If you’re like me, you always wait til the last minute. Do you relate to the white rabbit…perpetually behind? Yea me too. Anyway, I like to give my kids a little spring basket with meaningful and educational gifts that make them smile and get excited about the warmer weather. We usually do the egg dying thing, have a yummy brunch, and then play with our new “Easter basket” toys. As per our brand, I try to find things that lend to more mindfulness and kindness. Here are my last-minute easter basket ideas for mindful and educational gifts!

My top Easter Basket picks!

Let’s start with the basket itself! I try really hard not to purchase things that can only be used once and have no other purpose. With that said, I am not a fan of the traditional brightly painted wicker baskets that really don’t hold anything well. Why not put your gifts and yummies in a bin that can be repurposed and reused for things you actually are already have? This canvas tote has handles, adorable prints, and are super sturdy. I love them.

I am obsessed with these stacking rocks. There are so many things you can do with them, from stacking them like Jenga and playing the game, to learning about the rock cycle, to using them more mindfully as a brain break. The thing I like most about these is they are sturdy and my kids ranging from 4-15 love them equally. Seriously, they are the bees knees for home and school (if you are a teacher).

Here is my pick for you and your kiddos, whether you homeschool or not! I love Julia Rothman’s “Nature Anatomy” as both a spine text and extracurricular resource. Not only are the illustrations gorgeous, but the content is fascinating and presented so concisely. You can read aloud as is or build lessons from each section. I have created so many lessons from this book (some are available to download too right here on the blog!)

On that topic, my family and my students really enjoy nature walks. After reading the aforementioned book, #growoutside and get out in nature while the spring is blooming, and observe all the life surrounding you. This is a great activity in mindfulness too. Slow down, take your time to see, hear, and smell the natural phenomena around you. My kids love these binoculars (which are real) to see the ibis, the sea turtles, and the ocean waves. It makes them feel like real scientists according to my eight year old! We have some in every color. And I really appreciate how they are softly contoured around the eyes and nose especially for my kiddo with additional sensory needs.

I love getting some traditional Easter candy like the chocolate bunny, robin’s eggs, and the Cadbury egg but we do try to limit the candy (mainly because my kids have difficulty self-regulating) so I also like to throw in sweet yummies from nature. Freeze-dried fruit is so delicious and we love Mickey and friends for special occasions like the Easter basket! Bonus: these are EBT eligible!

Lastly, I have to throw in my adorable hand-drawn yoga illustrations! You can download and print these out for more movement by copying the poses or you can simply frame each as an affirmation to decorate your kiddo’s room. They are open-ended play (which is preferable) and they are simply adorable! I think they round out the perfect Easter basket, don’t you?