Easter Basket Ideas for Every Kid (and What They Actually Want)

Easter baskets have a way of going one of two ways: the kind where a child looks up from the basket with genuine delight, and the kind where everything gets poked at politely before being set aside for the chocolate. The difference, almost always, comes down to knowing your audience.

A three-year-old and a twelve-year-old want entirely different things from a basket—and so does everyone in between. We’ve broken down our best ideas by age group, mixing in toys, books, art supplies, outdoor gear, and yes, a few bigger-ticket items for when Easter calls for something a little more memorable. Consider this your starting point.

Little Ones (Age 0-4)

For the youngest members of the family, Easter baskets are less about the holiday and more about the sensory delight of discovery. Soft things, colourful things, things that make gentle sounds or do something surprising when touched, these are the hits. Skip anything with small parts, and lean into the tactile.

A beautifully made plush is almost always the item that outlasts everything else in a little one’s basket. The GUND Easter Moment Philbin Bunny is a standout. It tucks the beloved Philbin bear into a sweet cream-pink bunny suit with a removable hood, making it equally at home in the Easter basket and on the shelf for years to come.

GUND Easter Moment Philbin Bunny, $39 | Shop Now

Toddlers and preschoolers need something they can engage with immediately—no assembly, no instructions, no waiting. Jumbo crayons or washable finger paints paired with a thick pad of paper are endlessly satisfying at this age. Play-Doh Easter Egg sets are another perennial favourite because they are colourful, open-ended, and easy to pack away after.

Play-Doh Easter Bag, $10 | Shop Now

Easter falls right as the weather is starting to turn, which makes it one of the best times of year to introduce outdoor riding toys. A good balance bike for ages two and up (brands like Strider or WOOM offer excellent starter options) is the kind of gift that gets used every single day through spring and summer. First trikes with parent push-handles are equally worthwhile for the youngest walkers who aren’t quite ready to balance independently.

Strider Bike, $180 | Shop Now

Sweet, simple, and perfectly on-theme, a book like Teeny Tiny Bunny is the kind of cozy Easter basket addition that becomes a beloved bedtime read long after the holiday is over. Little ones will love the chunky pages, adorable bunny characters, and the kind of gentle story that’s just right for tiny hands.

Teeny Tiny Bunny, $8 | Shop Now

Big Kids (Age 5-10)

This is the age group where Easter baskets can really shine. Big kids have strong opinions, genuine enthusiasm for specific things, and the attention span to actually use what they’re given. They also love a surprise—the reveal, the unboxing, the discovery—so a mix of something unexpected and something they’ve been wanting tends to work beautifully.

Toys with a surprise element are almost universally beloved at this age. Bloomables by Hatchimals Flower Fest Collectibles Pack delivers it beautifully. Kids pour water into a terrarium and watch flowers bloom to reveal hidden characters inside, combining the best parts of an unboxing with a genuine science moment.

Bloomables by Hatchimals Flower Fest Collectibles Pack, $23 | Shop Now

For something a little wilder, the Primal Hatch Hybrid Hatchers let kids inject colour-changing DNA into an egg and crack it open to find a gooey, slime-filled hybrid dino. Theatrical, tactile, and absolutely the hit of Easter morning.

Primal Hatch Hybrid Hatchers, $15 | Shop Now

If you have a LEGO obsessed kid, their seasonal sets are a fun way to embrace the holiday. The Easter Bunny and Chick Egg Hunt set combines building, storytelling, and a finished display piece that kids can be proud of.

LEGO Easter Bunny and Chick Egg Hunt, $17 | Shop Now

Art supplies are an excellent basket addition for this age, and the key is going a step beyond the basics. A proper watercolour set (the kind with a real brush and a good range of colours) feels like a genuine upgrade from what’s already at home. Scratch art kits, embroidery starter sets, and lino printing packs are all having a moment with school-aged kids right now and tend to spark multi-afternoon projects.

iHeartArt 12 Watercolor Pastels + Brush, $15 | Shop Now

For kids graduating from a balance bike or riding a bike with training wheels, Easter is a wonderful occasion to make the leap to a real two-wheeler. Pair with a helmet they actually like the look of, and this becomes the gift of the whole spring.

Super Cycle, $150 | Shop Now

If you’re looking for a screen-free activity that will keep little ones quietly occupied for stretches at a time, a Where’s Waldo? set is a classic for good reason. The Magnificent Mini Book Box packs five seek-and-find books into one giftable collection and keeps little ones quietly (and happily) occupied for hours.

Where’s Waldo? The Magnificent Mini Book Box, $23 | Shop Now

Tweens (ages 11 and up)

Tweens are notoriously tricky to shop for, and Easter baskets are no exception. The key is resisting the urge to fill the basket with things that feel like “kid stuff”—this age group wants to feel seen, and the best gifts reflect their actual interests rather than a generic idea of what a child might enjoy. Quality over quantity matters more here than at any other age.

A portable Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Go 4 is perfect for the pool, the park, or a friend’s backyard. With trendy colours and and the ability to pair with a friend’s speaker for stereo sound, it’s a practical gift tweens will actually reach for every day.

JBL Go 4 Speaker, $50 | Shop Now

Who doesn’t need a new water bottle? The Owala FreeSip has practically taken over school hallways, and for good reason. With its clever dual-sip spout (swig or straw, your kid’s choice), 24-hour cold retention, and a rainbow of fun colourways to collect, it’s the kind of practical gift your tween will actually be thrilled to unwrap.

Owala Free Sip Water Bottle, $32 | Shop Now

We all want our kids to spend more time outside, and this is your chance to outfit them in gear they’ll want to use. A new scooter like the Madd Gear MG3 Zen Pro Scooter kind of gift that will get them outside and moving all spring and summer long. Pair it with a new helmet that actually fits and that they find cool enough to wear without negotiation.

Madd Gear MG3 Zen Pro Scooter, $170 | Shop Now

A great book is always a welcome addition to an Easter basket, and if your tween hasn’t discovered Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series yet, now is the perfect time to start. The Lightning Thief kicks off an action-packed five-book adventure about a 12-year-old who discovers he’s the son of a Greek god. It’s the kind of series that turns reluctant readers into kids who beg for five more minutes before bed.

Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightening Thief, $12 | Shop Now

Whatever goes in the basket, the best Easter gifts are the ones that feel like they were chosen specifically for that child, not assembled in a hurry or filled to look full. Even a small, perfectly chosen basket lands better than a large one padded out with things that don’t quite fit. Trust your instincts, leave room for a little surprise, and the rest takes care of itself.