If there’s one thing we’ve learned as military families, it’s that less is actually more and that although we appreciate the love poured into our kiddos with gifts from near and far during holiday seasons, we deeply value gifts that will get lots of good use wherever the military has us stationed. So, we’ve rounded up ideas that our kiddos use and love to inspire your Easter basket gifting this season…take a look!
1-2 Year Old Gift Ideas
Bubble machine – nothing screams Spring to us more than bubbles, they can be a steady form of sensory entertainment for your little one to explore while getting some fresh air!
Rain boots – a must-have to get those wiggles out, don’t let the rain stop you from getting your child outside, just make sure you have the right equipment to keep them warm and healthy. If you’re in a more intense Spring weather environment where rain is quickly mixed in with lots of snow melt we recommend splurging on this option because your kiddos can also wear them for early snows in the Fall.
Rain jacket or “muddy buddy” coveralls for rain/mud – similar to our point above, with the right equipment you don’t have to spend your rainy Spring stuck inside, let those kids get messy and burn off some steam!
New spring outfit (for baby boys & for baby girls) – we love this holiday gifting moment as a chance to start building up a Spring wardrobe that is easy to mix and match, this year we’re loving the quality and versatility of THESE items for little girlies and THESE items for little dudes.
Pat The Bunny – a classic book for your littles! The prompts are so cute and fun, plus it’s seasonally appropriate if you’re like us and rotate books.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Spring – another beautiful book that is seasonally appropriate, it pairs great with those rainy day gifts above to get your child excited about exploring Spring through the lens of nature.
Little Blue Truck’s Springtime: An Easter And Springtime Book For Kids – we both love this book series for all holidays, and this Springtime version is no exception.
Wood Fishing Game – more expensive (great for a Grandparent to send as a gift), but the quality is unmatched. These wood toys and games hold up over time and multiple uses!
Coziest Stuffed Bunny or Stuffed Lamb – these stuffed animals are elite, one of those IYKYK type gifts. They wash up great and the perfectly material for snuggly little ones.
EarlyBird – if you just know your little one doesn’t need any more “things” but you and your family want to still gift something meaningful, we cannnnnnot recommend Early Bird enough! We both use it and send it to our families every holiday/birthday as a gifting option because it comes with a feature that your loved ones (or you!) can share a sweet picture or video talking to your child. Then, when your kiddo is old enough to access the account they’ll have this vault of sweet memories from their family and money to put toward any of their dreams. You can sign up HERE to get $15 toward your child’s account from us! If you have questions about the tax implications and other specifics about how this type of investing account works, we recommend reading through their FAQ. Truly, this is such an easy-to-operate app, we think every military family should have and use it to build long-distance memories for their kids!
Yoto Mini and Yoto Music Cards – last, but DEFINITELY not least, the Yoto Mini Players. Littles hands can operate the buttons and cards easily (those music cards are indestructible, it’s impressive!) and it’s so cute to watch them build an independent connection to music/stories. Bonus: this is a gift they can grow into, you can gift them headphones as they get older and this player makes the perfect companion for car and plane rides! If you’re looking for more card options we also really love these cards and definitely recommend purchasing an Adventure Jacket for the mini to keep it protected if those little hands let it fall.
3-5 Year Old Gift Ideas
Jump rope – a classic, affordable gift that will burn some energy and help build that hand-eye coordination.
Yoto Mini and Yoto Music Cards – did you see our note above? If not, you have to know how much we LOVE the Yoto Mini Players. Littles hands can operate the buttons and cards easily (those music cards are indestructible, it’s impressive!) and it’s so cute to watch them build an independent connection to music/stories. Bonus: you can also gift them headphones and take this player with you on car trips or airplane ride! If you’re looking for more card options we also really love these cards and definitely recommend purchasing an Adventure Jacket for the mini to keep it protected.
Rain boots – a must-have to get those wiggles out, don’t let the rain stop you from getting your child outside, just make sure you have the right equipment to keep them warm and healthy. If you’re in a more intense Spring weather environment where rain is quickly mixed in with lots of snow melt we recommend splurging on this option because your kiddos can also wear them for early snows in the Fall. If you really want to get the full rainy day effect, we love this cutie umbrella to match!
Rain jacket or “muddy buddy” coveralls for rain/mud – similar to our point above, with the right equipment you don’t have to spend your rainy Spring stuck inside, let those kids get messy and burn off some steam!
Bubbles – hours of entertainment that will keep those little hands busy.
Bath bombs – awesome to have on hand for long days when your spouse is gone, we love that this specific one at Target comes with a little surprise in side and is Easter themed!
Chalk – simple, fun and so darn affordable.
New spring outfit (for toddler boys & for toddler girls) – we love this holiday gifting moment as a chance to start building up a Spring wardrobe that is easy to mix and match, this year we’re loving the quality and versatility of THESE items for little girlies and THESE items for little dudes.
Big coloring poster – a different, fun way to color for your little one. These posters come in a variety of sizes and would be fun to lay out on the floor and let them go right at it!
Wooden gymnastic rings – if the rainy day gear isn’t cutting it and you’re stuck inside these are such a (gorgeous) and fun way to get some physical time in without running laps under your feet.
The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story – a classic series with the sweetest storylines!
It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny – seasonally appropriate and cute for kids really craving books with more of a challenge to them.
Be Kind – the perfect sentiment for these growing kids with growing hearts.
EarlyBird – if you just know your little one doesn’t need any more “things” but you and your family want to still gift something meaningful, we cannnnnnot recommend Early Bird enough! We both use it and send it to our families every holiday/birthday as a gifting option because it comes with a feature that your loved ones (or you!) can share a sweet picture or video talking to your child. Then, when your kiddo is old enough to access the account they’ll have this vault of sweet memories from their family and money to put toward any of their dreams. You can sign up HERE to get $15 toward your child’s account from us! If you have questions about the tax implications and other specifics about how this type of investing account works, we recommend reading through their FAQ. Truly, this is such an easy-to-operate app, we think every military family should have and use it to build long-distance memories for their kids!
