Awesome Ideas For Easter Basket Stuffers

Easter baskets are fun to fill – but you may be wondering what you can add besides candy – after all, too much candy is not a good thing! And maybe you are creating baskets for someone that is not exactly a child. First, let’s review some ideas that will work for almost anyone.

Awesome Stuffers That Will Please Almost Anyone

Movies – People of all ages enjoy movies. Whether you rent or purchase a great flick, it is sure to be appreciated.

Puzzles – Whether you go with a board puzzle or a puzzle book, this can be a great option.

Gift Cards – Giving this stuffer makes it possible for the recipient to purchase something they have a true interest in.

Food – Easter basket stuffers don’t have to relate to the holiday. For instance, you could add jerky or a tasty trail mix to a guy’s basket or even a special pastry item. Preparing a basket for a tea lover? Add some great tea bags and a cute tea cup.

A Plant – Some people love plants and for those that do, receiving a plant is always special. It’s also the perfect time of year to add a few packets of seeds as stuffers.

Now let’s talk a bit about things you can add to Easter Baskets for kids. First thing to remember – kids want to have fun. With that in mind, the stuffers you add should offer a fun activity or they should relate to something the child is interested in.

Kids’ Easter Basket Stuffers

Bubbles

Play Dough

Jump Rope

Slinky

Coloring books – crayons and markers

Silly Putty

Toy Cars & Trucks

Animal Figures

Water Guns

Frisbee

Temporary Tattoos

Stickers

Sidewalk Chalk

Legos & Other Building Blocks

Baseball Cards

Bath Time Toys

Hair Accessories

Stuffed Animals

Books

Fashion Jewelry

Sunglasses

Cap or Hat

Socks

Water Bottle or Sippy Cup

More Ideas

Other ideas for Easter Basket Stuffers include more personalized gifts – like special jewelry or colognes. You could also consider pajamas, house slippers and other items of clothing.

The reality is, Easter Basket stuffers are very similar to Christmas Stocking Stuffers. You can spend a lot or spend a little. The main thing is to consider the person receiving the stuffer and give something that will interest him or her.

Debbie Allen is a team member at Package From Santa. She writes about holidays, home decoration, online business strategies and more.

Trampolines

Trampolines – Playing It Safe!

Turning your backyard into a fun place for kids often includes the addition of a swing set, swimming pool, and a trampoline. But just as each of these can be lots of fun, without proper precautions, they can also lead to accidents, injury, and even to death. Let’s talk about some ways to add safety to the use of trampolines.

The Risks

The most obvious risk related to trampoline jumping is falling off. But using a trampoline incorrectly can also lead to such injuries as sprains and fractures, as well as head and neck injuries.

From The American Academy of Pediatrics

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that trampolines are not safe for at home use or in playgrounds. However, using trampolines for supervised training is supported – as long as all safety guidelines are followed.

Giving In Does Not Have To Mean Giving Up On Safety

The truth is, jumping on a trampoline is fun – and kids want to have fun. With that in mind, many parents give in and add trampolines to their backyard. The good news is, there are some ways to lessen the dangers of trampoline jumping – ways to make it safer.

Trampoline Safety Rules

1)      Choose the location – Trampolines should be placed on level ground – for added safety you can put the trampoline in a pit, ensuring that the jumping surface is level with the ground. Trampoline should not be too close to trees or buildings.

2)      Add a trampoline net – This surrounds the trampoline which minimizes the risk of falling from the trampoline to the ground.

3)      Use pads – Shock-absorbing pads can be used to cover the exposed metal parts, such as hooks, springs, and frame.

4)      Regular maintenance – Like most items, a trampoline in good repair is safer than one that’s not. Make it a habit to routinely check for any tears or other problems.

5)      Supervised activity – Only one person should jump at a time – and all activity should be supervised. Risky moves should not be allowed. Never add a ladder to your trampoline – a ladder can encourage younger children to use the equipment without supervision.

Although these measures can help make jumping on trampolines safer, it still does make the activity risk-free. In addition to concerns about risks associated with a trampoline you may want to consider the need for liability coverage, and you could also find that your homeowner’s insurance premium goes up.

Debbie Allen is a regular contributor at Package From Santa blogs. She shares tips and ideas about everything from holiday decorations and cherished traditions like writing letters to Santa to ways to save money, home decorating ideas and issues relating to kids’ health.

Easter's On Its Way!

Hopping Down The Bunny Trail – Easter’s On Its Way!

Easter is one of the magical times of the year. We are celebrating fresh beginnings and much more. While adults may be focused on things like the religious importance of the occasion or they may be concerned about what they will serve or eat during the Easter dinner most kids have other concerns. In a kid’s world Easter is all about Easter bunnies, Easter baskets, and lots of fun.  

Whether your focus is strictly on the religious aspect of the holiday or it’s on food choices, there are plenty of ways to include your kids. The reality is, almost all kids like to ‘create’ things. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and thus, helps to build their confidence in themselves. Increased self-esteem can help kids in lots of ways.

Palm Sunday Craft

With these things in mind it is a good idea to involve kids in learning about the holiday and encouraging them to create various crafts related to the event. For instance, you can teach kids how palm leaves relate to Palm Sunday. This craft is simple enough for small children. All you need is large pieces of green construction paper, crayons and kid-safe scissors. To begin you cut out long oval leaf shapes. Next, you fold the shapes in half – this makes them appear more realistic. Then you or the kids use scissors to cut the edges to create leaf fronds. The final step is using crayons to add special touches or even a special message.

Get Kids Involved In Cooking

The kitchen seems to be a favorite place for old and young alike. And if you happen to be making a special treat you can count on the fact that kids will gravitate to the area. Most will enjoy helping out. Here’s how to turn an ordinary cookie into an extraordinary treat – and it’s a quick and easy recipe. You will need some frosting, about a cup of flaked coconut, food color and jelly beans.

Lay your cookies flat and add frosting to the top side. Drop coconut into a plastic bag. Mix a few drops of food color with a drop or two of water. Add the mix to the bag and shake well – ensure that all coconut is colored as you desire.

Sprinkle coconut on cookies – the goal is to create a nest-like with the coconut. Then add a few jelly bean eggs and your adorable treat is finished!

An Easy Easter Game

Decorate an empty pickle jar with a ribbon and a few Easter-inspired stickers. Fill the jar with jelly beans or other Easter candy. Count as you add the candy and save that information. Give each kid a piece of paper – preferably paper that has been embellished with Easter decorations - and ask them to write down their names and a guess about the number of jelly beans in the jar. The candy-filled jar goes to the person that comes closest to naming the exact amount of candy in the jar.

These are simple ways to add joy to this magnificent holiday. 

Keep reading this Package From Santa blog for other ideas you can use.