I have 2 girls ages 6 and 8. I'm curious what others put in their easter basket. Do you have a a tradition? Do you do a theme? Do you do candy? No Candy? I'm looking for ideas

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When my sister and I were that age, we always got cute jewelry, bubbles, pencils/pens, chapstick, etc, and a few pieces of candy. Our mom never bought the already made up baskets. It was always a treat to see what she put in from year to year

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Are these YOUR kids or DCK's?

I spoil the heck out of my own kids; books, small trinkets, DVD's and traditional candy. We also have traditions such as church and other related activities with family during this time of the year.

But I do NOTHING for the DCK's because I don't feel right promoting the commercialism of the holiday when I feel differently about it, not to mention the families I have in care do not all follow the same religious customs, traditions and/or beliefs so it is easier to leave any type of celebrating to the families themselves.

I don't make Easter baskets or give out candy to the DCK's during this time either because I really don't see the point of simply giving DCK's candy every time a holiday comes around.

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For my kids I always did a theme. We live in a beach town so they always got new swim suits and towels as the main thing. Then candy, little toys, chap stick etc. When they got older (teens) I did DVD's, itunes gift cards, subway etc. Now 2 are adults (19 and 20) They get candy, chap stick and money hidden in eggs.

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When I was a kid it was almost all candy (a HUGE treat in our largely candy-free family).

For my DD who doesn't even really like candy very much, I do a small quantity of good quality stuff, and a bunch of "other" things--this year she'll be getting some Hello Kitty jewelry I found at Target, some clothes that are more "special" than we usually buy for her, a Littlest Pet Shop set (Easter themed, from Target) and a LaLaLoopsy set (same as LPS, Eastery and from Target), a stuffed animal (a new Webkinz), and probably a few other things I'm forgetting.

We hide things in eggs, or wrapped and hidden just like eggs. A couple things this year, I think I will hide a picture in a golden egg and she'll get the real thing afterwards.

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This may not help you this year, I'm always on the lookout for clearance and sale bargains and I make a point to hit Target's seasonal area at 50-75% off so when the holidays roll around my 'stuffers' and small presents are done and I just need to add in the big or just released toy. I usually end up paying about a third of retail overall for her gifts/holidays. CVS and Walgreens are great places to get candy deals.

My daughter's basket will have mostly small toys - Barbie/Ken set and Easter Stacy, Easter Slinky, Easter Magna Doodle, Playdoh filled eggs, stickers, Hello Kitty PEZ dispenser, Disney Princess Squinkies bracelet set, etc. I'm also going to hide eggs with a little candy around our living room.

My husband's son is 12 and a lot harder to buy for. He's going to get mostly candy and junk food that we don't normally buy (Coke and Doritos), along with some stuff he can use like 'manly' shampoo and body wash and a set of headphones.

I'm not sure what 6-8 year olds are into but I would suggest 1-2 small toys for whatever their current obsession is (Disney Princess, Barbie, Lalaloopsy, Polly Pocket, Littlest Pet Shop), an art item (new crayons, markers, stickers, craft kit), and something that can be used outside (bubbles, jump rope, kite) and just fill the rest with candy. The candy looks like more if you split it up and put it in those plastic eggs. When I was looking for ideas for hubby's son I kept seeing suggestions like gift cards and expensive electronics like iPhones - that seems a bit overboard for Easter to me.

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I like seeing everyone's traditions! I have good memories of my families traditions and think its cool to be able to pass those memories on to my kids. I do the same thing as my mom did. A basket with a cute stuffed bunny, some candy of different kinds and then hide eggs. Some plastic eggs will have candy or some change (we created that one together, my mom didn't do money). My kids have fun!

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When I was a kid we always got a book, a new piece of clothing (t-shirt or sun hat, maybe a raincoat) and an outdoor toy like a new ball, bubbles or skipping rope. We had a jelly bean hunt and in our baskets were a few chocolates including one medium sized hollow bunny. Nothing extravagant. I keep it simple for the daycare kids, too. My personal opinion is that holidays are way over done these days. I prefer keeping them simpler and more about the experiences and not the loot they get.

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For my own kids I do not buy a basket. I buy something they can use and then just fill it with candy. Over the years, my daughters have had new purses filled with candy, school supply storage filled with candy...etc. They are now aged 15 and 17. Last year I bought makeup travel cases and put candy in them. So they still get Easter stuff, but we don't end up with baskets we don't use.

My husband has put candy in containers I can use around the house or for the day care. I have bought him tool storage items and filled with candy.

We do have a gorgeous big basket in our family room that I also fill with goodies for the whole family to dive into! I use it for all the holidays. I just tie a ribbon on the handle according to the holiday/season.

For my day care kids....we decorate white lunch bags and then the kids do a candy exchange. They bring some from home and we share it all in their bags, so they have a variety to take home.

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When my children had their first birthday I bought them a really nice basket. Every year they would use this same basket.

Our tradition was before they went to bed the night before Easter they would put their empty basket on the front porch for the Easter bunny to fill. Then Easter morning they would go to the front porch to see what the Easter bunny left them.

I would always have one nice gift then small trinkets and some candy to fill the basket then wrap in colored cellophane and a big bow. Always did it in their favorite color so they would know which basket was theirs right away.

I always do something different every year for my dck's. Still trying to decide what to do this year! lol

Got to get busy Easter will be here soon!!!

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