Do you do Easter baskets in your family? I try to resist the temptation to load up our baskets with cheaply made plastic toys and sugary treats, and instead opt for gifts that support our homeschool lifestyle and point to the true meaning of the holiday. If you’re like me, you might check out some of these ideas for special Easter presents that won’t end up consumed, broken, or thrown in the trash two days later.
A Bible
Easter is the perfect occasion to get your child a Bible of their very own. Here are a few Bibles we’ve used in our family:
- The Jesus Storybook Bible
- The Adventure Bible
- The Grace Bible designed especially for kids with dyslexia and other reading challenges
You can find lots of Bibles in your family’s preferred translation here.
Books
Of course, books are always an Easter gift must-have! Here are a few that are just right for tucking into an Easter basket.
Easter Books
- Holy Week by Danielle Hitchen
- Jesus Rose for Me by Jered Kennedy
- Benjamin’s Box by Melody Carlson
- Easter Is Coming by Tama Fortner
- Humphrey’s First Palm Sunday by Carol Heyer
- God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergren
- The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross by Carl Laferton
Classic Must-Reads
- Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem
- James Herriot’s Treasury for Children
- The Illustrated Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen Taylor or the new Little Pilgrim’s Progress adventure story, The King’s Cadets and Little Joe
- Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
- Heidi by Johanna Spyri
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
- Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Gifts for Little Ones
These activities are perfect for keeping little hands busy while you’re homeschooling an older sibling, and they make wonderful Easter treats as well.
- A baby blanket like this Winnie-the-Pooh one or this cute llama blanket
- Water Wow
- Easter eggs paint with water book
- Lacing cards like this animal set
- Pattern blocks
- Do-A-Dot Markers
- Pull back cars
- Safari puppets
Games
These games are compact enough to fit in an Easter basket, but still promise lots of family fun!
Activities for Outdoor Play
With the weather turning warmer, I love stocking my kids up with activities they can use to play outside and explore.
Toys to Build With
My kids love to build. We’ve gone through many phases from Duplo to Magna-Tiles to Snap Circuits and Legos. I always try to grab a little something that goes along with their current building obsession.
Toys for Pretend Play
There are so many great gifts that nurture a child’s imagination and equip them for pretend play. Here are a few of our family’s favorites:
- Binoculars and compass play set
- Calico Critters
- Puppy grooming and pet care set
- Playmobil figures
- Doctor play set
Arts and Crafts
You can never have enough arts and crafts supplies as a homeschool family, don’t you think? If your back to school supplies are running low, Easter is a nice opportunity to invest in some new markers, crayons, or construction paper. My kids have especially enjoyed years when I put their very own rolls of colorful tape in their Easter baskets. Somehow there’s never such a thing as too much tape.
- Play-Doh
- Origami
- Melissa and Doug Paint Your Own Horses or Race Car
- Markers
- Scratch art
- Stickers
- Modeling clay
- Little House paper dolls
- Paper airplane kit
Sensory Activities
If you have a child that enjoys sensory input, these activities offer a good opportunity for sensory play without being too messy.
- Kinetic sand
- Thinking putty
- Bubble poppers (I like these alphabet and number ones)
Gifts for Tweens and Teens
Older kids can be a little harder to shop for, but these are some gifts I’ve found my big kids enjoy.
- Bible journaling supplies
- Gospel story bracelet
- Teen reading journal
- Fun socks or a new hat
- LEGO
- Watercolor paints
Do you have any ideas for me? What do you like to give as Easter gifts for your children?
Looking for more Easter ideas? Check out these free Easter resources from the Homeschool Compass!
- Palm Sunday and Easter Traditions for Your Homeschool
- Free Printable Easter Activity Book
- Favorite Easter Books for Kids
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