do you make Easter baskets for your kids? it's something we do every year! traditionally, the kids wake up on Easter morning to find their baskets filled with a few fun (small and usually practical) springtime gifts, and they use their baskets for egg hunts later that day. i'll toss in some Cadbury eggs and a chocolate bunny rabbit for novelty purposes, but ideally, my kids' Easter baskets will not be filled with a ton of candy. now that my kids are older (9 and 13) they have outgrown stuffed animals and toys for the most part, so i have to get a little bit creative - but it's a fun challenge! i like to think "what are my kids into these days?" (reading, basketball, slime) and "what do my kids need right now?" (shoes, always shoes) and i take all that into consideration and think outside the box for Easter basket gifts that will make them smile.
truth be told, the basket is the least of our focus on Easter Sunday. my kids are well aware of the truth of what we celebrate on this holy day, and the resurrected Son of God is what it's all about. the trinkets and toys won't last: their faith in Jesus Christ will. my kids' favorite traditions are church service, lunch with family, the Jesus Story Egg Hunt, Resurrection Rolls, and "egging" our neighbors! the baskets of goodies are just a fun little thing we do.
i was shopping for my kids' Easter baskets when i came up with this list of NON CANDY EASTER BASKET GOODIES:
// books, journals, coloring books
// crayons, gel pens, markers, colored pencils
// stickers, erasers, temporary tattoos
// art supplies, small craft kit, sketch pad
// flower seed packets, small flower grow kits
// swim goggles, floaties, dive toys
// flip flops, socks, slippers
// bubbles, sidewalk chalk, water balloons
// kid-sized garden tools, gardening gloves, small flower pot
// Lego minifigures, matchbox cars
// reusable water bottle, cup with lid/straw
// kite, boomerang, yo-yo
// umbrella, rainboots
// puzzles, slime ingredients, deck of cards
// pool/beach towel
// popsicle mold, cookie cutters
// night-light, glow sticks, piggy bank
what other non-candy goodies would you put in your child's Easter basket?
(our Easter 2012 and Easter 2014)
'After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move.
The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said."' Matthew 28:1-6
happy easter, bunnies!
###
