Best non-chocolate Easter gift ideas for kids

If the thought of countless chocolate eggs piling up for the foreseeable and your already-excited children bouncing off the walls on a sugar high is enough to fill you with dread, let us introduce you to an alternative, chocolate-free Easter gift list.

From cute-as-a-button soft toys to hatching toy eggs, adorable craft projects and everything in-between, these present ideas are a lovely way to welcome in spring and celebrate Easter….

From books to baby toys, here’s our pick of the best non-chocolate Easter gifts for children…

1. Spot’s First Easter Board Book, £6.40, best for babies

Age: 2 to 5 years

A classic character who has delighted children for generations, who better than Spot the dog to help you celebrate your baby’s first ever Easter? This engaging book by Eric Hill sees Spot on the hunt for eggs – there are lift-up flaps, which are ideal training for fine motor skills and counting is also incorporated.

This great tale is even good for budding bookworms, as one satisfied Amazon reviewer noted: “My six-year-old can read the text easily and loves to read the book to his brother.”

Available from: Waterstones, Blackwell’s and Amazon

2. Tomy Hide’n’Squeak Eggs, £8, best for toddlers

Age: 6 months +

We’re not sure whether it’s the little ‘cheep’ noise they make when pressed, the cute accompanying egg box that also doubles up as a shape-sorting game or the colourful faces that crack open from their shells that make these legendary Tomy eggs just so popular with toddlers, but it’s true – little ones just can’t get enough.

Aimed at children aged 6 months to 3 years, the eggs are rated 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon, with glowing reviews from previous buyers, such as: “Lovely colours, sturdy box and lots of fun to be had with little ones swapping the lids, finding the right shapes and squeaking the eggs. Small but very easy for little hands to hold.”

Available from: Argos, Amazon and Early Learning Centre

3. SmartGames Bunny Boo, £24.99, best for educational value

Age: 3+

Aimed at children aged 2 and above, Bunny Boo is an engaging puzzle that introduces the fascinating concept of three dimensions to kids without them even realising. There are 60 challenge cards included, from easy to hard, and the idea is that children match the visual on the cards using the blocks and adorable smiling rabbit, making this a fun alternative Easter gift.

It’s a compelling game that will hold their attention and it gets points for its educational qualities, teaching children logic and concepts like above and below and inside and outside.

Reviews are overwhelmingly positive for the puzzle, including this one: “This is a wonderful puzzle toy. So nicely made and great quality! My 3-year-old and 8-year-old had a fun time playing with it today… and little did they know they were working on problem solving and visual spatial skills.”

Available from: SmartGames

4. Cuddledry Cuddlebunny Hooded Bath Towel, £29.99, best for the cute factor

Sizes: 1 to 3 years and 1 to 6 years

A silky soft mix of bamboo and cotton, with its gorgeous floppy rabbit ears and fluffy tail, this cuddly hooded towel is a beautiful gift for springtime. The design is 60% more absorbent than a normal bath towel – credentials that scored the brand a win in last year’s MFM Awards.

A popper fastening keeps the towel in place on wriggly babies and restless toddlers, and its fluffy feel make it ideal for snuggling up in after bathtime. Previous buyers are extremely taken with it, commenting: “So soft! The poppers mean the towel actually stays on and it’s such a good size.”

Available from: Cuddledry, Not On The High Street and Amazon

5. Steiff Soft Cuddly Friends Pipsy Chick, £16.90, best cuddly toy

Age: from birth

Founded way back in 1880, Steiff are big players in the soft toy arena and this gorgeous little ball of fluff is practically impossible to resist as an alternative Easter gift.

Pipsy Chick is made from ultra-soft machine washable fur and stands at a dinky 14cm tall. With a tuft of yellow hair on its head, plush feathers and a soft yet scruffy look, Pipsy will capture the hearts of any little one lucky enough to receive it. A beautiful Easter gift that will be treasured for years to come.

Available from: Steiff, World of Bears and Teddybearland

6. Easter Bath Bomb Gift, £17, best for bathtime

Persuading little ones to jump in the bath will be a piece of cake once they set eyes on this charming Easter Bath Bomb Gift.

Each set includes a cute personalised bag and 3 luxury bath bombs that softly fizz and melt in water, releasing cocoa butter and a beautiful scent into your bathroom.

Many of the cute bath bombs also come with a small plastic toy for an added dash of fun. A great gift for an array of ages, from toddlers to teens, the sweet drawstring bag can also be used long after all your Easter eggs have been eaten.

Available from: Not On The High Street

7. Treasure X Alien Ooze Eggs, £4.99, best for slime fans

Age: 5+

Forget chocolate eggs, these slime-filled Alien Ooze Eggs are just as exciting and definitely more fun as an alternative Easter gift! Kids will love squeezing the hard outer shell until the egg explodes and green slime oozes out.

A mini alien is hidden inside and there are 12 to collect – there’s also an alien treasure to search out from the slime.

And if that’s not enough, slime fans can press down on either side of the alien and watch as it slurps up the gooey gunk then spits it out again – a simple action that’s guaranteed to bring major amusement.

Available from: Argos, Smyths Toys and Amazon

8. Paint Your Own Bunny Money Box, £3, best for a crafty activity

Looking for a crafty gift that will keep kids busy during the Easter break? This sweet Paint Your Own Money Box comes with a ceramic bunny, six paints, a paintbrush and even a handy colour mixing chart on the box – not bad for just £3.

Little ones can let their creativity go wild bringing their bunny to life and once they’re finished painting, they’ll have a new one-of-a-kind money box to save their pennies in. Simply add varnish to make it extra long-lasting.

Available from: Hobbycraft

9. Jemima-Puddle Duck Pull Along Wooden Toy, £7.99, best for classic charm

Age: 1+

Beautifully crafted from wood, with little wheels and a string to pull, children will delight in taking this lovely Jemima-Puddle Duck with them on adventures.

A key character from the Peter Rabbit series by Beatrix Potter, not only is this sweet toy endlessly playable for children (and great for encouraging first steps), but it’s timeless too – the powder blue bonnet, frilled shawl and soft pastel details will inject a serious dose of classic charm to any nursery all for under £8, making it a hit with grown-ups, too.

Suitable for children aged 1 and above, it’s the type of Easter gift that children won’t be able to get enough of.

Available from: The Beatrix Potter Shop and JoJo Maman Bébé

10. Playmobil Easter Egg Diner Waitress with Counter, £4.99, best for imaginative play

Age: 4+

It’s official, the best Easter eggs are those that can be played with again and again! Enter this brilliant Playmobil Diner set, contained inside a giant pink egg, which includes a lifelike waitress, a burger, bowl of chips and other fun accessories.

The ultimate final surprise on an Easter hunt, this toy is part of a fab range that includes a police officer, space agent, maiden and a knight.

A great toy to spark imaginative play, the attention to detail in this diner set is guaranteed to delight children just as much (if not more) as a chocolate treat.

Available from: Playmobil and Amazon

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