A Pediatric PT's Guide to Purposeful Play Filled Easter Baskets
As an aspiring minimalist Mama who knows more toys don't always equal more play, I'm very careful about the items I select for our children (read: the items I will have to pick up 1000x/day). This list is curated with toys your little loves will play with throughout multiple stages of development or tools to encourage more outdoor exploration and learning!
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Pink Bubble Camera --add bubbles to literally anything and day=made. Or you could grab this bubble machine for SO much outdoor fun. (Bonus: I just heard bubbles keep mosquitos away whaaaaat?!) Who cares that it doesn't fit in the basket--I'm envisioning a bubble-filled Easter Egg hunt :) You're also going to want to go ahead and get some of these spill-proof bubbles. You won't regret not having bubbles poured all over your hand or all over the ground every day.
Fine Motor Fun Tools -- so much fun for sensory bins & water play! I also love this kit we got last year that we use every day in our mud kitchen + plan to clean up to take to the beach!
Bath Bombs + Bubble Bath Set (this link gets you 15% off your first order): If you've followed me for any amount of time, you know my love for Tubby Todd and all it's sensitive skin-loving goodness. These bath bombs never irritate their sweet little bottoms and they LOVE adding them for an exciting pzazz to their bathtime!
EZ Spray Bottles --(ahem--I got these last year and have since realized they are great for siblings shooting a heavy stream of water into each other's face, so if you're wanting a less agressive option :), try these) trust me when I tell you: get the spray bottles. There are countless ways to bring a smile to your child's face with these. Plus, they're great for hand strength!
Warmies Bunny -I limit the stuffies coming in my home but this one is actually functional! It can be warmed for a comforting snuggle buddy and has a light lavender scent for ultimate relaxation. If you're facing bedtime battles or expecting them in the near future, we love this!
Little Gardening Kit -- perfect for experiential learning and independence. I also just grabbed some of the seed ball kits from Ten Little to make gardening even easier and more fun for the kids :)
Squishy Egg Kit -- all the fun without panicking that your child is going to crack the eggs :)
Summer Sandals: I've tried many options but these are the best I've found.
SPF Sun Hat -- being outdoors is like a built-in purposeful play paradise. These adorable hats protect your little one's most precious features. I also recently discovered these awesome and lightweight SPF shirts that I'm hoping to snag for the kids to wear to forest school!
Flower Sunnies -- their future's so bright, they gotta have some fun sunnies! If you're looking for a super toddler-proof pair, you could also try these
Otteroo -- an amazing way to give your babe freedom of movement in the water! Read their blog about how they ensure safety for the head and neck
Carrot Puzzle -- I just love these little carrots and so do my kids! It's quite the brain buster for learning shape and size and they can also be repurposed for all kinds of pretend play :)
Egg Puzzle -- work on shape, colors, pulling apart/putting together, putting in/out, counting, etc etc etc the list goes on and on
Glitter Chalk -- one of the less hyperventilation-inducing ways to incorporate glitter into your life :) Chalk encourages deep squatting play which is phenomenal for motor development.
Easter Books -- talk about a gift that keeps on giving. You will never regret buying your child a book. Never. Be sure to check out these discounted bundles from my bookshop.
Egg Chalk -- another timeless classic for an Easter basket. The round shape of the chalk is much easier for little fingers to manipulate and supports an early grasp pattern.
Stacking/Pouring Cups: These are great for bath/outdoor water play, as well as scooping or stacking! So much fine motor work being done here :)
Window Crayons-- writing on a vertical surface is a big fine motor challenge for your little one! These washable window crayons are so fun for purposeful play (and maybe allowing you to finish your coffee while it's hot)!
Silicone Snack Cup -- After losing almost every single lid to our snack cups, I decided to get one with a built in lid :) Unlike other similar anti-spill cups, this one actually seems to hold the contents in pretty well :) And the carrying handle is a game-changer. Throw in our fully vetted toddler cups with a handle (see my Toddler Cups highlight for more info on my market research), and you're golden for a day outdoors!
Carrot Fidget -- fidget toys are some of the best ways to keep babe engaged in the car, doctor's office, or while waiting on dinner--and they're perfect for fine motor skill development too
Butterfly Kit -- the awe and wonder in those little eyes when their butterfly emerges is indescribable. This kit is a fabulous learning opportunity for any age. You might also love this bug catching kit! Perfect for little outdoor explorers.
Rain Boots -- let the puddle splashing commence!
Magnetic Bug Catching Puzzle -- this puzzle requires an immense amount of hand-eye coordination and skill to master but even babies can benefit from manipulating the wooden pieces and learning about the tiny creatures they can expect to see outdoors!
And for the grand finale--our kids got something last year that they'll discover when they're hunting Easter eggs: this AWESOME swing that's on sale right now! I can't wait to see all the fun they'll have (and all the heart attacks they'll give me) on this thing over the years!
This year my 3 and 5 year old are getting (among some candy obvi + also a disclaimer that some of these are gifts from the grands):
This Tiny Gardening and Tiny Baking set from my bookshop + some cute new gardening gloves
Adventure Sleeves + Headphones for their Yoto Minis (this is another amazing toddler gift—audiobooks + podcasts, a sound machine, and beyond right at their little chunky fingertips)
A new set of water/summer shoes. These are Redding’s and these are Ada’s. You can find my full guide to Spring + Summer shoes here.
Rash guard suits from Old Navy
These fun hooded towels
I'd love to know--what would be your babe's favorite from the list?!
