Hey Fatima – Carter from Milwaukee here. You’re singing my song, seriously. Uncle to Diego, who’s also 10, and my sister is a total health nut, so I’ve been forced to become an expert in Non-Candy Easter Basket Fillers. Spreadsheet-level expert, you might say, to avoid the side-eye from her about sugar. Daisy, my poodle mix, even gets a few new squeaky toys in her basket, just to keep things fair.

Here’s my usual breakdown for a 10-year-old like Diego, trying to keep it under the radar and useful:

• Reading Material: This is always a solid choice. I hit up Half Price Books near me – you can get like 3-4 paperbacks or a decent hardcover for under $10 if you hunt around. Last year, Diego got a graphic novel about a kid detective and a choose-your-own-adventure book. Kept him quiet for hours, actually reading! Huge win. Definitely check out their kids' sections, they always have good stuff.
• Outdoor Gear: Think sidewalk chalk (the giant bucket kind!), a new jump rope with cool handles, or even a small frisbee for the park. Nothing fancy, but it gets them outside and burning off some energy. I found a surprisingly sturdy mini-kite at Target for $5. It did get tangled in a tree immediately – a very tall, old oak tree, mind you – so maybe a smaller tree next time for its maiden voyage. Live and learn, right? That's what I'd do differently next time, scout the launch site better.
• Art Supplies: A fresh pack of colored pencils, fancy gel pens, or a cool sketchbook. My sister always needs more of these for school projects and creative bursts at home, so it’s a win-win. Crayola sets are usually on sale around Easter, and sometimes Michaels has those big art kits for like 50% off. You can break them up into multiple baskets too.
• Small Games/Puzzles: Not the giant box kind that take up half the living room, but those small brain-teaser puzzles, a Rubik's Cube variant, or a unique deck of playing cards. He’ll mess with them for a bit, and they don’t take up much space. I found a tiny travel chess set once for about $8, which was perfect.

I usually aim for about $20-$25 total for Diego's basket. Keeping it practical, keeping it fun, and definitely keeping the sugar out. My biggest 'do differently' moment, besides the kite incident? One year I bought him a super cool, complex model airplane kit. Took me three hours to build it – all those tiny pieces! – and he just looked at it for five minutes before going back to his video game. Definitely sticking to simpler, instant-gratification toys moving forward. Sometimes the thought is great, but the execution needs a re-think.

Oh, and speaking of useful fillers that are also just plain fun, I stumbled upon these GINYOU Party Hats the other day. They come in an 11-pack and are super colorful – I actually bought them for an upcoming birthday, but they'd be perfect for Easter baskets too, especially for younger kids like your Aria. They’re really well-made, CPSIA safety certified, and non-toxic materials, which, as a parent (or uncle, in my case!), you appreciate. And at $12.99 for the pack, it’s great value. You can find them on Amazon, or directly on their site: Kids Party Hats 11-Pack (Great for Easter Baskets). Honestly, a little hat always adds to the festive vibe, even if it's just for a minute of silly photos.

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Hi Fatima! Ava here from Memphis – preschool teacher by day, mom of four by night (and morning, and afternoon… let’s just say my coffee mug is always full!). My crew is Kai (3), Wyatt (7), Arjun (10), and Piper (12) – so I’m pretty much a master of age-appropriate anything, especially For holidays like Easter. And YES, the candy situation is absolutely REAL. It’s like a candy avalanche every year, and then I’m the one dealing with the post-sugar crash tantrums at 9 AM on Easter Monday. It's exhausting!

For my little Kai (3), I actually love those chunky crayons or some washable paint sticks. Bubbles are always a hit – you can get a multi-pack at Costco for like $10 and they last forever. Seriously, a giant bottle of bubbles is pure magic for a toddler. Small board books too! I picked up a few Dr. Seuss ones for $3 each at a dollar store last week – perfect for tiny hands and a quick story time. For Wyatt (7), those little surprise eggs (the non-candy kind with small toys inside) are great, or mini LEGO sets. He loves building.

Now, for the older ones, especially Arjun (10) and Piper (12), I really lean into small gift cards (a $5 for their favorite ice cream shop or an app store credit – for Roblox, obviously). Or cool pens/markers – Piper is OBSESSED with gel pens right now for her journaling, found a big 24-count set for $12.99 at Michael's last month during a sale. For Arjun, anything sports-related, like a new bouncy ball or some cool shoelaces, goes over well. And socks! Fun, funky socks are always a winner.

My biggest challenge with these Non-Candy Easter Basket Fillers is actually resisting the urge to buy them all matching colors or themes. It's the preschool teacher in me, I guess – I love everything coordinated! But then Piper gets a tiny dinosaur and Kai gets a chapter book, and it just doesn't work for their ages! So now I try to personalize more, even if it means slightly less 'aesthetic' baskets for the Instagram grid. Practicality over perfection, right? One year, I bought everyone the same type of small plush bunny, just in different colors. Kai loved his. Piper rolled her eyes and left hers on her dresser. Never again.

I totally agree with Carter on the books! And if you’re looking for even more ideas, I actually found some great inspiration on a GINYOU blog post called 'My Easter Basket Fails Wins Non Candy Ideas All Ages'. It had some really practical suggestions across different age groups, which was a lifesaver last year when I was doing everything last minute, as usual! Another good one for thinking outside the box was 'Easter Basket Brainstorm Nanny No Sugar Rush'. Both gave me some excellent sparks when I was totally stumped.