Easter, buy eggs or not.

[breeze]

I do not know about anyone else, but at Easter DS gets at least 15 easter eggs from family and friends. I have friends who I buy for their kids, but thought that this year I wouldn't buy egg and maybe get them a little something else.
Just wondered if anyone had any idea's on what else to get them, maybe a book or something, or do you think kids really love the eggs and will be disappointed, personally I would love ds to get something else other than eggs especially because I am on a diet .

I know from experience that ds will get a load of easter eggs (he got 5 for his first easter, he was 6 months old for goodness sake!). My aunt used to get us easter themed presents i.e. cuddly bunnies, jigsaw's with an easter picture etc which I loved. I'd prefer if we got him his only egg, well maybe the grandparents can get him a small one too, but that he got alternative presents for others if they want to buy him something.
I think a little present with a bit of imagination would go down well, unless of course they are in competition with their friends to see who get's the most eggs...

Being in the US, I keep happening upon more customs I'm not familiar with on this board. When you say easter egg, what exactly do you mean? Here, an easter egg is a hard-boiled hen's egg that's been colored. Children also get easter baskets, just small (or in some case huge) baskets filled with toys but mostly with candy. Things like chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, marshmallow bunnies called "peeps". The tale is that the Easter Bunny has left the basket of gifts. It's quite commercial at this point, so many people don't even know what Easter really means.

You can also get hollow plastic eggs to be filled with small candies or money. Is that what you are referring to? Or maybe something like Cadbury Creme Eggs?

I'm so interested!

Talking about a big chocolate egg with sweeties inside.

Thank you

Breeze - I agree that a small gift is preferable to a lot of easter eggs - but 15 does sound an awful lot of presents or eggs. You must be very generous!! We live miles away from family so obviously can't send eggs but I did think this year I would buy the packs of Divine (fair-traded) mini eggs from Oxfam as they could be posted quite easily (£2.95 a pack) thereby making me feel I am buying something 'worthy' as well as yummy! also available at some supermarkets but obviously more money goes to the charity if you buy them through Oxfam.

No not 15 to buy, ds gets about 15 from aunts and uncles, nans and grandads, I buy for about 5.

I see the temptation of having to help your DS eat all those eggs!! Shall we all come & help you!

When I was growing up my Mum used to do a lovely breakfast on Easter Sunday ... she would do hot crossed buns and do a big English breakfast (the only time in the year that she would 'cook' breakfast). She used to set the table and decorate it ... ... we would all have one nice Egg at our place and we would all have a new sweater given to us as a present ...
I have always thought it a nice way to spend easter ... my family has never been particularly religious so we didn't go to church or anything but we all knew what Easter was about and my parents saw it as a family day for us to spend together.

I don't buy for other peoples children at Easter.
My own children get a small present, and I lay a trail of a few Cadbury Cream eggs in the garden, with flour Bunny foot prints.
My parents are also very good and buy a small present instead of an egg.

Breeze, perhaps you could suggest to relatives that they buy ds an Easter-themed present - cuddly bunny, duck for the bath, jigsaw like eefs suggests - or there are lots of nice storybooks in the shops which either retell the story of Easter or cover something Spring-like such as ducks hatching, flowers and trees blooming, etc.
I think Usborne and Dorling Kindersley both do Easter activity books which have stickers, colouring, ideas for simple craft things, etc
All children (and mothers) love chocolate, but it is soon gone. I am sure your friends' children will get more long-term fun from your thoughtful alternative take on Easter.