Thinking of something to do for Easter for your child who has just turned on can be challenging. At this point they aren’t really doing all the conventional things like skipping or using chalk outside or even munching on chocolates. Last year it was easy since my son Vincent was just a few weeks old. We did a few rattles and a few books and this year we really had to think outside of the box. Here are some things and ideas we used to fill my son’s basket!
One steal that I found was I had gone to the Dollar Store (Known as Dollar Tree in the USA) and found my son an awesome miniature lawn chair. It was only $4.00 and I had to get it. I thought it would be the perfect addition to add to our deck that he can hang out with us when the sun is not too hot and have his own little seat. And only $4.00 how could I not get that for him!
Something else I thought that I would do was I decided to make him some play foods. I used plastic canvas and cut out different fruits, veggies, and foods and sewed them with yarn to be different colors and things. I thought this could be a great thing for me to do in order to save some money as well as think outside of the box. I did not want to feel like I was getting him nothing in his basket due to him being so little and options are still limited for him. Some of the shapes I had cut and sewn have turned out amazing and others still need to be tweeked. I will eventually draw the patterns in my book of them and post them to pinterest (Or maybe even here as part of an email) so others can also use the designs. I never used any patterns how I did look up different things on pinterest so I could use them as inspiration for the shapes or colors used in each one. I also am going to be putting some felt on the back with a glue gun and making them a bit neater so you cant see all of the strings that may have been cut and tied too.
Another big purchase we decided to include in his basket was a new bathing suit. We got an 18-24 month size which hopefully will fit him as he is just over a year old now. If it doesn’t then we will have to probably have to buy another one but I think this should be good! When I was younger my grandparents always gave my siblings and I our own bathing suits for the summer and I thought why not since his ones from last year are for sure too small. We also got a unisex one so that with future children we won’t need to buy another and can use this for them as well.
I also decided to get Vincent (my son) a book with his name in it! The book is called Vincent Comes Homes (I think) and this is about a cat who lives on a cargo ship. I seen someone on my Facebook who had gotten their daughter a book that had to do with their name in the title and I thought if it was possible I would like to do that to all of my kids as they come to get them their very own book with their name in it! We also got him another Blue’s Clues book since that is currently his favorite show that we watch as we unwind for bed time too. We don’t really get him books outside of holidays but they are important since we regularly read him a few stories before bed time every night.
And lastly there are a few odds and ends that are also in his basket like bubbles to play with outside, as well as a new tooth brush since his current one he is not a fan of, and some body cream too since he has been running low on his current tube too. His basket obviously will be filled with more toys once he gets a bit older and what not. Next year we can fill it with all the traditional items you could do when it comes to Easter. I did not include anymore teethers since he has a lot of those from Christmas. He still enjoys the ones he has and not that he is getting older I find he still does not use them as much as he did when he had his first few teeth breaking through!
And before I end my parents also sent him up a few things. They sent him some clothes and a few little bottles and toys for his birthday at the beginning of March and included his Easter things as well that I just split up. They included a cool outfit with a onesie, and pants and sweater, as well as a little toy car/truck that makes a noise that I will wrap in some colored tissue paper to show it’s from his grandparents. Thankfully this will be the only thing left holiday wise they will need to send since we should be home for the next major holidays!
As you can see if you kept reading this long finding something to give your song for Easter when he is just a year old can be challenging at best. I really tried to think outside of the box when it came to thinking about what to give him this year. I cannot wait to see his reaction since he is beginning to understand that presents are something you can have unwrapped and enjoy too!
Do you and your family celebrate Easter?
And what are some of the staples that the Easter Bunny puts in their baskets every year?
Let me know in the comments below and see if I can come up with ideas for the following year when my son is big enough to be outside all the time too!
– Stacey
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Stacey J. Girard 