Hello! It’s here … how to build a beautiful Easter basket! If you’re like me, when you were a kid, you received an Easter basket chock full of candy … it was a sugar free-for-all. And while it was fun, it was unhealthy and unfulfilling. After a few days, the candy was gone, and there was nothing lasting or meaningful to cherish. Sad, right? A holiday as consequential as Easter, perhaps the most important day of the year for Christians, should be celebrated with our kids with more than a basket full of candy, shouldn’t it? I think so, which is why when my children became old enough to receive an Easter basket, I decided to do it differently. And don’t worry, there’s still candy … it’s just not all about candy!
I generally follow a three ingredient formula. An Easter basket should include items that create (1) a sense of wonder, (2) spark a child’s creativity, and (3) mark the day as something special. The last group is where I generally include the goodies. My children receive candy and other sweet items as treats … they understand these goodies are to be enjoyed on special occasions.
Creating Wonder
This is where you give your child the gift of imagination and, in my experience, nothing does that better than a book. Books are the most unappreciated gift of our times. The secret to developing empathy, understanding others different from ourselves, finding purpose and meaning in our lives, and sparking curiosity is to pick up a book. There’s also nothing that brings a family together more than reading a book out loud together. I linked to a few books below, but I’d also recommend checking out our family’s spring reading list in the sidebar. There are excellent choices ranging from poetry, classic literature, and some new favorites as well.
Spark Creativity
This is where the fun stuff is! What does your child like to do? Is she an artist? Does he like to explore nature? Is she into crafts? Grab a flower press and nature journal, or an intricate coloring book that she can spend hours working on, and then frame the finished product(s). The sky is the limit. Choose something activity-based that your child will love. It’s pretty simple! I linked to some ideas below to help give you inspiration!
Goodies for a Special Occasion
Okay, I admit … what would an Easter basket be like without some candy? A big chocolate bunny and jelly beans are pretty standard in our house. As are Cadbury cream eggs (for Jacob and me)! But you know your child … so grab some of his favorites and toss em’ in there! Sure, they’ll be bouncing off the walls all day, but that’s kind of the point isn’t it? It’s a special day!
Finally, I like to include a stuffed animal or lovey of some sort, but that’s only because my kids love them so much! It’s not one of the three key ingredients, but if you think your kiddo would enjoy something plush and soft, add it in! I included a few options below. A few go-to places I visit for stuffed animals that help make a difference are Cuddle + Kind and The Little Market.
You’ve got two weeks my friends, so hop to it!
Happy Basket Building!
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