[Late Bloomer]

Hi y'all,
Just throwing out this question 'cause I'm determined to find some healthier alternatives to the customary Easter basket candy for our recently adopted son. He doesn't seem to crave sweets -- until he has some that is! Then he can't get enough and gets very upset and oppositional when we say "no more". (The only time he's ever lied to us in 4-1/2 mos. was about eating all 7 packs of bubble gum in his X-mas stocking at once, and swallowing it all!) I know he'll enjoy the Easter egg dying and egg hunt, but I think he'll also be expecting some other treats in the basket. Anyone else tried out any healthy alternatives for this?
Thanks!
Late Bloomer

[L-A-J-C-R-C]

My MIL made up fruit baskets for all her grandkids one year and they loved them! She did all different types of fruits plus those fruit snacks. The following year the kids were disappointed that she went back to candy so she decided on fruit from then on lol.

My brother and SIL buy their kids things like a video, my niece is a cheerleader so she would get cheer shorts, they put very little candy into the baskets and the kids love it. The boys would get things like nerf footballs or basketball.

My little ones are 2 and 3 and I'm not doing much candy at all either. I'll buy them books and probably a video for each of them. They have too many toys so I won't do those either lol. They may get a couple packs of smarties. Heck, I may go the fruit basket route with them too they love fruit. Hmm, I'm glad you asked that ? you just jogged my memory about that lol.

Michelle

[ericsmom98]

I put very little candy in my children's Easter baskets..mostly because they never eat it anyway. This year for my youngest one (6.5) I'm putting in a Shrek PS2 game, a stuffed animal, and little cars, etc. Maybe a couple of small reese cups and a pack of gum. Hot wheels are good for young boys. And I always put a new toothbrush in the basket too.

For my teenager I'll be putting make-up, a cd, gum and mints that she likes, etc. The candy always seems to go to waste on them....or it goes to MY WAIST. lol

Another idea would be goldfish crackers, pringles in the single serve cans, etc. My son would rather have chips than sweets. He even picked out pringles last year to take to school for his birthday treat, instead of cupcakes. lol

[Cobb]

We got to WildOats to get some healthy treats. Fruit leathers, honey sticks, dried pineapple and yogurt covered raisins are some of Anna's favorites that she usually doesn't get at other times of the year. Then we add some small items... new notepad, journal or fun pad, special pens or pencils, stuff for her hair, sunglasses, a game (jacks, jumprope, etc.) sometimes a CD or other item she's wanted for a long time. She's always been thrilled! For some reason, when I was a kid, the Easter Bunny always left a new pair of pajamas - something for Spring and Summer!

Is this your first Easter together? Hope you have a great, fun-filled, family holiday!

[MMC66]

We pretty much stay away from food altogether. Maybe some gummy bears or something little. But the rest is just little stuff like cool socks, maybe a CD or a gameboy game, just little fun stuff. I'm also sick of stuffed animals - we have 5 kids now and the oldest is 13 so stuffed animals tend to accumulate and I'm convinced they breed as well. I try to stick to stuff that they will actually use.

Good Luck!!

Martha

[Late Bloomer]

These are some great suggestions, I appreciate it!!!

[sues250]

I have always included sunglasses- we can never find last years, a small choc. easter bunny, video, hair things, and new gel pens.

[carriewoman]

Hi,

We actually just came up with the idea of kites for our kids easter gifts. We found these 3 dementional kites at costco for $10 each, ones a butterfly and ones a eagle, for the older two, and we'll probably give them a small bag or basket of treats with it! They have plenty of stuffed animals, and I don't really like to give them much candy, so that was our idea. And now we can go out as a family and have fun flying thier kites!

:-) Carrie

[ericsmom98]

Originally Posted by sues250

I have always included sunglasses- we can never find last years, a small choc. easter bunny, video, hair things, and new gel pens.

GREAT IDEA!!! I'll being buying some sunglasses for the Easter baskets this year. THANKS!!!