Here I go again. Talking about Easter Baskets. Can you tell I'm excited about making mine this year?! If you haven't read why you should try a DIY Easter Basket this year, you should check out my post on that {here}.
If you decide to tip toe into the world of DIY Gifts, it's so much fun!
But sometimes, a lot of the time, I get stuck on what to give. It, most of the time, leads me down a path of forgetting to continue my search, the holiday catches up to me, and I frantically start scrambling to find something, anything, to fill in the "no gift" gap for my kids. It usually ends up being a cheap toy that breaks the next day.
Or even that day.
Luckily, Easter Basket's are one of the
easiest, perfect, gifts I can give my kids!
I can build it to fit them! Customize it with their favorite colors, movies, books, etc. I'm not trying to fit my kids into something that's pre-made,
I am making something to fit THEM!
Honestly, this could fit into any gift giving category. If I had the determination (which I hope to have one day), I would love to make ALL gifts I ever give! I feel like handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts speak so much love for someone. The time, effort, and thoughtfulness that goes into a DIY gift is invaluable.
With that being said, there are many ways a DIY gift can go horribly wrong. For example, making an earring holder for someone who doesn't wear earrings just screams "I don't know anything about you and I don't really care to learn about you either" to the recipient of your gift. Regardless of how many hours you spent making it absolutely perfect.
So, in an effort to help you NOT make that same mistake with your kids...
Here are a few things to keep out of their Easter Basket this year.
- Calculators. This is an umbrella example of anything school related. It's spring break, parents. Let them forget about school for a week. Even if their calculator is broken, don't gift this item. Buy it because you're the parent and it's your responsibility to make sure your kids have everything they need to succeed. Exception: If you happen to have the fun, nerdy kid - this may be acceptable. But ONLY if it's an "upgraded" calculator from the one he already has (do those even exist?).
- Bed sheets. Just don't do this. No kid wants clothes for Christmas, and no kid wants bed sheets for Easter. Be creative, I know you can do it!
- Special Easter candy. Yes. You heard me correctly. Don't buy Easter candy. Kids do NOT care if it's shaped like a bunny, they just care that it's chocolate. Also, we've thrown away too many chocolate bunnies because they sit in the refrigerator with half an ear because the kids forgot about them. Just buy a hershey bar and be done with it. Also, regular colored M&M's are just fine. No one needs a pink pastel M&M that tastes just like the brown ones. Oh, and regular candy is cheaper. You're welcome.
- Only necessities. Necessities are definitely a must have for an Easter Basket (within reason), but throw in a couple of wanted items too. The new video game they've been begging for, a new pair of headphones, new colored pencils. I mean wouldn't you want a gift to be something you actually wanted?
- A million things from the dollar store. I did this one year. I thought Hey, what kid wouldn't want to open fifty things? That's something to get excited about! And she was definitely ecstatic when she saw how many things she had gotten (It's kind of like when you give a kid the choice of five one-dollar bills verses one five-dollar bill. They almost always take the five one-dollar bills. It's perception)! But honestly, picking up fifty small figurines and glitter wands and fake sunglasses got old REALLY quick. Take the $50 and spend it on ONE really cool, awesome thing she wants instead. It's less for you to have to deal with AND it will make her really, really happy!
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If your kids are anything like mine, they'll just get excited that they woke up to something special AND that they get to hide eggs all day.
I've never considered Easter a huge gift-giving holiday, but I do like to make sure my kids feel special. And what a better way to do that than to make them an Easter Basket!
Shela Yount is a stay-at-home-mom who loves inspiring other moms and wives with her words. She owns I Answer to Mom, a blog for moms and wives; and has an exclusive resource library available just for you! Visit her blog to check it out!