Growing up my parents made a big deal about every holiday, Easter included. We always had baskets or buckets waiting for us when we woke up. They were often filled with candy and toys in the younger years, but as we got older they changed. There was usually a theme, or a color scheme my mom stuck to, which was fun.
When my husband and I got married and started a family, we decided we didn’t want all the hoopla that surrounded the holidays. We are very simple in our gifts and focus rather on the meaning of the holiday. However, grandparents and family still like to give things, so we have opted to be more educational in our gifts.
I know that sounds terrible, but my kids love it! They love the extra science experiments, or craft kits that fit their personalities. They love the games we can play as a family and the kits that last for years are treasures. We love being able to give them not only a gift, but an experience they can build memories around.
If you’re looking to ditch the candy this year and bring in some more educational items to your Easter baskets, check out this list! We have sorted them by age groups to make it a little easier to find. Of course there are many more options out there. You can always find age-appropriate books, buy tickets to an upcoming play or show, buy season passes to the local zoo or theater and more! Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Your kids will love it!
Toddler – Preschool
Melissa & Doug Slice & Sort Wooden Eggs – Little ones will love matching the colors of these wooden eggs!
Slide and Find Easter Book – Books are always a good option for educational items. This slide and find book will help work on their fine motor skills.
Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Activity Set – Kids can work on matching the color laces to the wooden shapes and their fine motor skills as they lace through the holes.
Easter Eggs Educational Shaped Puzzle in a Basket – These are like the old ball with the shaped holes that you matched with the shapes, only they are in eggs. Such a clever and cute idea and a fun way to work on their fine motor skills, as well as their colors and shapes.
The Story of Easter – Little ones will enjoy listening and following along as you read the Story of Easter from this adorable book.
Jumbo Magnetic Uppercase Letters – Are your little ones working on their letters? These Jumbo magnetic uppercase letters are perfect for the refrigerator or any magnetic surface!
Counting Bears with 5 Cups – Counting bears are a fun addition to any toddlers learning. They can be used in a variety of ways. Check out these printables to get you started.
Water Beads Rainbow Mix – Do your little ones love sensory bins? These water beads are perfect for all types of sensory bins!
Melissa & Doug Slice & Sort Wooden Eggs (13 pcs) – Play Food Educational Toy in Wooden Tray
Slide and Find EasterMelissa & Doug Lace and Trace Activity Set: 5 Wooden Panels and 5 Matching Laces – FarmPrextex Easter Eggs Educational Shaped Puzzle in a Basket (12 Pack) Clever Matching EggsThe Story of EasterLearning Resources Jumbo Magnetic Uppercase Letters, 40-Piece50 Counting Bears with 5 Cups8 Ounces, About 20,000 Large Marble Size JellyBeadZ Water Bead Gel, For Stress Balls, Bright Rainbow Mix
First – Third Grades
Happy Easter, Mouse! – From the author of the “If You Give…” series, Laura Numeroff, brings this adorable story of Easter with the mouse. This book is available in paperback or board book for durability, but make no mistake, it is a great read aloud for young readers.
DoodlePro Clip-on – I remember playing for hours with my etch-a-sketch as a kid. This DoodlePro is smaller and portable for kids to take on the go. They can practice their letters, numbers or just draw for fun!
Play-Doh Spring Easter Eggs (4-pack) – What kid doesn’t love Play-Doh! Not only is it a fun activity, but it can be great to improve their fine motor skills. Lay a plastic sheet over your table or counter and let them play away!
Melissa & Doug Wooden Heart Bead Set & Jewelry Kit – Little girls will love creating their own necklaces, bracelets and gifts for those they love with this kit. Plus, you sneak in a some extra fine motor skills too!
Mini Animals Building Blocks Set (12-pack) – If you have a LEGO fan in your house, they are sure to love these animal building block sets!
IQ Challenge Set by GamieUSA – Challenge your little ones with these fun and educational brain teasers. These are suitable for ages 5+ and include a complete instructions guide too.
Kids Garden Tools with STEM Learning Guide – Spring is here and planting a garden is a great way to not only get little ones outside, but do some fantastic STEM learning! This set is available in several color options.
Happy Easter, Mouse! (If You Give…)Fisher-Price DoodlePro, Clip-on (Green)Play Doh Spring Eggs New 4 Eggs EasterMelissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Heart Bead Set Mini Animals Building Blocks Sets – 12 BoxesIQ Challenge Set by GamieUSA – 7 Pcs Educational Toys for 5 Year OldsKids Garden Tools with STEM Learning Guide by ROCA Toys.
Fourth – Sixth Grades
Kindle Fire or Samsung Tablet – We have used both in our house with our children. If you have a voracious reader, the Kindle Fire is a great way to have a lot of books at your fingertips. If they want a few gaming apps, we found the Samsung app holds up really well for that.
ZOOB BuilderZ S.T.E.M. Challenge – This set includes challenges where kids have to build objects to hit targets or make balls bounce.
Art 101 Kids 179-Piece Double Sided Trifold Easel Art Set – Whether you have a budding artist or want to bring in more creativity to their day, this kit is a great starting point.
Melissa & Doug Suspend Game – My oldest got this game a few years ago and it has been a big hit with all our older kids. It is a great game to improve hand-eye coordination as well as critical thinking skills.
Snap Circuits – My oldest received this as a gift several years back. He played with it for hours on end. It was a great way to add in some additional science and technology to his learning with real-world learning!
Blokus Strategy Game – Strategy games are a great way to improve critical thinking skills. Blokus is fun strategy game for ages 7 and up.
Sequence Game – This is another strategy game that is a big hit with our family. It is a fun way to help them with critical thinking as well as numbers and strategy.
Crochet Kits – Recently my girls have become more and more interested in learning to crochet. It is a great hand-eye coordination activity and you can get pretty creative too!
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8Fire HD 8 Tablet | 8ZOOB BuilderZ S.T.E.M. ChallengeArt 101 Kids 179-Piece Double Sided Trifold Easel Art SetMelissa & Doug Suspend Family Game, Classic GamesSnap Circuits Classic SC-300 Electronics Exploration KitBlokus Strategy GameSequence Game4M Easy-to-Do Crochet Kit
Teens
Apologetics Study Bible for Teens – The teenage years are important in the formation of their faith. These are the years they begin to think for themselves and start forming their own opinions. This Apologetics Study Bible is a wonderful tool to help them learn to articulate their own beliefs.
Diamond Art – These are all the rage right now, but a great hand-eye coordination and craft option. If you’ve not seen them, they are extremely time consuming, which will teach them perseverance and patience. And while these kits come with patterns to follow, you could branch out and do your own too!
Try Not to Laugh Challenge: Easter Joke Book for Kids – This may be a little silly, but it’s okay to laugh and enjoy yourself. Play as a family or during one-on-one time with your teen!
The Don’t Laugh Challenge Joke Book: Easter Edition – A different version of the same challenge, this book is perfect for teens and families to laugh together…or not.
Easter Eggstravaganza Mad Libs – Some teens might think these are too young, but my 13 year old loves them! We enjoy doing them on long trips or as a fun way to review the parts of speech. The stories are always funny!
Metal Brain Teaser (4 sets) – These brain teasers are a great way to get kids thinking or give them something to occupy their minds while you travel or waiting for an appointment. They are also perfect for improving critical thinking skills!
Apologetics Study Bible for Students, Trade Paper DIY Diamond Rhinestone Painting Kits for Adults and ChildrenTry Not to Laugh Challenge, Easter Joke Book for KidsThe Don’t Laugh Challenge – Easter Edition: Easter EditionEaster Eggstravaganza Mad LibsMetal Brain Teaser 4 Set for Kids and Adults
Subscription Boxes for All Ages
Kiwi Co. – Kiwi Co. offers a variety of boxes for ages 0 – 104! These boxes are delivered monthly and encourage learning through exploration and play, as well as science, art, geography, engineering and design.
Carrie’s daughter loves her Kiwi Crates (she’s in the picture below working on one). Each crate includes materials to create a creative, innovative STEM project. Homeschool Giveaways readers can sign up for a FREE Tinker Create (or any KiwiCrate).
Little Passports – Little Passports offers geography boxes for ages 3-12 and a new science box for 9 and up. Kids will travel around the world and USA with their geography boxes and explore science with the monthly experiments and activities.
Crate Joy’s Genius Box – Ages 8 and up will enjoy these hands-on activities each month. Each box includes 3 or more activities, plus a collectible button and comic that help illustrate the monthly theme.
Find more homeschool resources on my Pinterest boards!
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Annette has been married to her husband and best friend since 2003. Together they are raising their six children to follow the Lord’s will, no matter what. Annette longs for the day when she will meet her angel babies who have entered heaven before her. She enjoys creating UNIT STUDIES and FREE PRINTABLES for homeschool families. You can follow her crazy life at In All You Do where she blogs about homeschooling, homemaking and marriage while trying to maintain her sanity. She is also the owner of Thrifty Homeschoolers where she shares her tips on homeschooling without breaking the bank.
