Easter Gifts for Babies and Toddlers (0-2)
Everyone wants to gift an infant celebrating her first Easter a sweet stuffed bunny or a darling dress with an Easter egg apron. Coming up with out-of-the-ordinary Easter basket gifts takes a little more time. Start by thinking about spring and what the little tykes would enjoy. The Baby Einstein series offers DVDs for parents to watch with their babies and toddlers, highlighting everything from language to animals. Tuck a DVD in an Easter basket for a gift that lasts years.Classic toys such as the push corn-popper, board books, and building blocks are toys with which you can never go wrong. Big plastic beads in pastel colors fit well in an Easter basket for toddlers. Pull toys with a baby animal or Easter theme add charm a the wee one’s Easter basket. Look for stuffed ducks, bunnies and chicks on wheels.
Personalized Easter gifts begin with baby’s first Easter. Purchase a large egg that can be personalized with the child’s name and date of birth. You can use this egg each year for an extra-special surprise inside.
Easter Gifts for Preschoolers (3-5)
Preschoolers are curious, ready to learn and willing to try new things. Big picture books, alphabet books, storybooks and old-time favorites such as Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne and the Beatrix Potter books make perfect Easter gifts for kids. Activity books and puzzles also delight this age group. Look for DVDs that cater to preschoolers, such as the Disney favorites Lady and the Tramp, Ratatouille, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella or any classic fairy tale.Playing pretend is a big part of learning and trying on different personas. Head for a resell or second-hand shop for clothes to create a dress-up box. Little girls love boas, hats, gloves and high heels to prance about in. Look for uniforms that little boys would enjoy pretending in, like police officer, firefighter, sports player or doctor.
Sidewalk chalk, finger paint, crayons, markers and bubbles get the imagination going. Don’t forget to include a roll of paper for all those masterpieces.
Games such as Candy Land or Memory bring together learning with silly fun.
Easter Gifts for Kids (6-9)
This age group embraces activities that they can do with friends. Kites that soar in the air in an open field present hours of fun for both girls and boys. Roller blades, skateboards, and sports balls may be too big for an Easter basket, but they all look appropriate when wrapped in Easter paper. Unique Easter gifts play into the favorite pastimes of this age group.The American Girl Company offers books, dolls, and loads of accessories for girls. The items may be a bit pricier, but the quality is high and the stories filled with history.
Look for books that are age-appropriate. Kids in this age bracket are learning to read or well into reading. Choose series or chapter books that show the difficulty of the book. Do not forget that even kids 6 to 9 like to be read to from time to time. Search for books that you can read together.
If art is your child’s thing, purchase paints, sketchpads, and brushes for creating masterpieces. Girls might enjoy making their own jewelry with beads and baubles.
Easter Gifts for Tweeners (10-13)
The tweeners are no longer young children, but not yet ready to face life as a teenager. It is important to keep gifts age-appropriate for this impressionable group. Music is becoming more important at this age, so play close attention to what your child listens to and select DVDs suited to the age. Girls at this age are beginning to care about how they look. Search for skin-care products, sheer nail polishes, and light lip-glosses that make them feel older while not adding years to their looks.Tweener boys like active toys that keep them running, jumping and on the go. Like the previous age group, trick kites, roller blades, skateboards and types of balls from baseballs to soccer balls keep them burning excess energy.
Depending on the reading and comprehension ability of your tweener, you may want to select books from the young adult department in bookstores. J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is an ever-popular choice as are other fantasy series, such as Brian Jacques’ Redwall series.
Video and computer games rank high on the gift list of kids in the 10 to 13 age group. Know what you are buying and stay away from games meant for older teens and adults.
Easter Gifts for Teens (14-18)
By the time children reach their teens, they know exactly what they like. Purchasing Easter gifts becomes more difficult as the focus narrows. Girls love jewelry, and nothing delights a teenage girl more than opening an Easter egg with a pretty necklace, bracelet or earrings inside. Fashion-conscious teens relish the latest fads in clothing, so going that route is sure to please.Teenage boys are difficult customers to satisfy. Sporting gear is a point-getter. Video or computer games rank high on the list of got-to-haves. Movie DVDs or music CDs are always wanted. The latest techno gadgets, from cell phones to iPods, or the accessories that go with them, would make neat little packages for an Easter basket gift.
Both guys and gals really appreciate money at this age. Put a five or ten dollar bill inside an egg and watch the smiles come out. Shopping on their own is another thrill for teens, so you might want to pick up gift cards from favorite stores or restaurants.
For Kids of All Ages
Money, of course, works for kids of all ages. For younger children, a quarter or two tucked inside a few eggs gives them something to put in the piggy bank. Older kids love cold, hard cash.Other gifts for any age include a Bible, which is an appropriate gift for Easter when the child is old enough to read and comprehend the words. Personalization – on anything from return-address labels to jewelry boxes – is another sure hit with kids of all ages.
Stay away from the “live baby animal” gift. Chicks, ducklings and bunnies look adorable in the pet store, and you can imagine the delight of your child at the peeping or quacking creature. The problem is that ducklings turn into ducks and chicks into chickens. Unless you live in the country, where the critter can wander, it is not wise to give a baby animal. Puppies and kittens make fine gifts, but only after you have researched the animal and realize the responsibility and commitment a dog or cat requires.
Pay close attention to the likes and dislikes of the child for whom you wish to buy an Easter gift. Set an amount of money to spend and do not go over that amount. Take into consideration the time of year, spring, and what the child could use or enjoy. Butterfly nets, bug-catching kits, and outdoor toys prepare the child for the coming warmer months. Older children may actually tell you things they desire. Keep your ears and eyes open and you are sure to come up with unique Easter gifts for children from a few months to 18 years old.
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