When the Easter season rolls around, you can cue the influx of squishy treats and chocolate-covered everything on your grocery store’s shelves. And while these goodies may always have a place in your child’s Easter basket, sweet treats don’t have to be the be-all, end-all.

Editor-in-chief of The Toy Insider Ali Mierzejewski says, “A chocolate rabbit is delicious, but the joy is short-lived, whereas toys—no matter the size—can pack tons of play value and developmental benefits that will far outlast a marshmallow treat.” She adds, “Not only are there plenty of collectibles, activity kits, games, and more that are all basket-size (which usually means they’re also travel-size for your upcoming spring break trips), but they are also budget-friendly—most coming in at less than $20.”

Ahead you’ll find our favorite out-of-the-box gifts to fill their baskets, whether you're shopping for teens or toddlers.

Lip Smacker Lippy Pal Bunny Rabbit Flavored Lip Balm

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target Lip balm is always a winner for small gifts. For Easter, stick with this bunny-themed carrot cake flavor, or try Kitten Water-Meow-lon or Straw-ma-Llama Berry.

NeeDoh Chicka DeeDoos

View On Amazon Launched as a fidget toy and designed to promote focus and attention, NeeDoh’s Chicka DeeDoos have peaked in popularity because they’re super cute and irresistibly squishy. Each Chicka DeeDoos is shaped like a chick and sits in its own piece of eggshell. This party bundle includes all three colors so you can fill up your little one’s Easter basket or pop one in each basket to share with the gang.

Lego Creator 3-in-1 White Rabbit

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target This Lego building set comes with 258 pieces of endless fun. The three-in-one set features a white rabbit that can be broken down and rebuilt into a cute cockatoo parrot or an adorable white seal. The set puts the animals in their natural habitat, and they have posable body parts. The rabbit can move its head, legs, mouth, and ears, and the cockatoo can rotate its head 360 degrees and move its wings and tail.

The Easter Egg Is Missing!

View On Amazon View On Target The mystery of the missing golden egg takes your little one on a different kind of Easter egg hunt. This sturdy board book has a cut-out design that will keep them enthralled.

Squishmallows 10-Inch Bubbles The Bunny

View On Amazon View On Walmart Squishmallows are all the rage, and it seems this one knows no age limit. Bubbles the Easter Bunny is an excellent pick for Easter baskets, but make no mistake, you have plenty to choose from (be sure to check out bunnies Valentina and Buttons, too).

Tamagotchi Original Candy Swirl

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy The original 1997 Tamagotchi is back with a candy swirl design that's perfect for the season. Using the original programming, a whole new generation can take their Tamagotchi from egg to child to adult.

The Eggmazing Easter Egg Decorator: Peeps Bunny Edition

View On Amazon “This gift is great for Easter baskets because it leads right into a fun Easter activity of decorating eggs,” says Mierzejewski. “This Peeps-inspired egg decorator makes it easy for kids to create beautiful, colorful creations—then use them immediately to have an Easter egg hunt. Activities like this that provide hours of playtime also promote quality family time, giving you something fun to do together.”

Babiators The Flower Child Polarized Sunglasses

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Babiators.com Give the flower child in your life a pair of these darling sunglasses. Not only are they stylish, they protect from UVA and UVB rays using polarized, mirrored lenses that reduce glare and improve visibility in the sun. And as soon as you purchase a pair of Babiators, you automatically qualify for a second pair, in the case that your little one damages the first.

Weezie Percale Kids’ Bunny Hooded Towel

View On Weezietowels.com Make bath time a bit more festive. Made of 100% long-staple cotton, these hooded towels feature percale bunny ears, available in both pink floral and blue stripe patterns. You can even personalize it with custom embroidery for an additional fee.

Dan & Darci Paint and Plant Flower Growing Kit

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Orientaltrading.com Grow your little ones’ love of gardening with these paint and plant growing kits for kids. Each kit includes a tin planter, seed packets for marigolds, cosmos, and zinnias, and all the supplies they need to make it their very own.

Tosy Flying Disc

View On Amazon Kids can toss the frisbee after dark and enjoy a beautiful color display as they play. This flying disc can last up to a thousand throws on a 30-minute charge, or an ultimate match up to 90 minutes.

Amazon Basics Washable Markers

View On Amazon If you have a budding artist on your hands, these washable markers will allow them to let unleash their creativity without unleashing a mess in the process. The washable formula is easy to remove from skin and most washable clothing.

The Woobles Beginners Crochet Kit

View On Amazon View On Thewoobles.com View On Uncommon Goods Designed with beginners in mind, this easy crochet kit includes step-by-step video tutorials, pre-started yarn, a downloadable crochet pattern, and everything else they will need to make their very own Pierre the Penguin, Kiki the Chick, Jojo the Bunny, or any of the other characters.

TOCESS Big Hair Claw Clip

View On Amazon Longevity isn’t the selling point of claw clips, so Easter baskets are an excellent opportunity to replenish her stash. This pack of nonslip, jumbo claw clips features eight clips in two styles, so it should last a while.

Squeakee Minis Poppy The Bunny

View On Amazon View On Walmart Squeakee Minis are the classic balloon animals we know and love, updated and interactive for the next generation. Blow on bunny’s nose to watch it inflate, rub its head to hear it squeak like a balloon, and press its nose to repeat what you say in a hilarious helium voice. You can stick with Poppy The Bunny for an Easter theme or introduce your little one to Sugapops The Unicorn or Billo The Monkey.

KiwiCo Eggsperiments Project Kit

View On Kiwico.com This kit includes a series of fun and engaging egg-based experiments to help them learn chemistry, physics, and biology. They'll create multicolored eggs with a chemical reaction, use crystallization to concoct sparkly eggshells, learn how to make eggs bounce, and more.

Melissa & Doug Sticker WOW! Activity Pad & Sticker Stamper

View On Walmart View On Melissaanddoug.com With safari-themed counting, matching, and search-and-find activities, this refillable sticker stamper makes a great incognito learning tool. The stamper comes pre-loaded with 300 assorted stickers featuring 100 unique designs. This one is Pumpkin the Tiger, but there’s a whole crew, including Olive the Dinosaur, Cocoa the Dog, and Cupcake the Unicorn. And parents, don’t worry; if the kids get a little stamp happy, they’re easy to remove.

Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Bluey Coloring Set

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target “The Color Wonder mess-free coloring kits come with tons of activity sheets to keep kids busy—and they are great to take on the go,” says Mierzejewski. “With markers that only color on the Color Wonder Paper and nowhere else, these kits are stress-free for airplanes, cars, restaurants, and even your own kitchen table at home. I love kits like this because kids can open them up and start coloring right away with the included Color Wonder marks; no assembly or set-up is required."

JoFAN 4 Pack Easter Fidget Sensory Pop Toys

View On Amazon Featuring a green egg, orange carrot, yellow chick, and pink bunny, this Easter-themed pack of pop toys is a fun addition to everyone’s basket. Popper toys are great for kids of all ages, because they can help reduce stress and improve focus and fine motor skills.

Jewelkeeper Toddler Toys Tea Set

View On Amazon View On Walmart Adding an elegant touch to afternoon tea time, this set includes four saucers and four tea cups, a teapot with a lid, a creamer jar, and a sugar bowl. All pieces are stored in an Easter-themed carrying case.

Dolphin Hat Games Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target In a race to match a card with the spoken word, this casual card game brings everyone together and dials up the laughter. This game is 10 to 15 minutes of playtime and is suitable for players aged seven and up.

Sunbasil Soap Peep inspired Soaps

View On Amazon View On Etsy Handmade in small batches, these adorable soaps make a cute addition to any Easter basket. Each set features four bunny soaps in four different pastel colors, and the best part is—they smell like jelly beans.

Scentco Smencils 10-Pack

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target Easter is a great opportunity to breathe some new life into school supplies. And with a twist on boring pencils, Smencils smell like strawberry cheesecake, bubblegum, and cotton candy. They’re almost made for Easter baskets, aren’t they? Each set comes with 10 Smencils and each pencil is packaged in its own freshness tube that’s guaranteed to last for two years.

Joyin Putty Slime and Toys Prefilled Easter Eggs

View On Amazon View On Walmart Kids love slime, and with this 24-pack of slime eggs, there’s enough for the whole gang. Even better, each slime egg comes with a surprise toy inside.

GUND Baby Sustainable Duckling Plush

View On Amazon “Not only are these plush friends super snuggly, but they are also eco-friendly,” says Mierzejewski. “They’re made from 100% recyclable materials, so they’re a great way to add a little more sustainability to your home and introduce your little ones to eco-friendly habits. The best part about them is they have all the super-soft, snuggly goodness parents know and love from GUND.”

Kids Preferred Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit Jack-In-The-Box

View On Amazon View On Barnesandnoble.com Jack-in-the-Box meets Peter Rabbit in this childhood classic—a sweet addition to any Easter basket. The metal box is adorned with storybook artwork and plays “Pop Goes the Weasel” when the lid opens.

Melissa & Doug Farm Cube Puzzle

View On Amazon View On Target View On Melissaanddoug.com With this sweet puzzle from Melissa & Doug, your little one matches picture clues to complete any of six puzzles with a farm theme. Each puzzle features 16 cubes and a durable wooden tray.

Mighty Bright Rechargable Book Light

View On Amazon View On Barnesandnoble.com If the kids must stay up past bedtime, you may not mind if they do it with their noses in a book. The Mighty Bright book light offers 2-10 lumens of adjustable brightness; it charges via micro USB and can last up to 60 hours at its lowest setting.

Scentco T-Rex Air Dough Go!

View On Scentcoinc.com If you think the kids are ready to lean into their inner engineer, Air Dough Go is it. Each pack comes with four colors of Air Dough, a wind-up mechanism, a set of eyes, and step-by-step instructions. With a little mixing and some imagination, they’ll have a T-rex wind-up toy of their own making. And if a T-rex isn’t their style, there’s also a shark, unicorn, or turtle.

Play-Doh Swirlin’ Smoothies Toy Blender Playset

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target Your little chef will love Play-Doh’s toy blender set. They can use the half-molds and tools to create pretend fruit, ice, and other ingredients and then run them through the blender to create fun smoothies. Each set includes five Play-Doh colors, assorted molds, the blender, and two cups.

I Love Us

View On Amazon View On Barnesandnoble.com Every family is different, and I Love Us! celebrates what makes yours special. With a mirror and a fill-in family tree, it makes a great gift for Easter baskets.

Creativity for Kids String Art Heart Light

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target This make-your-own heart-shaped lantern is sure to light up their rooms and their creativity. Each kit includes pink ombré yarn, an inflatable heart, glow string, and craft glue.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target Digital photos are no fun, so take it old school with Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12. It prints out 2- by 3-inch photos in just five seconds. And because we know someone is going to ask, yes, there is a selfie mode.

Five Funny Bunnies

View On Amazon View On Target This sweet board book features a rhyming read-aloud text that takes your little one on an adventure with what else? Five funny bunnies.

Mad Scientist Mad Libs: World's Greatest Word Game

View On Amazon View On Barnesandnoble.com Mad libs are a tried-and-true classic, and Easter baskets are a great way to introduce them to the kids. Choose from classics like Peanuts to new favorites like Marvel’s Avengers and Frozen. There’s fun for every age.

Squishville by Squishmallows Vacation Squad

View On Walmart View On Target If your kids are obsessed with Squishmallows, then you know more is more. This 10-pack is sure to delight preschoolers and teens alike. Or you can split up the pack and deal out across several baskets.

Wonder & Wise by Asweets Bundle Baby Doll, Cookie

View On Maisonette.com What’s sweeter than Cookie? We’re not sure. Your little one will delight in this soft-sided doll that comes with a knit cap, diaper, and swaddle blanket.

Tender Leaf Toys Construction Site

View On Amazon View On Maisonette.com Featuring a crane truck, excavator, road roller, dump truck, and front loader, this construction set will keep them busy until quitting time. Plus, it’s made from renewable rubber tree wood, and for every tree used to build this toy, another one is planted.

Mokoqi Star Projector

View On Amazon View On Walmart Transforming dark ceilings into starry skies, this nightlight projector ensures that bedtime will never be boring again. It features an automatic shut-off, and kids can toggle between nightlight and projector mode.

A Touch & Feel Book

View On Amazon View On Target In this story, your little one can pet a fuzzy yellow chick and hunt for shiny Easter eggs with a sweet pup named Biscuit.

Lego Lotus Flower

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target If digging in the dirt and waiting weeks and months for signs of life isn’t your child’s idea of fun, they can always enjoy some flowers with this buildable Lego set. With 220 pieces, there’s enough for three 12-inch lotus flowers.

Uncommon Goods Paint Your Own Squishies Kit

View On Uncommon Goods Squishy toys are a great way to boost focus and release tension. What’s better than squishies? One-of-a-kind squishies. With this kit, your kids can do just that. It includes a bunny, a hedgehog, and paint they can use to make them uniquely unique. 

It’s Not Easy Being A Bunny

View On Amazon View On Walmart Tired of his floppy ears and living on carrots, P.J. Funnybunny leaves home to find himself. He explores life with other animal friends and comes to a very surprising conclusion.

Piggy Paint Nail Polish Set

View On Target View On Maisonette.com For the little ones on your gift list who like to paint their piggies, this four-pack of Piggy Paint makes a great Easter basket treat. The water-based formula is safe for all ages, dries to a hard finish, and features kid-friendly colors.

How to Draw Cool Stuff

View On Amazon View On Barnesandnoble.com Your budding artist will love this workbook, which teaches them how to draw cool stuff in five minutes. They’ll learn a drawing technique that uses basic shapes to simplify the process.

Chalk City Sidewalk Chalk

View On Amazon Once Easter rolls around, you can bet spring won’t be far behind, so get them ready for some neighborhood fun with sidewalk chalk. This jumbo pack includes 20 colors of washable chalk for endless iterations of sidewalk art, hopscotch, or tic-tac-toe.

Disney Doorables Squish’ALots Series 2

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target “These capsules are perfect for a multitude of reasons, from the lovable Disney characters contained inside to the mystery reveal aspect to them being perfectly sized for the baskets,” says Mierzejewski. “Collectibles are also a great addition to the Easter basket because they are wallet-friendly for the gift giver and can kick off a collection that kids can continue to grow on their own allowances. At just $10, kids will love to start building up a display of adorable Disney friends.”

Leitee 6-Pack Large Kites

View On Amazon Kites are an Easter basket classic, and this set of six includes one for everyone on your list, including a butterfly, dragonfly, goldfish, eagle, and more. If you have a spring break trip planned, you’ll want to bring these along for some family fun.

Rubik's Phantom Cube

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target Rubik’s Cubes are so 1974, so bring it into the 21st century with this all-black version. For an added challenge, heat reveals the colors. Players have to touch the tiles to reveal their hues and then make their moves before the squares fade to black again.

Besoar Cartoon Airpod Cover

View On Amazon Keep their AirPods safe, they must. No problem here; the case is made with shockproof material that protects them from bumps, drops, and scratches. It’s also outfitted with a carabiner so that the kids can keep their AirPods in their possession at all times. Choose from several beloved characters.

Educational Insights Kanoodle 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle Game

View On Amazon View On Wayfair View On Walmart “This game is great because you can play it solo or challenge another person, taking turns to see who can complete the challenges fastest,” says Mierzejewski. “It's travel-friendly with all the pieces packed inside and super addicting once you start puzzling.” Mierzejewski adds, “These games have gone viral on TikTok, so your kids will recognize them, plus they’re educational.”

Mattel Games UNO Attack!

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target Uno Attack uses the element of surprise to kick the fun up a notch or two. You might think you’re on your way to “Uno,” but the card launcher may have other plans.

Bubble-Thing The Original Giant Bubble Wand

View On Amazon When it comes to bubbles, bigger is always better. And it doesn’t get easier than this; just mix the powder, hot tap water, and liquid dish soap, and the kids are ready to rock’n’roll. 

Liberty Imports Glow In The Dark Sand Art Kit

View On Amazon This sand art kit lets youngsters create beachy sand art in decorative bottles. Even better, their artwork glows in the dark. After they finish their projects, you can display the art bottle or necklace for all to see.

Hapinest Make-Your-Own Flower Crowns and Bracelets Kit

View On Amazon View On Walmart With spring around the corner, flower crowns and bracelets make a great Easter basket gift. Each set includes four 17-inch and four 32-inch wreath leaf garlands, four bud branch crowns and bracelets, 42 flowers, 24 berry branches, eight ribbons, glitter glue, and instructions for putting it all together.

　　 Questions and Answers

What do most kids get for Easter? “Even though parents have been opting for alternatives in recent years, candy is still the go-to filling for an Easter basket,” says Mierzejewski. “However,” she reminds parents, “When you fill baskets with fun toys and activities, not only do they give you more bang for your buck in extended playtime, but some also have the added benefit of being fun, educational, and some can even help kids develop their social skills.”

What is a traditional Easter gift? Chocolate easter eggs, marshmallow treats, and jelly beans are just some of the most common Easter basket gifts. However, Mierzejewski says parents opting for something new and fresh should know that bucking tradition doesn’t necessarily mean that your basket will be lacking a traditional Easter aesthetic. “Lots of companies make bunny and chick-inspired plushes, interactive pets, and egg-shaped playsets and activities. To stick with the Easter theme, parents can also incorporate floral and pastel-themed color palettes so that Easter baskets give off all those fresh spring vibes you’re looking for.” 

At what age do kids stop getting Easter baskets? “I think this one really depends on the family,” says Mierzejewski. “There are plenty of ideas to fill Easter baskets for kids (and kids at heart) of all ages with fun toys, collectibles, video games, gift cards, games, puzzles, and more. Whether you fill a basket up with plush, teethers, and rattles or Funko Pop!s, GameStop gift cards, and Yellowstone-themed party games, you’re never too old to get an Easter basket.”

What are popular Easter gifts for kids besides candy? As more parents move away from candy-filled Easter baskets, many find themselves struggling to find good alternatives. While any of the items on our list would make great Easter basket fillers, broad categories include small toys, educational games and activities, and health and beauty items. 

　　 Why Trust Southern Living

This article was written by Sharon Brandwein, Certified Sleep Science Coach and freelance commerce writer. Over the last six years, Sharon has written product reviews and roundups for a variety of online publishers.

To compile this list of the best Easter gifts for kids, Sharon also spent hours researching what’s new and good in toyland. For expert insight, Sharon spoke with Ali Mierzejewski, editor-in-chief of The Toy Insider.