Easter

Easter Basket Ideas for Kids

Yet another Easter is just around the corner; my how the year goes by! Springtime is ahead of us which not only means it’s time to get out in that garden, but it’s also time to start thinking about your yearly Easter traditions! If you have children, then it’s a given that the Easter Bunny might need a little assistance from you when it comes to the Easter basket!

How to Make an Easter Basket

Rule number one to making Easter baskets is to not wait until the last minute to put one together! Often times, this leads to the need for purchasing one of those boring, generic, pre-made ones at the store that are less than awe-inspiring. Also, waiting until the last day, there will be very slim pickings on all things Easter, so it’s best to get a head start!

Rule number two to making Easter baskets is that they must contain all of the following elements: (Okay, not mandatory, per se, but it’s a great general guide so take from it what you will!)

The basket: Or a bucket, or those bucket-looking-stuffed-characters-with-handle things that are all in the same isle. Whatever you choose, it just needs to be big enough for what you and Mr. Bunny are planning to do!
Easter grass: Your basket needs some kind of fluffy material, whether you use the plastic, paper, or edible grass!
A fun plush: These make great filler items for large baskets and kids always love a good squeeze from a soft plush!
Spring activities: You know, the little things that encourage kids to go outdoors such as bubbles, chalk, jump ropes and so on!
Easter story: Whether it’s Peter Cottontail or a story about Jesus’ resurrection, I always like to include something to encourage the development of literacy skills.
Jelly beans: There are so many kinds of jelly beans out there that you’re bound to find one that will be a child-pleaser! If you’re planning on making a healthier basket or a non-edible basket, skip this element and the next few also!
Large chocolate something: One of the things that kids look forward to most is that oversized chocolate bunny or cross!
Peeps: You know, those colorful, sugar-covered marshmallow chicks and bunnies!
Loose candy: This is pretty much to fill up the empty spaces so go easy if you want, or overkill if you don’t mind (because you know the kids won’t mind!)

Of course, this is just a general guide for a traditional Easter basket setup, and many families have other ideas for “traditional” for their families. Some like to go easy on the sweets, some like to go with a specific theme, some like to go organic, and some like to keep it totally handmade for a more personal touch! No matter what kind of style suits your family Easter traditions, here are a bunch of ideas for various different groups of kids, along with a few non-traditional Easter basket setups.

Easter Basket Ideas for Babies

Babies, meaning under age 1, will not remember their first Easter, and certainly don’t need to be given tons of sweets. I say this is the year of the easy Easter basket!

Board books: You can never read too much to a baby! After all, reading to them lays the foundation to learning new words, and eventually learning how to read on their own!
Bath toys: Soft and colorful, two things that go hand-in-hand when it comes to babies! Rubber ducks and various other rubber sea creatures will spark a few of those heartwarming smiles.
Baby snacks: If your baby is of age and development to be eating solids, babies love those puffs snacks and yogurt melts! I’m sure there are a few other fun snacks to pack in the basket.
Instruments: Babies love to experiment with noises so instruments like little drums, tambourine, hand shakers and so on are fun!
Keepsakes: A nice blanket with a name embroidered, a stuffed animal with a personalized recording of mom and dad, you know, something they can use and enjoy now that will also make for an item you give to them later in life!
Plushies: Babies get a kick out of stuffed animals as big as they are!
Baby toys: This may be a given, but what I really mean is something that will help them develop their sensory and motor skills, like different textured balls, wooden blocks, stacking rings, etc.

Sample Baby Easter Basket Idea

Large basket with multiple colors of easter grass
Oversized stuffed bunny
Sandra Boynton book “The Bunny Rabbit Show!”
Three rubber bath toys
Baby snack cup
Bag of Happy Baby Yogis
Easter sippy cup
Two egg hand rattles

Easter Basket Ideas for Toddlers

During the toddler years is when Easter really starts to get fun and they begin to remember things and make connections. This is the time to really start making it special! So, it’s right around these years when families start to incorporate the sweeter elements of the Easter basket, such as chocolate!

Art supplies: Fingerpaints and crayons are a really big hit for this age group so fill their baskets with many things that will encourage their creative side! Crayola has a great line of “mess-free” and “my first” art supplies for the littles!
Sunglasses: Kids love sunglasses and they will surely be needing them in the spring!
Sun hat: Hats are fun, and what better way to keep the sun from burning their sensitive, little heads!
Bubbles: Anyone who knows kids or has been a kid (ahem, everyone!) knows the magic in bubbles! If you really want to wow them, make it a kit made by Flubbles! It comes with the bubbles, a huge bubble wand, and a dipping tray.
Snack crackers: Okay, so maybe you don’t want to quite load them up on sugar yet, but toddlers would have a bunch of fun opening plastic eggs filled with Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies!
Plushies: If you’re still reluctant at this age to allow a giant chocolate bunny, you should still totally opt for an oversized Easter plush!
Books: At this age, it would be a terrific idea to include books that help teach letters, numbers, and shapes.

For even more ideas, check out: 101 Easter Basket Ideas for Toddlers.

Sample Toddler Easter Basket

Large Easter basket filled with multiple colors of Easter grass
Oversized stuffed bunny
Small chocolate bunny
Crocodile Creek playground ball
Bubbles
Chalk
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Pinwheel
Dr. Seuss “ABC: An Amazing Alphabet book”
Jumbo coloring book
Jumbo crayons
Jellybeans

Easter Basket Ideas for Preschoolers

By now, your child has all of the holidays down and knows what each one is all about! This is also right around the age where the Easter bunny really starts hiding the eggs and even the baskets, so have fun with it all around!

Play-Doh: Art is still a big one at this age, but by now, they have mastered their fine motor skills enough to be able to start making some cool, molded creations!
Art supplies: Glittery markers, scented crayons, watercolor paints, or whatever else you find appropriate.
Puzzles: Whether it’s a smaller 16-piece puzzle or a larger 48-piece puzzle, this is a good busy activity for preschoolers when they can’t get outdoors.
Wipe-clean activity books: Since they’re now at that age where they’re learning how to write, wipe-clean activity books are awesome because they can be practiced on over and over again as it’s all dry erase pages!
“I Spy” books: These books are fun search-and-find books to either do with parents or in their spare time.
Card games: Games like Go Fish and Old Maid are easy for preschoolers to catch on to!
Music: This is an age where kids really start to find their moves! Find a CD or two that’s kid-friendly to help them get their groove on! Dancing is great indoor exercise!

Sample Preschooler Easter Basket

Large basket with Easter grass
Large chocolate bunny
Jelly beans
Robin eggs (Whoppers candy)
Jump rope
Kite
Egg-shaped chalk
Coloring and activity books
Markers
CD
Sunglasses
Bubbles
Play-Doh

Easter Basket Ideas for Older Kids

It’s hard to tell if kids get easier or harder as they get older when it comes to holidays! All expense aside, it’s easier in the sense that they are beginning to really establish their identities and find who they are, which in turn helps the parents help the Easter Bunny!

Diary/journal: As children get older, they begin to appreciate the little things, such as a private place to record whatever their big mind is thinking!
Book set: Whether it’s Goosebumps or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, cease this opportunity to stock them up on any they might be missing in the collection!
Candy, candy, candy: For this age group, you can probably completely fill a basket with candy and nothing else, and they’d be happy.
Bible: They’re beginning to learn how to really respect personal property, so including a nice Bible, preferably one made for kids, would be a nice gesture!
Bathing suit: Their growing body is going to need a new bathing suit this year anyway so including it in an Easter basket arrangement is a no-brainer!
Craft kits: Beads, painting, pipe-cleaner monsters, or what have ya, busy activities are a great thing to include for those rainy spring days!
Outdoor activities: Frisbees, boomerangs, jump ropes, Skip It (or whatever they’re called these days!) You know, anything that’s going to encourage active play outside!

Sample Easter Basket for Older Kids

Large basket with edible Easter grass
Large chocolate bunny
Giant gummy bear
Fun Dip
Peeps
Jelly beans
Reese’s peanut butter eggs
Bathing suit
Flip flops
Silly string
Sidewalk paint
Bible

Easter Basket Ideas for Tweens

Oh the woes of being a tweenager! This is the age where their independence really begins to show (or so they think)! They have this need to isolate and do things on their own, so it becomes even more important (and harder) to encourage healthy habits!

Sports: Whatever sports or extracurricular activities your tween is involved in, load them up with anything relevant!
Headphones: Tweens can always use a new pair of headphones, whether it’s to listen to music on their cellphones or playing games on their iPad!
Music: CDs might be out for this age group, but you can always get them a gift card to give them some download credits!
Nice journal: Barnes and Noble has a whole bunch of really nice journals! I’m talking leather! Get them something nice and durable to keep with them.
Beanboozled jelly bean game: This is a fun game made by Jelly Belly! Most kids already know about it, but it’s a game where you spin a spinner and you have to eat the jelly bean that it lands on. The catch it each jelly bean has two different jellybeans that appear to be the same, one tasty one, one disgusting one! Strawberry banana smoothie or dead fish, which will it be??
Belt/accessories: A new belt, sweatbands, a hat, or whatever is relevant to them, it would be great for the basket!

Sample Easter Basket for Tweens

Large basket with Easter grass
Large chocolate bunny
Beanboozled jelly beans
Peeps
Belt
Flip flops
Headphones
iTunes gift card
Sports ball
Fun Dip
Airheads
Cadbury Eggs

Easter Basket Ideas for Teenagers

By the time the actual teenage years hit, they care less about the candy (but they still do enjoy it!) and more about things they find practical for everyday use. Here are a few things a teenager would love in an Easter basket:

Water bottle: Reusable water bottles are the perfect thing to have with them at school, work, and on the field or court! Make it a durable steel one, or any other kind of heavy duty bottle.
Music: Music is a big part of most teenagers’ lives so anything related to their favorite bands or singers is always a nice surprise! A poster for their room, the new album, a gift card for downloads and so on.
Gym-related: Workout clothes, a gym bag, a sweat towel, or whatever else they’ll use at the gym.
Car accessories (driving age): Whether it’s a decal for the window or something fun to hang from the rearview mirror, car accessories are always fun!
Portable phone charger: With their phones seemingly glued to their hands, their batteries are draining away! Portable phone chargers are win-win; their phone will never be dead which means they don’t have that excuse when you can’t reach them!
Sandals: Warm weather means they’ll be living in sandals or flip flops for a few months.
Summer apparel: An outfit for summer is a good idea! Tank tops and shorts, easy-peasy!
Toiletries: Teenagers come with all kinds of funky smells, so be sure to include a few things to encourage good hygiene such as a nice body wash, body spray, and deodorant.

Sample Easter Basket for Teens

Large beach bag with some Easter grass
Chocolate bunny
Jellybeans
Reese’s peanut butter eggs
Breath mints or gum
Band t-shirt
Summer outfit with sandals
Water bottle
Portable phone charger
Toiletries with new shower pouf

Easter Basket Ideas for Boys

Boys will be boys, which means there are lots of things boys like that most girls don’t really care for! For a few more gender-specific ideas for various ages, here’s a list of things those rough and tumble boys like!

Play guns: Squirt guns, cap guns, Nerf guns, guns, guns, guns! There could be a new Sheriff in town!
Fishing supplies: If your boy is a Boy Scout, or simply enjoys the great outdoors, get him a little tackle box with some lures and such!
Survival supplies: A Flashlight, a hand-crank radio, Swiss army knife, a paracord bracelet. All of these things can help your boy be ready in case of an emergency!
Critter cage: Boys love bugs, and catching them is always a good time spent outside. Critter cage will allow him to catch and observe for a while.
Dress up: Depending on the age of your boy, he might enjoy dressing like a firefighter, police officer, or even a chef!
Toy trucks/cars: You can use smaller cars as a basket filler, or a large dump truck as the basket!
Gag toys: Boys find practical jokes funny, so why not throw in a Whoopie Cushion, some fake dog poop, and an electrified pen for fun!

Easter Basket Ideas for Girls

Since girls are made of sugar, spice and everything nice, there are lots of things that girls enjoy that boys wouldn’t even touch! Here’s a list for the little ladies!

Scrapbooking supplies: Girls tend to form more intimate friendships and like to preserve their memories in special photo albums, so a scrapbooking kit would be a gift that would last a long time!
Makeup: While the younger girls would enjoy lip balm and nail polish, the older girls would want a full-blown makeup kit! Don’t forget some good quality brushes!
Hair accessories: A new hairbrush, some barrettes and scrunchies are always something the girls need! Something fun for the hair would be hair chalk, which enables them to change the color of pieces of hair for the day!
Tutu: Little girls will feel like a ballerina! You can buy one, or easily make one out of elastic and tulle.
Easy-Bake Oven refills: Or, refills for any kind of similar machine would be welcomed if they blew through all of their supplies in the past!
Kid cookbooks: There are cookbooks out there for kids that have few steps and easy-to-follow directions for the aspiring cook!
Purse: Girls as young as toddlers will enjoy a new purse! If the purse is big enough, you can even stuff if to use in in place of a basket! This is actually a great idea for the teenage crowd.

Lastly, rule number three to making Easter baskets is to have fun with it! You should not feel burdened in any way as it is all being done from the heart. Don’t worry so much if you don’t think it looks “perfect” enough because chances are, the person finding the basket in the morning will be surprised and ecstatic no matter what! Have a hoppy Easter!

Healthy, Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas

The aisles of grocery stores are once again flooded with pastel wrapped candies for Easter baskets, but not everyone wants to fill a basket with candy!

Easter is a holiday that is heavily associated with baskets loaded up with sweet treats, but for many families, this is not a reality. There are many children out there who are extremely sensitive to sugar, various other ingredients or allergens in a lot of commercial candy, or perhaps the parents are very health-conscious, so having sweets in the basket on Easter morning is just not an option.

No matter what the reason is for not wanting sweets in the basket on Easter Sunday, there are plenty of other palatable possibilities that the kiddos will love! Let’s dig in (literally)!

Fruits & Veggies

Fruits will be your best friend when making a healthy Easter basket. They’re easy and sweet, and can easily take the place of the sweets down the candy aisle. Vegetables may not be as exciting for some kids, but it’s Easter after all, so you gotta have some carrots!

Dried fruit: Fruits are healthy and delicious! You can dehydrate your own strawberries in the oven to make little fruit snacks or buy lots of different dried fruits!

Chocolate-covered fruit/nuts: Ok so maybe chocolate isn’t terribly healthy but dark chocolate contains important antioxidants which are healthy, right? Melt down ¼ dark chocolate morsels with ½ Tbsp coconut oil, stir until smooth. Mix in or dip your fruit or nuts, place on a baking sheet with parchment paper and freeze for 10 or so minutes!

Fresh fruit: If you’ve seen those Edible Arrangements, then you know just how creative people can get using just fruit! Make some fun Easter shapes like bunnies. You could even use a hollowed out watermelon for a basket!

Fresh vegetables: If you’re really trying to score some brownie points with the Easter bunny, then including an assortment of fresh veggies in the basket is a great and healthy alternative to candy! Don’t forget to include some delicious dips to go along with the veggies!

Fruit snacks: Believe it or not, there are healthy fruit snacks out there! Look on the shelves for organic fruit snacks using real fruit, or make your own out of strawberries!

Fruit and veggie pouches: This is a great idea for infants and toddlers. With so many organic varieties in store to choose from, it can be a tough choice! It’s also easy to make your own by simply pureeing your child’s favorite food combinations and storing it in reusable food pouches!

Veggie chips: Whether you make them yourself or buy them at the store, veggie chips are a creative way to get your child to eat their vegetables! I’m a sucker for ranch veggie straws! Not as healthy as actual veggie chips, but at least they have ‘veggie’ in the name…

Snacks

What are your child’s favorite snacks? Fill plastic Easter eggs or Easter-themed goodie bags with them for super cute additions to your edible Easter basket!

Trail mix: You can easily buy many different varieties of trail mix, or you can make your own, ensuring that everything that goes into the mix is something your individual child will nibble on all day!

Cracker carrots: Fill clear, disposable cake decorating bags with orange snack crackers, such as Goldfish or Annie’s cheddar bunnies, and tie off the top. Make the tops of the carrots by making green fringe with construction paper, using green pipe cleaners, or green ribbon!

Go-gurt yogurt: Thank you for making yogurt super fun to eat! Not only are they healthy, but I know from experience (mom of 3 little boys), that kids love them!

Popcorn: My boys love popcorn, which is fantastic for me because it’s relatively healthy and extremely inexpensive! Always make your own though, that way you can season them however you like! I’m particularly a fan of sweet and salty popcorn seasoning!

Crackers: If you like the idea of crackers, then fill a fun snack container with them, or simply fill a few plastic Easter eggs!

Snack bars: There are lots of healthy snack bars out there, one of my favorites being Larabar. You know what your kids like, so let that be your guide! Homemade Larabars are very easy to make.

Hard-boiled eggs: You know all of those eggs you just colored the other night? Yeah, put a few of those in the basket!

Pickles: Or any food item your child is particularly passionate about! For instance, my 3 year old adores pickles, so it’s the perfect addition for him! Adding your child’s favorite healthy snacks to their Easter basket for a delicious filler you already know they’ll love!

Baked Goodies

Putting together healthy Easter baskets is easy… Putting together healthy Easter baskets your kids will love may not be! That’s where getting creative in the kitchen comes in handy!

Oatmeal raisin cookies: These chewy oatmeal cookies look delicious, but any kind of homemade cookie can be made to limit the amount of sugar in it. So while they may not be exactly ‘healthy’, they sure are better than prepackaged stuff!

Granola bars: Granola bars are easy to make at home, or you can always buy the pre-packaged ones. If you’re interested in making your own, these honey chocolate chip granola bars should certainly peek your kids’ interests! More please!

Banana bread: Banana bread is delicious, easy to make, and a wonderful way to use those bananas that seem just too ripe to eat! Actually, the very trick to a good banana bread is to use bananas that seem overly ripe. If your bananas are ready to go, try out this delicious banana bread recipe!

Chocolate zucchini muffins: If you’ve never had a chocolate zucchini muffin, it’s like a loaf of banana bread and a chocolate cupcake fell in love… and when two delicious baked goods love each other very much, well, you get the idea! Who knew a vegetable could taste so good!

Carrot cupcakes: Okay, so not the healthiest option but I thought I’d slip this one in. After all, it is made with a bunny’s favorite snack! These ridiculously good-looking cream cheese topped carrot cupcakes wouldn’t last 2 seconds in my Easter basket! And, all things considered, you’re still getting vegetables into your little one. You also have full control over the amount of sugar which is an added bonus.

Creating a healthy Easter basket will provide you with the peace of mind that you are not loading your children up with unnecessary amounts of sugar and chemicals found in traditional Easter candies. Including a good balance of healthy food and fun things to do will ensure that the kids are totally satisfied with their Easter loot and they will have a Happy Easter, to boot!

Traditional Easter Hymns and Songs

Psalm 96:1-2 “Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.”

What better way to honor the sacrifice Jesus made, and celebrate the hope He offered to us through His sacrifice, than with songs of praise and love!

Whether you’re in your car driving to work, at church for Sunday service, or in the kitchen prepping Easter dinner, these hymns and songs are sure to get you in the spirit of the Easter!

Classic Easter Hymns

If you walk into any Lutheran, Baptist, or Catholic church on Easter Sunday, you’re likely to hear one or more of these traditional hymnals about Easter. Now everyone, turn to Hymnal 504!

The Old Rugged Cross

This sweet hymnal is one I remember singing with my elementary school class during Friday morning Chapel. It was written in 1913 by George Bennard, and while it is a traditional Easter hymn, this version by Alan Jackson blends it beautifully into a modern country variation.

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Christ, the Lord is risen today, Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! This classic hymnal, written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, tells of triumph of Jesus Christ over the sin of the world, and how we can rejoice in knowing we can have everlasting life because of His sacrifice.

Because He Lives

An new hymn, but a beautiful one! ‘Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone!’ Because Jesus Christ died for our sins, we know that one day, we’ll be in Heaven with Him one day. That fact can give us encouragement when times are difficult.

Contemporary Worship Songs

If you’re part of a non-denominational church, these songs are likely a bit more up your alley.

In Christ Alone

Christ died on the cross so that we would be able to find salvation through Him. That is the only way to reach Heaven. ‘In Christ Alone’ is about that fact. There was only one who was perfect, only one who could make a path for us, only one who could rise up again, and that one was Christ!

Jesus Saves

He came to this world to save us, and that’s what He did. In ‘Jesus Saves’, we sing about letting the world know what He did for us that day! “Raise a shout to let all the world know that Jesus saves!”

Happy Day

Easter is about both remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, but also celebrating his triumphant resurrection! ‘Happy Day’ is about the latter! This upbeat Easter song will have everyone up on their feet dancing!

Easter Songs for Kids

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so! No matter what time of year it is, ‘Jesus Loves Me’ is the most beloved Christian children’s song. It reminds us that Jesus loved us so much that He died for us so we could go to Heaven one day!

This Little Light of Mine

Jesus brought light into the world when he died on the cross. Now it’s our turn to be a light to others! I don’t know about you, but I’m going to let mine shine!

The Joy Joy Joy

When you accept that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, you invite the Holy Spirit to live within your heart. And because He is Love, you’ve got the ‘Joy Joy Joy Joy’ down in your heart!

I hope you and your family enjoy these songs this Easter!

Family Easter Traditions

How to Celebrate Easter

One of the very best things about holidays are the traditions that fill them and the memories that fill you from all of the joyous times shared. One of the major holidays which carries strong traditions is Easter.

Although Easter is all about how Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected, proving he was the Son of God, there are some traditions surrounding Easter that might be unclear. Other traditions are pretty straightforward and universal amongst many families across the globe! With traditions varying so widely for each family, let’s just get into the nitty gritty to discuss the more common ones!

Easter Traditions for Kids

Being a child is quite a magical time in life, and it’s often full of all kinds of fun traditions around the holidays. Since kids have big imaginations and are very impressionable, it’s fun to make some traditions that you can’t exactly enjoy as much as an adult (unless you have kids, of course)!

Easter Bunny Tradition

One of the perhaps more confusing traditions about Easter is the mascot himself, the Easter Bunny! Just how did a bunny become a part of the holiday? While it remains very much unclear, there are a couple of theories: One dates back to the Medieval times, stating that the hare was a symbol of the Medieval church, made up to determine if children have been good or bad. Another theory suggests that the bunny came about from a time dating in the 1500’s during a time when people worshipped Eostre, the pagan goddess of Spring, whose symbol was the hare.

Either way, regardless of where this tradition came from, it’s really the intent that matters! The most important thing is to know why you’re truly celebrating. Kids really enjoy the Easter bunny. Kids soak it up and there are so many ways to incorporate the Easter Bunny:

Visit the Mall

Make it a family tradition to visit the mall each year to visit the Easter Bunny in person! You can get family portraits taken each year, so it’s a great way to have a visual on how much each person in the family changed in just one year!

Stuffed Animals

Purchase bunny stuffed animals for the young’ins in the family! These huggable friends will be a favorite toy for the kids during this time of year!

Real Bunny

A lot of people see this as a cute time to purchase a baby bunny as a pet, but this should only be done after the general care and diet of the animal have been well-researched, and all necessary supplies have been gathered! A real bunny isn’t a 1 day gift.

Decorations

Add to the ambiance of the Easter holiday by decorating all over with springtime decor and lots of bunny decorations! There aren’t many chances to deck your house out with pastels. How about making these super adorable Easter Bunny Place Cards for a traditional Easter dinner?

The Big Visit

Perhaps the most anticipated part of the Easter Bunny tradition is the actual visit from him because he leaves fun treats and hides the eggs! Be sure to leave a carrot out to say thank you!

Easter Basket Tradition

It is believed by some that the tradition of Easter baskets stems from the old tradition of creating nests for the Easter Bunny to lay eggs in. Rather than there being a nest to lay eggs in, there are now baskets that treats are left in! Each child is so very different, so the Easter Bunny tends to make each basket special for each individual child. He also likes to find good and age-appropriate hiding places for the baskets too, which is always fun! Here are some ways you can have fun with Easter baskets:

Traditional Basket

If you’re trying to keep things simple, go with a chocolate cross or bunny, jelly beans, Peeps, chocolate eggs, and a couple of fun little toys, activities, or books! A small stuffed animal is always a welcomed filler as well! Here are some toddler Easter basket ideas for your youngest bunny.

Healthy Basket

Not all parents wish for their children to be pumped full of sugar so many opt for a basket with healthier choices like organic snacks, chocolate covered fruit, snack crackers, and dark chocolate (which is the healthier form of chocolate)!

Non-Food Basket

You can also choose to make a basket that is simply full of fun things to do, often items that encourage kids to play outside. Ideas include bubbles, jump rope, sidewalk chalk, a kite, and some activity books to switch it up!

Themed Basket

If the child is involved in a specific sport or hobby, then theming a basket around this specific interest will certainly be appreciated!

Easter Egg Tradition

Well, it all started with the traditions that the Germans brought over to America when they migrated to Pennsylvania in the 1700’s. They had a tradition involving an egg-laying hare, or the Easter Bunny who they call “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws” in which children would make nests for the hare to lay its pretty eggs in. Now, there are many different ways people incorporate the Easter egg tradition into their holiday:

Decorating Eggs

When it comes to the decorating of eggs, many people choose to simply dye them festive colors. There are many different ways you can decorate eggs whether you decide to color them with crayons or embellishing them with stickers and stick-on rhinestones!

Hiding Eggs

Modern day Easter wouldn’t quite be Easter if there weren’t eggs to find in the morning! Usually the ones that are hidden by the Easter Bunny are the ones that were colored the night prior.

Plastic Eggs

To really add to an Easter egg hunt, sometimes plastic Easter eggs are filled with candy, small toys, or even money! If you have some spare change laying around, now’s the time to use it! Make sure that you put quarters into a couple of the eggs. The kids will think they hit the lottery!

Candy Eggs

Around Easter time, the shelves fill up with all kinds of egg-shaped candies, from Cadbury Eggs to Reese’s Eggs and Whoppers Robin Eggs. Whatever your style, you’ll enjoy with a smile!

Jell-O Eggs

Okay, this one is not very common but it’s a fun one to make with kids. In the supermarket aisle that sells Jello, you’ll find a kit containing egg molds and everything else you’ll need to make Jello eggs, including detailed instructions.

Easter Traditions for Adults

Of course, Easter isn’t just for the kids! Let’s not lose focus here; it’s about celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Which means, adults celebrate too, just in different ways. While adults play a big part in making the day special for the littles, here are some common ways that adults observe the holiday.

Easter Church Service

A favorite family tradition for many families on Easter Sunday is to attend Easter church service. Every church is different, but here are some things you can expect from nearly all Easter services:

Easter Hymns

Most services start with praise and worship, and Easter Sunday is no different! These Easter songs of praise will remind you why we celebrate this time of year, and get our hearts ready for the pastor’s message.

Communion

There is not a more appropriate day to share communion with your family. Communion, the representation of bread and wine as being the body and blood of Christ, is an important part of Christian tradition and remembrance. We take part in communion to remind us why Jesus died on the cross for us, and that we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

Baptism

Some churches host a mass baptism on Easter Sunday. This is a great opportunity to dedicate or rededicate your life’s purpose to Christ.

Easter Potluck

After the service is over, it’s time for the part of the day Dad’s been waiting for, the Easter brunch potluck! Again, not all churches may host a potluck after the service, but if they do, this is one tradition the whole family can enjoy! I’ll bring the carrot muffins!

Easter Dinner Traditions

Speaking of food… With any major holiday comes a special meal, and Easter is no different! One of the very best parts of the Easter family gathering, aside from the company, of course, is the food! Adults (and sometimes kids, too!) all pitch in to make the Easter dinner special in many ways.

Ham

No Easter would be complete without a delicious, juicy ham! Why? Well, because it’s delicious! But also because prior to Easter, some people celebrate Lent which traditionally involves giving up meat for 40 days that ends on the Saturday before Easter. Anyone would want to dig into a nice ham after giving up meat for this long!

Lamb

Many, many families prefer the tradition of eating lamb rather than ham for Easter dinner. It’s really a matter of preference and family tradition.

Side Dishes

Yet another element of Easter dinner that’s all a matter of family preference, as you want to be sure that everyone will leave with a full belly and big smile!~ Common side dishes served on Easter include yams, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, carrots, and various different casseroles. Don’t forget the dinner rolls!

Deviled Eggs

(Sometimes referred to as angel eggs instead, in light of the holiday) Although hors d’oeuvres are pretty universal, you can almost guarantee someone is bringing some yummy deviled eggs! After all, is everyone really going to eat all of those beautiful, colored Easter eggs before they all go bad? Best to put them to good use!

Traditional Easter Cake

While the holiday may be filled with tons of sweets and unlimited jelly beans, no family gathering is complete without a dessert! Many families carry on a tradition of an Easter cake, whether one person makes their famous recipe every year, or a random family member is chosen to make their version of the Easter cake.

Here are a few different ways you can embrace the tradition of the Easter cake:

Bunny Cake

The shape of a bunny can be obtained by using two round cake pans, one of the rounds will serve as the bunny’s head, while the other round is carefully cut to be the bunny’s ears and bow tie, then decorated as desired. Or, you can simply purchase a bunny cake mold!

Easter Egg Cake

Most supermarkets sell egg-shaped cake pans, as well as art stores in the baking section. Decorate as you please or let the kids have a ball (with supervision of course)!

Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is delicious and suitable for Easter as bunnies eat carrots! And what person doesn’t love cream cheese icing?!

Simnel Cake

While this is traditionally eaten in the middle of Lent, some families choose to eat one on Easter day. It’s a delicious fruit cake layered with almond paste (marzipan), and topped with 12 marzipan balls to symbolize the 12 apostles.

There’s no one way to celebrate Easter! Family traditions are something you and your family will fondly remember year after year, and will pass on to future generations! Start your own Easter traditions this year with your family, just be sure to remember to say Grace before your meal and not forget why we are celebrating on this glorious day. Jesus always has ways to bring us together as a family, and closer to Him! He is risen!

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