There's no sugar, but they're still super sweet!
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When it comes time to start filling Easter baskets, the first thing that comes to mind is chocolate eggs. And maybe chocolate bunnies. Or jellybeans. Or Peeps. Or candy, candy and more candy. Whether you've had your fill of sweet treats or are looking to avoid sugary snacks, it might be time to think about some Easter gifts for kids that aren't edible.
These are the best non-candy Easter basket ideas for 2024. Luckily, there are so many wonderful things that fit inside an Easter basket, or even a plastic egg. There are tons of cute goodie bag-style favors that you can buy in packs of 12 or more, which makes them good for class parties or giveaways. There are some collectibles that come pre-packaged in their own eggs, which saves you some time and effort. And even some Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award-winning items that fit the Easter theme — and have been tested in the Good Housekeeping Institute labs and with real families for safety, durability and fun. Put them all together, and they won't even realize they're missing out on the sugar.
Looking for more great Easter gift ideas? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:
Easter Gifts for Babies | Easter Gifts for Toddlers | Easter Gifts for Boys | Easter Gifts for Teens
Proof that holiday traditions can double as teaching lessons: When they chisel away at a fossilized egg, they'll unveil one of 12 dinosaurs, which they can then identify with the provided cards. Ages 6+
The decisions kids make in this book will take them on different paths through the story, all focused on looking for the great giant squid (and learning about the ocean along the way). “Every time I tried to stop, they wanted to start over on a different adventure!” one parent tester said. Ages 6+
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Great for waiting rooms, the car or at restaurants, these spiral books contain pictures that color in like magic: Just fill the included paintbrush with water, and kids can use it to reveal colors and hidden pictures. there are many themes to choose from, and you can also buy them in three-pack bundles for $16.
This fiery dragon egg is impressive enough on its own, but open it and you'll find 12" articulated dragon inside. You can get them in several different colors, too, including gold, blue, rainbow and pastel candy colors. Ages 6+
NeeDoh is the stress toy that's taken over TikTok because it feels so cool to squash and squeeze. And while NeeDoh comes in many shapes, the groovy, sparkly marble eggs are perfect for an Easter basket. Ages 3+
These eggs come pre-filled with all the pieces they'll need to build some kind of creature, which will give them something to do after they've found all the Easter Bunny's hiding spots. You can find unicorns, rabbits, dinosaurs and a variety of other animals, or get a similar set with construction vehicles. Ages 3+
Kids of all ages enjoy the sensory experience of pushing patterns into the colored gel with these boards. There's a stylus they can use, though some think it's more fun to just use your fingers. It also comes in five different gel colors. Ages 3+
These Peep-shaped soaps smell just as sweet as they look: Each one has a subtle jelly bean-inspired scent, so they can enjoy the holiday's best sweets long after Easter Sunday.
One of the things that kids like most about Squishmallows is that they're vaguely Easter egg-shaped. If you don't want to fill the basket with one big Squishmallows, you can go for this pack of six, two-inch versions. They're the perfect size to squeeze into a plastic egg. Ages 3+
Good Housekeeping Institute testers were mesmerized by the way the concentric rings of these puzzles twist and flip until they form a two-sided picture. Multiple testers said they were passed around the whole family, and often families would get two and try to do head-to-head speed competitions. Ages 8+
Toddlers will get to explore music, work on their hand-eye coordination and learn about cause-and-effect with this set of musical eggs. They're not all just shakers rattles, either — they're designed to make different sounds, including chimes, chirps and jingles. Ages 2+
With sweet aromas like jelly beans, sour apple, bubblegum and cotton candy, these scented pencils will give them something to look forward to once they return to school after the holiday. There are five pencils in the pack, and Scentco proudly claims that they're made from recycled newspapers. No age recommendation given
Crack these eggs open to find sand that feels like the perfect moisture for shaping and molding. This comes in a whopping pack of 20 eggs, making them great giveaways, and each one has either red, yellow or blue sand inside. Ages 3+
Forget your old bunny slippers; these rabbit socks are ultra-toasty. Plus, they come in several colors. No age recommendation given
Easter is a great time to plant those seeds and see what sprouts. This kit comes with everything a budding gardener would need, including a tin planter, soil, seeds, wooden plant markers, a shovel and a watering bottle. There's even paint, brushes and a palette, so kids can decorate the planter! It grows cosmos, zinnia and marigolds. Ages 5+
There will be no complaints about getting into the bath when kids have these bath bombs, which come with an Easter-themed surprise toy inside. There are 6 in a set, and they turn the water into a bubble bath, too!
You're going to need some basket fillers to make your Easter baskets feel like they're overflowing with delight. These little stampers will do the trick! There are 24 in a pack, so they also work for goodie bags or favors. Ages 3+
LEGO fans will thrill to have this spring-themed set in their collection. It's just 52 pieces, which means it's the perfect thing to put together after their egg hunts are over. Ages 6+
This pack offers just the right amount of Play-Doh: nine eggs in different spring colors. It's the perfect way to start a Play-Doh collection or refresh a stash that's getting stale. Ages 2+
Good Housekeeping experts were really impressed with how these no-spill tumblers really lived up to their names and kept the messes to a minimum. In addition to single containers, you can also get a set of three for $21 (which is good for siblings). Ages 3+
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