This may be an unpopular opinion… but hear me out. I have always struggled to put Easter-themed items in Easter baskets for my children because we give them the baskets on Easter, and then Easter is over. Can they still play with Easter items after Easter? Of course. But do they lose their relevance as spring moves to summer and summer to fall and so on? A little bit, yes!

If you’re anything like me, you keep your seasonal items/decor/toys/books, etc. on rotation with the seasons. Spring items go away and summer items come out, and so on. When gifting my kids a basket full of goodies on Easter, I’m thinking two things.

1. I’m thinking that I want them to be practical for the anticipated change in seasons (I typically include a new bathing suit for each child, maybe a new pair of PJs, and a new pair of spring/summer shoes).

2. I’m thinking that I want the items in their baskets to be things they can play with and use ALL YEAR ROUND… NOT just on Easter, the week after Easter, or even just in the spring. I do think things like chalk and bubbles are an exception here because what child doesn’t get excited about those things after a long winter?!

I wanted to put together a guide of some items we have in our home that my own three children (currently ages 3, 5, and almost 8) love and play with year-round, that would be a great addition to any Easter basket. I have all the items listed all together in the graphic below, but then organized by general age group or category with links below the graphic.

TODDLERS AGE 1.5-3
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
ART SUPPLIES
6 | 7 | 8
PRESCHOOLERS & KINDERGARTNERS AGE 4-6
9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13
AGE 5+
13 (yes, this one is listed twice because it fits both categories) | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17
EARLY ELEMENTARY AGE 6+
18 | 19 | 20
ALL AGES
21

I hope this list makes your shopping a little easier this spring, and brings your children joy all year round!