Want to bring Easter fun to your children but don’t have a budget as big as the Easter Bunny’s? These five budget-friendly Easter basket ideas will have your kids (and your wallet) hopping for joy.
Baking
Have a budding baker on your hands? Whip up a basket full of supplies to make their favorite treat. Keep it simple by grabbing a boxed brownie, (cup)cake, or cookie mix from the store. Use the necessary baking tin or pan in place of a basket and add toppings like frosting and sprinkles to round out your gift. Not only will you be gifting them something tasty, but they’ll also get the bonus of spending time with you while they put their gift to use.
Bath
Make a splash with a bath-themed basket. Grab a bath caddy, pick out a rubber ducky or two, and fill in with fun bath supplies. The dollar sections of some popular stores offer a wide assortment of items to choose from like bath bombs and bath confetti. Round out your basket with a new bath pouf or a cartoon-themed washcloth that expands in the water. If it won’t burst your budget, consider adding in a bright bath towel or a bath book.
Beach
If your little one loves the beach, this basket idea is “shore” to make them smile. Fill a sand bucket with sand toys like shovels and molds, bubbles, and candy. Depending on your budget and the size of the bucket you choose, you can add in extras, like a new beach towel or a beach-themed book.
Books
What better gift for a bookworm than a stack of new adventures to dive into? Choose a fun reusable tote as the “basket” (it will be great for future library trips!) and fill it with books your kiddo will love. Check out local library book sales, thrift shops, children’s consignment stores, and Little Free Libraries for books on a budget. If your budget allows, add in extras like bookmarks or a booklight. And if your child doesn’t have their own library card yet, they may get a kick out of that being included, too.
Crafts
Give the gift of endless possibilities with a basket designed especially for creative little minds. Visit your local dollar or discount store and check out all they have to offer in their crafting aisle. What you see as pom poms, feathers, pipe cleaners, and beads may look like jewelry, bendy animals, and more to your petite Picasso! In lieu of a basket, choose a storage container so they can keep their creations neatly packed away when not in use.
Game Time
If your kids enjoy laughter and a little friendly competition, a basket filled with games is perfect. Check your local dollar store for puzzles, card games like Go Fish and Uno, or classic board games like Chutes and Ladders or Scrabble. For a personal touch, add homemade charade cards.
Movie Night
Transform your living room into a cozy movie theater with a movie night Easter basket! Start with a big popcorn bowl or a cute popcorn bucket as your basket and fill it with a bag of movie theater-style microwave popcorn, candy boxes, and fizzy drinks. Your kids will love having a fun family movie night at home, and you'll love the budget-friendly way to experience the movies without breaking the bank.
Outdoor Adventures
With sunnier days ahead, why not opt for a basket filled with fun things to do outdoors? Start with a color bucket and fill it with toys like frisbee, jump ropes, and sidewalk chalk; all of which can be found at your local discount store. If your little one likes gardening, you can include some seeds and gardening tools for planting.
Have More Fun for Less
A limited budget shouldn’t limit your fun. For more budget-friendly tips for year-round fun, visit our Resource Center.
