I'm already starting to think of Easter/Spring Baskets for the kids (and the cousins). I am thinking that this year for my kids they are going to get their "new to them" swimsuits and other summer "must haves". I like to do practical stuff instead of all the silly stuff that usually goes into them. No stuffed animals! Any ideas?

What are you putting in your child's basket?

Hrmm, thanks for the reminder that I should start thinking about this!

This year dd will probably get a spring themed book, a little bit of candy (like a couple lollipops or maybe some homemade treats), some flower seeds that she can plant herself, bubble soap and a wand, and something homemade - last year it was fairy dolls, this year it might just be more fairy dolls unless I come up with something else. :lol Good thing she really loves fairy dolls!

We live in the chilly north, I don't think summer gifts would go over too well because there is such a long time between Easter and when she can go swimming or use summery things.

I don't do a lot of candy in DS's Easter basket. He usually gets an outfit of clothes and a few other little things. Last year, he got some small shovels and rakes to use in his sand box, 2 books, and a CD. I really need to start thinking about this year's! I just ordered some stuff from Gymboree, so that'll probably be the clothes he gets in this year's basket. I don't know what else he'll get yet.

Oooh, good idea! I think I'll do swimsuits, sunglasses, a little bottle of sunscreen, and maybe a couple of water toys for my kids. It's already starting to get pretty warm here, so hopefully lake weather is just around the corner!

Last year, my dd's "easter basket" had a $20 B&N gift card, terrycloth bath animal, organic chocolate lollipop, and new underwear!

Last year I picked up a lot of scrapbooking supplies on sale (funky scissors, little paper punches, stamps, etc.) to put in the kids' Spring baskets - they work great for homeschooling projects!

A book and new spring jammies.

So far my ds is getting a jump roap with "carrots" on either end :lol .

I think I'm going to grow real grass for the baskets this year....

I think I'm going to grow real grass for the baskets this year....

I did this one year. It was so cool. I need to do it again. :)

I haven't thought about it much. I'm doing a swap on another board, so I'll probably put some of that stuff in there. Besides that, it'll probably be bubbles, a couple new bath toys and some treats.

Aaaah...Easter. Can't wait. :) I just started thinking about this, too. Coincidentally, I just discovered etsy.com, and the sweetest hand-made things on there... One item I most probably will purchase is a set of hand-made play sugar cookies in a cute bunny tin. Other than that, I'm really not sure. Maybe a book or two? Maybe some art supplies? And maybe some lollipops. Like a pp, summer stuff won't really work for us for Easter, since it could be a while till it's able to be used... Actually, I think I'm more excited about filling and hiding the eggs for dd than about the actual basket. :p

So far I have purchased an easter book (still need another since I have 2 DD's) and some easter egg shaped bubble necklaces. The necklaces came from Target up front in their $1 section. There are 3 in a package for $1. I bought 3 packages and plan to give each DD one as well as each of their cousins since we will be spending Easter with family.

I like the swim suit idea. Unfortunately we already went swimming recently on a long weekend visiting with family so they girls were already given their swim suits, shoes, and robes. I did just buy them some goggles though since they were fascinated with their cousins so those could go in their basket.

I'll check back to see what some of the other ideas are. I also avoid stuffed animals because my girls rarely play with them and usually get some from great aunts anyway. I also want to keep the candy to a minimum but I still want to give them something.

:lurk:

last year they each got 1 peep, a couple chocolate eggs (more hidden in the yard), bubbles, and hair doodads.

other years they've gotten carrot shaped sidewalk chalk, sunglasses; whatever i have on hand or find cheap, incuding garage sale finds, since the EB doesn't wrap anything (nor does santa).

every year all the prior years' bunnies, ducks, etc. (including the duckies out of the bathtub) gather near the baskets that the easter bunny leaves at the back door. they all have a party, and stay for a few days, then one night they all disappear because they go back to easterland (the attic in a tub) to hang with the easter bunny until the next year. dd1 gets very excited these days anticipating their return. some years a bunny/duckling sticks around for a few months if they miss the trip home with their friends. this considerably cuts down on the hoards of stuffed toys here, but still gives that nice mass effect at the baskets.

Last year, I got each dd a terra cotta pot with a small package of soil and seeds, and watering can and gloves. Easter morning they painted their pots and planted their seeds. Everyone else gives them so much junk food (school, grandparents, etc) that I don't even have to. And they have enough stuffed animals.

I love the seeds idea! I think I'll get a small terra cotta pot, some seeds, a watering can, and stickers or something to decorate the pot...

Some great ideas here! I love the hair doo dads idea as dd needs some desperately. I did the plant idea last year and it bombed but that was probably my poor follow through. They did great when we did plants earlier this year/late last year. And now we have three gorgeous flowers of some sort waiting to be planted later in April. Oh! I can get them their own gardening set so they can help me plant them! That would be fun!

Holly7347, the bubble necklaces you got actually have bubbles? I'm off to Target. I'm looking for small little bubbles on strings for a possible trip later this year.

Anyone see those little travel fans/spray bottles anywhere for cheap?

I do baskets for our Small Friends, who will be 6, 8 and 11 this year. We'll include some candy and stickers, some crafty things, some hair stuff, probably some lip balm, bookmarks, sidewalk chalk, small photo frames (one of the Villagers is a great photographer, so they always have fabu new photos of themselves), and some age- and interest-specific stuff such as Hello Kitty and gaudy jewelry for the 6-year-old, some Spanish and Chinese stuff for the 8-year old, and a new book or two for the 11-year old.

For turtle, I'll get her some new bath stuff, possibly a new cookbook, some kitchen utensils, some argyle socks and some candy.

Easter baskets are my FAVE.

What terrific ideas! Bubbles, bathing suits, sidewalk chalk all come to mind. Something sweet to eat and a garland of flowers to wear would be nice. Maybe I could string together some paper flowers.

Last year I did sandals, bubbles, a toy, a little candy. Bf got a cd and sandals. This year I will probably do sandals again (this kids LOVES shoes), maybe socks too. I did underwear and a fun toothbrush in the x-mas stocking. I like putting useful things in the baskets. We are running out of room for toys. Love the spring jammies idea.

Last year I did art supplies and some candy. I'm hoping for ideas for this year so far I can't think of much.

I think of the basket contents as 4 categories: food, active play, creative play, intellectual stuff. Then I get something(s) for each one. For example, a homemade goodie, jump rope, a soccer ball, finger paints, and a book. When I break it out like that, it's a little easier to get a handle on it!

For little ds I'm so far thinking a couple of books, some painting stuff (the boy goes through it so fast!) and a sugar free chocolate bunny & marshmallow eggs, oh maybe a B&N giftcard now that I've seen that great idea! For older ds, a B&N giftcard,lol, a couple of books, and I'm not sure what else yet other than the chocolate bunny and marshmallow eggs!

I think of the basket contents as 4 categories: food, active play, creative play, intellectual stuff. Then I get something(s) for each one. For example, a homemade goodie, jump rope, a soccer ball, finger paints, and a book. When I break it out like that, it's a little easier to get a handle on it!

Brilliant!

sub'ing for ideas...we're compacting this year and I'm looking for something within those boundaries.

I really like the ideas mentioned about seeds for flowers, etc. If we ever get to move, I love the idea of planting a tree or flower for each boy.

Ds is getting a swimsuit, goggles, sidewalk chalk, bubbles and other outdoor and pool things. I also found a great wide brimmed hat at Gymboree I will put in there. My Mom always gives him some books. No candy though.