Pinterest and social media have definitely taken holidays to the next level, especially when it comes to Easter basket ideas for girls. But I want to remind you that you don’t have to go that far to have a great Easter.
You can keep the joy and the magic of Easter without going completely over the top. A few thoughtful items can go a long way toward making your kids feel special.
We like to keep things simple over here at Sweets With Jules, but we also love making holidays feel special for our girls. I’m going to help you build a well-rounded Easter basket with items your kids will actually use — and that won’t send them straight to the dentist afterward.
And if you’re planning Easter treats too, don’t miss my Easter Blossom Cookies. They’re a festive twist on classic peanut butter blossoms, perfect for baking with kids during Easter weekend.
How to Build a Simple Easter Basket for Girls
I still use the same Easter baskets I bought for my girls on their very first Easter — just a simple, cute basket from Target. If it isn’t broken, there’s no need to fix it. Just because stores roll out new baskets every year doesn’t mean you need to buy a new one.
You’ll see pre-filled baskets everywhere this time of year at Target, Costco, and Sam’s Club. They can be cute, but you really don’t need a brand new basket every year. It’s wasteful, and you can usually fill your basket with better items for a better price.
I like to mix a few practical things my girls actually need with a couple small toys and something they can use outside once the weather warms up. And of course, I always throw in a peep or two. My girls love them — I don’t — but what’s an Easter basket without a marshmallow-shaped bunny?
Let’s break down the baskets.
Spring Accessories to Add to an Easter Basket
This is a fun category to get creative with. Depending on what your daughters love, you can add things like fun sunglasses, cute hair accessories, or colorful little socks.
We’re pretty well stocked on hair accessories over here, and my girls don’t really wear sunglasses, so this year I went a different route and picked up new tennis shoes since they actually needed them. We love the Vans Range shoes because they’re cute and easy for kids to run around in.
Fun Toys to Put in an Easter Basket
I’m a sucker for Jellycat stuffed animals, so this year I decided to get each of my girls one I thought they would love. My youngest loves birds, so I picked out the adorable pigeon, and my oldest is obsessed with otters, so she’s getting a little otter.
They’re also really into Legos, so I added a small set for each of them that they can build quickly and that fits nicely inside their baskets.
I also threw in some Crayola smelly markers that are washable. I almost bought the Mr. Sketch scented markers, but they didn’t say washable on the box, and I didn’t want to roll the dice with my four-year-old 🙂
Other fun ideas you could add here are slime (if you’re brave), Play-Doh, kinetic sand, little craft kits, or extra markers.
Outdoor Toys to Add to an Easter Basket
Spring is the perfect time to get outside, so I like to include at least one outdoor toy in my girls’ Easter baskets.
We go through sidewalk chalk like crazy over here, and my girls loved the roller paint chalk, so I picked up a two-pack for each of them from Target this year.
Other great ideas for this section are bubbles, jump ropes, kites, or even a simple ball for playing outside.
Sweet Treats for Easter Baskets
You can’t have an Easter basket without a few sweet treats. Since the Easter bunny already brings candy in the Easter eggs at our house, I don’t go too crazy here.
This is the perfect place to add a couple of fun, larger candies that feel a little special. I picked up some bunny-shaped marshmallows and a bag of organic gummy candies for my girls this year.
A small treat or two is plenty when the baskets are already filled with fun and practical items.
Easter Basket Ideas for Toddlers
If you have a toddler, some great things to add to their Easter basket include board books, Jellycat bunnies (they are so cute), bubbles, Duplo Legos, or some of their favorite snacks.
Annie’s also makes adorable Neapolitan bunny crackers that would be perfect for a toddler basket.
You really don’t have to go over the top — they’re little, and they will love it no matter what. A few fun items and a special treat are plenty.
Little Easter bunny headbands are also a cute thing to include, and they make for a great picture with your toddler and their basket.
What to Put in an Easter Basket for Girls
- Spring accessories
- Small toys or stuffed animals
- Outdoor toys for spring
- A few sweet treats
Easter baskets don’t have to be complicated to feel special. A few thoughtful items, a little chocolate, and something fun for spring are all you need to create a basket your kids will love.
Just because you see over-the-top Easter baskets on social media doesn’t mean you need to take things to that level. It’s not Christmas — a simple, well-rounded basket is more than enough.
These Easter basket ideas for girls are simple, practical, and still full of fun.
At the end of the day, quality over quantity always wins.
Looking for more simple mom life ideas?
Here are a few other posts you might enjoy:
• A Realistic Day in the Life as a Mom of Two