Easter is right around the corner. I find it crazy that Easter candy and goodies showed up in stores many weeks ago, now local stores in my area (grocery stores and drug stores) are almost out of Easter things and are making strides in filling up those spaces with gardening and summer items. I wish retailers didn’t try to rush the holidays and seasons. Let’s enjoy them one at a time.

I miss my kids being little. I loved seeing their faces Easter morning when they rushed to the front door to see what the Easter Bunny had brought them.

My kids were a bit spoiled. They received Easter Baskets from their grandparents (two sets) and great-grandparents. That’s A LOT of candy. That’s why the Easter basket the Easter Bunny left for them in our home had only a little bit of candy in them. Instead these baskets were filled with coloring books, crayons, reading books, small toys and a plush animal. I’d occasionally toss in a few pieces of candy just to hold them over until we made our rounds and visited all the grandparents and great-grandparents.

If you are looking for some fun non-candy ideas to put in your child (or grandchild’s) Easter basket, here are a few suggestions.

This post is part one of two posts. I’ll be publishing part two next week.

PLAYMOBIL

PLAYMOBIL has a lot of sets in a variety of themes any child would love. I especially appreciate their smaller sets. They fit great in Easter baskets, and they are quick and easy to put together. Another great thing about them is that they had sets for children of all ages, including sets for younger children (without little pieces).

Here are two great options.

My Life Starter Pack Rabbit Family (#71753).

I know that many people want to give their child a real rabbit for Easter. PLEASE think about the pros and cons carefully. A pet is a long time commitment. Even something as small as a rabbit requires a large cage, straw, food, water, toys and engagement.

We fostered a bunny for our local shelter years ago. We were shocked at just how much was involved.

MANY rabbits are dropped off at local shelters around Easter, while others are not so fortunate and are released into the outdoors. Domestic rabbits CANNOT survive the outdoors like that. By doing that you are basically sentencing the poor creature to death.

Instead of a REAL rabbit, consider alternatives, such as this adorable Rabbit Family starter pack.

This set comes with several rabbits, a cat, an aquarium, food and toys for the rabbits (even food for the fish), a cage, rug and people.

PLAYMOBIL always impresses me with the great detail they put into their playsets, right down to the bunny face graphic on the woman’s top and the water bottle for the rabbits. Even the jar of fish food shows much detail.

The great thing about PLAYMOBIL sets is that they can be used with other PLAYMOBIL playsets too. The pieces and figures are inter-changable.

PLAYMOBIL Funstars

Funstars are new sets from PLAYMOBIL which feature unique vehicles. The one I received free to review is unicorn themed (#71635).There is also a racing professor, wrestler and even a silly pizza.

These sets are simple to put together. Each comes with a variety of accessories for the vehicle and a racer.

I donated this to the program where I work. The little girls in my program love this unicorn themed car. We have a lot of cars for the kids to play with, but the little girls like this car the best. Unicorns, as you know, are popular with young girls. This would be a fun set for the little lady in your life.

This set also works with other PLAYMOBIL accessories and people.

To learn more about PLAYMOBIL, visit them online at PLAYMOBIL.com. You can also find the brand on social media.

PLAYMOBIL toys are sold at many retail locations.

Games

Board games, card games and outdoor games are also a great Easter basket alternative for children. Games are a great way for families to get together, experience quality time with one another and create lifelong memories. It’s hard to do with when a child’s face is buried into a tablet, phone or computer screen. Video games do not connect children with others like real games do (by “real” I mean board games, outdoor games and the like).

Stratego is a strategy board game for two players. There are versions of this games for older children and adults, but there is also one made especially for younger children.

Stratego Junior was made for children ages 4 and up. The game pieces are cute purple and orange dinosaurs.

The game has to be assembled, but it’s just snapping pieces together. Easy peasy!

Best of all the game fits nicely back in the box. The game board folds up to fit inside.

There are two ways to play. One way is a color matching game (Stratego Quest) which is ideal for children 4+.

For older children (6+) they can also enjoy playing Stratego Triumph, which is similar to the version of the game for older people, but in a more kid-friendly way.

Admittedly is takes a few times to fully understand the game, but once kids know how it’s played, it’s fun to play. I’m basing this on my “work kids” whom I donated the game to. After I explained to them how the games were played, and they played a few times, they finally “got it.”

Stratego Junior is from the brand Jumbo. You can learn more about their games at JumboPlay.com. You can also find them on social media.

Their games are sold at many retail locations.

Books

Books are prefect for Easter baskets. Not only do they fit nicely in baskets, but they also make great additions to your family library and can be enjoyed year after year, or year round.

I’m all for anything that helps to foster a child’s love of reading. It’s been my experience (from working with children) that many children don’t like to read, and that makes me really sad. I loved to read as a child. It was my favorite thing to do. I read all the time.

Here are a few great books suggestions. You can find these books at many retail locations including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Hap-Pea Easter

Keith Baker’s holiday spin on the New York Times bestselling Peas continues this spring with HAP-PEA EASTER.

The weather is warming and Keith’s peas couldn’t be more perfect to show off all the fun that comes with the holiday and spring season.

From sprouting flowers and gentle showers to eggs decorated every which way, there’s plenty of excitement to be had on Easter with the peas! Don’t forget the ladybug seek-and-find hidden alongside a special Easter Bunny Pea on every page for readers to discover.

I LOVE this book! It’s so creative. Just look at the adorable little peas on the cover of this book. Inside the pages are plenty of Easter things, along with the cutest little happy (hap-pea) pea people. They hike, ride bikes, garden and even dress up like little construction workers to color the Easter eggs.

Now that I have seen this book I want to see some more of the books in this series. There looks to be several books in the series.

This book is published by Simon & Shuster. You can visit them at SimonandSchuster.com as well as on social media.

Spring ABC 

Written by Jannie Ho.

This is such a sweet little book for toddlers and young children. Not only are the illustrations bright, colorful and oh-so-cute, it’s a fun way to teach children their ABC’s using spring words such as “D for Daisy” and “F for Frog.” It teaches letter recognition and little ones can easily identify what is in the pictures.

This is a board book and great for little hands.

Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken

Written by Vivian French and illustrated by Nanette Regan.

Julie and her little brother Bob go and visit their grandfather’s farm where their grandfather introduces them to his chickens.

In this fun to read book you’ll learn about chickens, types of chickens, their habitat and more.

I love that this book teaches children about chickens in a fun and informative way, with really nice illustrations too.

After reading this book, I’m sure children will have a better appreciation for chickens.

Seven Little Ducklings

Written by Annette LeBlanc Cate

Mother duck has seven eggs. When she wakes up she finds that her babies have hatched but are no where to be found. She goes on a quest to find them. One by one she finds them in strange places and unusual situations. She also finds that she suddenly has MORE than seven little ducklings. To find out how that came to be you need to read this charming book.

Beautiful illustrations too!

Bunnies on the Bus

Written by Philip Ardagh and illustrated by Ben Mantle.

I read the book Bunnies in a Sleigh (a Christmas book) and it was wild and crazy, but in a fun way.

The bunnies are crazy and chaotic. You do not want to be on a bus with them (ha ha). They don’t exactly make great bus drivers either. It looks like no one will make their destination, or be able to hop on the bus with them.

Great zany illustrations and fun rhyming text.

This Sheep Needs Your Help

Written by David LaRochelle. He also illustrates this book along with YOU (or your child).

Follow sheep’s misadventures where he needs your help by drawing things for him such as grass, flowers and even yummy desserts.

This is a fun interactive book. It even comes with a dry erase marker. You can erase the drawings and use this book again and again. \

I love how this book is so interactive. This unique book would be great to take with you when you travel, while waiting at an appointment or even a restaurant to keep your child busy.

There is another book by the author similar to this that it’s about pirates.

I also learned by looking up this author is that he wrote a lot of books I have reviewed the past.

The above books are published by Candlewick Press. You can visit them at Candlewick.com as well as on social media.

These books are sold at many retail locations.

This is part one of some non-candy Easter goodies. Look for part two next week.

Kimberly

*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.