I’ve been asking myself this question a lot lately.
Do they? Seriously? Do toddlers need Easter baskets full of junk food and toys?
I’m not talking about a simple basket to pick up eggs at an Easter egg hunt. I’m talking about the over the top crazy baskets we’ve all seen on our Pinterest feeds.
I’m all for feeding my toddler junk food from time to time. If I’m eating a donut, cake or fries, he will be eating them too. We’ve had many days where he eat fries for lunch. I’m not a zero tolerance junk food mom. However, I don’t see the point in giving my 2 year old an entire basket of sweets just for him.
I realize that sweets aren’t the only option when it comes to Easter baskets. We could just as easily have the Easter bunny bring Robert a basket of Dollar Tree gifts. I’m totally cool with that, but I’m still not okay with the overloaded Easter baskets I’ve seen on Pinterest. As much as I love DT, I don’t think I can handle having a huge bin of cheap toys in my house. A few, sure, but not a huge Easter basket full.
When I really think about it I’m reminded that Robert has no idea that Easter is coming up, and even if he did he has no idea what he “should” expect to get for Easter. I realize that this is the time that I need to start setting precedence on what he should expect for future Easters.
With these thoughts in mind I’ve decided to get Robert a sand bucket as an Easter basket and fill it will 1 Dollar Tree coloring book, 1 set of crayons that I previously bought on sale, 1 M&M Easter egg and a new Tervis Tumbler cup. I’ve also bought him a new set of sand toys that he’ll be able to get on Easter. The cup and sand toys are splurges, but they are also things that he needs (relatively speaking) and it made more sense to hold onto them for Easter instead of giving them to him on any random day.
I’m hoping that this will help Robert realize that he can ask for things that he wants, but he won’t get them on a daily basis. He will have to wait for holidays and special occasions. Sure, it would have been cheaper, and more Pinterest worthy, to make a big showy basket out of cheap candy, but that would have been a waste of money in my book.
**Update** I also need to figure out a good way to discuss the true meaning of Easter with Robert. He’s so young right now that I don’t know how to teach him about Easter. Same thing with Christmas. We go to church, but Robert spends the entire time in the nursery. Any tips for teaching toddlers about Easter and Christmas? Is two too young? Give me all the advice you’ve got!
What will you do for Easter baskets? Am I a party pooper for writing this post?
No, I’m not a mom. But I don’t think it is ever too young to teach about the love and grace of God. And especially Jesus’ sacrifice to save us, the meaning of Easter. At the church we visited a few times here has the kids in church, but they have a 5 minute “children’s sermon” that easily breaks down the message in kid size bites. I love that they are included and the stories are always really meaningful even as an adult.
No you are not a party pooper at all! I totally agree that kids do not need baskets full of candy. Last year we made baskets for all of our nieces and nephews and they were cute, but not overly full. We bought candy, and a few plush toys, and the grass was edible, but it wasn’t overflowing. This year I want to do even less. I love the idea of a sand bucket to hold everything. My kid gets spoiled by his family members, which is nice to a certain extent, but he doesn’t need so much that he can’t handle it in one sitting. I am totally with you on this one, and I think your basket looks great!
Thanks! It’s refreshing to hear that other moms feel the same way. I’m certain my family will spoil Robert too. That’s how Christmas went also. After it was all said and done, we could have done nothing for him and he still would have racked up on gifts and candy!