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Struggling to fill those Easter baskets with exciting and fun gifts? Check out this guide for all ages.
Easter is just around the corner — landing early this year on March 31. If you’re like me, you are wondering what kind of gifts you can give your children that they won’t just toss after 30 minutes of play. We’ve scoured what’s on the market and came up with the below guide for children of all ages. Check out our tips below.
For the Littles
Blocks are a classic toy that always delivers endless fun. Avenlur’s Wooden Rainbow Stacker Blocks, aren’t just beautiful, but they help develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Like the rainbow stacker, here is another classic toy for young ones – the Stack & Count Cups, which are great for endless play and can even be taken to the bathtub.
Add the cool factor to those Easter baskets with Babiators, sunglasses designed for children but with 100% UV protection. For the Spring, Babiators has the adorable Flower Child shades or you can go with the Classic Navigators.
Looking for an educational toy? Check out Learning Resources’s Hide & Seek Vegetable Garden, which helps build preschool skills with a garden-fresh game of hide and seek. Kids discover new preschool counting and color skills as they search for the funny bunny. Turn the search into a game to help kids strengthen their memory and critical skills.
Hand2mind is also delivering educational Easter fun with the Bunny Brunch Board Game, which helps build patterning skills with this fun, cooperative game for early learners. Children will work together to complete the plate pattern and feed the hungry bunnies.
Offer your children some emotional support toys with Relatable’s Emotional Support Chickies. The set includes five individual chick plushies and a cozy plush nest. Another option is the Emotional Support Flowers, which are flower plushies with individual expressions – they’re the perfect way to cheer up a friend, partner, parent, or loved one.
Hatchimals is a solid go-to gift for children. For this Easter basket, check out the Make A Splash Playset or the Spring Basket. Kids will enjoy seeing these little characters come to life.
Give your kids hours of fun with STEAM-learning toys such as Connetix Tiles and Pix Brix. Connetix Tiles is a go-to magnetic-building toy where kids can use their imagination to make anything. Pix Brix is a fun pixel puzzle brick that utilizes a unique patented connection system. From dragons to hearts to ships, kids can make anything with Pix Brix.
Here’s a great building toy that can be taken anywhere – StickiKubes, which stick to anything but fabric! Decorate the walls, windows or even the airplane windows during those travel trips!
Stuff the basket with Smencils, Scento’s line of scented pencils, to make learning fun! Smencils are always a hit with children of all ages.
Have a crafty teen or tween, check out the products at Tilly’s — including the Friendship Bracelet Kit and the DIY Screen Printing Kit. Your teen will appreciate the opportunity to express themselves with these gifts!
Who doesn’t love a luxurious bath? San Diego-based Tubby Todd has an assortment of Spring and Easter collections to make bathtime fun and relaxing. After the bath, choose a scented lotion to feel clean and fresh.
For Sensory Fun
Does your little one love digging and dinosaurs? Check out I Dig It! Dinos from Thames & Kosmos. The toy comes with a box of 12 dinosaur eggs. Children can use the accompanying chisel tool to dig their dinosaur out!
Give your kids a fun sensory toy with Playfoam’s pre-filled Easter eggs. This fun activity is mess-free but still gives children that sensory excitement they need.
Add the newest fidget toy, HEXEL, to your kid’s Easter basket. Crafted with six Plus-Plus pieces connected by a flexible cord, kids can bend, twist and connect the fidget toy — keeping those fingers and minds engaged.
There isn’t a kid out there who doesn’t love their slime time. So Slime Cosmic Crunch takes slime up a notch with some glitter and confetti to make it even more fun to squish and stretch.
Glo Pals is offering parents another mess-free activity with the Toddler Sensory Play Jar that can be taken anywhere! Flip the jar over to see how the water changes colors.
Over the slime? Try some putty with Crazy Aaron’s Easter Bloom & Speckled Egg thinking putty, which helps build hand and finger strength while engaging children.
Who doesn’t love mess-free fun? Kinetic Sand is always coming up with new, fun products! Check out the Kinetic Sand 20-pack sand eggs or the Soft Serve Station to add some colorful fun to your child’s Easter.
Bring the World of Eric Carle to life with this Science Terrarium Kit. Kids will have the opportunity to decorate,plan and grow their own apple-shaped terrarium.
Make egg-decorating stress-free with the EggMazing decorators. This year, EggMazing unveiled PEEPS Bunny decorator kits in different colors.
For Snuggles
Take imagination to the next level with Pippa, who comes with a fabric picture book. Your bunny-loving child will appreciate this new companion!
Bring some warmth into your child’s life with the Warm Pals collection. These stuffies can be heated to give your child a warm hug. There are also an assortment of scented Pals to choose from.
Scentco has unveiled a line of Snuggle Bugs that are too cute for words. Just like Scentco’s other products, the Snuggle Bugs come with an assortment of scents to choose from.
Head over to the Gund store for a variety of cuddly stuffed friends to choose from, including Paw Patrol items, Sanrio characters and an assortment of beautiful bunnies.
For Big Fun
If you really want to jazz up Easter this year, check out Celestron’s line of affordable and innovative telescopes. Kids can see the stars and moon across the Spring and Summer months.
Get your child ready for the warmer months with one of the smoothest bikes on the market. Priority Bicycles offers children (and adults) easy riding with low maintenance. Plus, they are beautiful bikes to look at too!
Need something electric? Droyd has an assortment of electric rides for little ones ranging from ages 3 and up.
Finally, books always make a great gift! Grab a copy of the adorable book, “How To Chat Chicken,” where kids will learn all the different ways animals communicate! Silver Dolphin Press and Studio Fun International have a sweet new assortment of children’s books for the spring season, including “Mary Had a Little Lamb and “Rainbow Magic Special Edition: Emma the Easter Fairy.”
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San Diego Moms is published on Saturdays. Have a story idea? Email hoaq@timesofsandiego.com and follow her on Instagram at @hoawritessd.