect, curate, arrange, and fluff!

This year, we’re doing Palm Sunday baskets as opposed to Easter baskets. I agonized over this decision, but so many of the items I’m including will be used on spring break, and our break falls before Easter. It didn’t make sense to withhold the items I’d planned to include and buy extra things simply to fill their baskets. Plus, these baskets will double as road trip goodies – which is why they’re a little more stuffed than usual!

(If you’re curious, I’ve written extensively on my feelings about Easter baskets in the past – this post from last year captures why I love them and feel they’re an important part of our faith tradition! This post covers some of my tips for keeping baskets budget-friendly.)

Onto the stuffing! Before I get into the 2021 specifics, here are a few things I consider including each year:

— A faith-based book to add to our library. I’ve rounded up some of our favorites here. (I try to buy these from a local source when possible, like Quail Ridge Books or McIntyre’s Books!) Of course, Write the Word Kids is also a perfect pick for 5-12-year-olds – LOVE the new Adventure volume!

— Pajamas. These usually come from Hanna Andersson or my favorite consignment sale (which sadly has been canceled three times in a row now due to COVID, sob!).

— A bathing suit or beach item. Hanna is also our favorite for rash guards, but love this navy daisy one-piece and sky blue floral swim top! (I want it in my size!)

— A fun accessory or clothing item, like a Little Poppy hair bow, a Harding Lane needlepoint hat, a twirly dress from Alice & Ames, or this cheerful gingham bag to tote around treasures.

— Summer shoes. In our house, that’s usually a pair of Saltwaters and a pair of Natives.

— Something fun to play with, like new chalk, a DIY magic wand, bubbles, MagnaTile cars, a card game, star bath bombs, a mini play mat, or a personalized memory game. Many more ideas here!

— A special snack or candy, like bunny grahams, gorgeous gummy butterflies, gorgeous foil eggs, or those frosted animal cookies.

Tucking in some a few of their favorite stuffed bunnies has become a tradition – we also love Jellycats and Cuddle + Kind dolls, which I like to get from a favorite local store.

Now, here’s what’s going in our little ones’ baskets this year!

June, age 5, will have a copy of The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross; this water bottle she spotted while shopping for our donation baskets; the cutest rainbow Keds; a strawberry rash guard; sunglasses; a few pairs of socks; conditioner; color-changing ponies (!); swim goggles; this Paw Patrol coloring book; a knotted gingham headband; a pair of face masks; a few bath bombs; and stick-on earrings.

Shep, age 2, will have a copy of God’s Very Good Idea; the next size up in Natives; a few pairs of socks; the most adorable seagull swim trunks; a water bottle; bath bombs; swim goggles; water-activated grow capsules I found at the grocery store; a green tractor toy (bought at a consignment sale!); and this sticker activity book.

Knowing that not everyone chooses Easter baskets as their big parenting moment (ha!), I would love to hear something you are “extra” about celebrating! (Or that was celebrated big in your family growing up!) The less traditional or expected, the better. The first day of school? The first day of summer? The tooth fairy? Tell us below!

Affiliate links are used in this post!