About Easter Gifts for Children

For the religious, Easter is seen as a traditional Christian celebration filled with long church services and prayer. For others, it has become a celebration of spring, beautiful weather and fertility. For children, Easter is most likely a celebration of furry bunny rabbits, Easter egg hunts, and delicious candies and chocolate. To keep your children wide-eyed on Easter Sunday, consider surprising them with a sweet and thoughtful gift to help them ring in the holiday festivities.

History

The history of the Easter gift in the form of baskets is a practice that goes back further than the 18th century, when it was brought to the United States. The goddess of fertility "Eostre" was often shown carrying a basket full of eggs to distribute. German settlers later introduced the concept of the "Easter Bunny," who also symbolizes fertility. Adults now hide eggs in the grass that they claim were left by the Easter Bunny.

Features

These gifts are usually assembled in baskets. The baskets range in size and materials. Some choose to use wicker or rattan baskets for a more natural look, others opt for ones made of synthetic plastic materials in bright or pastel colors. Easter gifts and candy go hand in hand. In Easter baskets, one can usually expect to find plastic eggs, real hand-dyed or colored eggs, plenty of candy and small gifts.

Considerations

There is no need to spend large amounts of money on Easter gifts the way you would on a birthday or for Christmas. Children will appreciate how little or much you are able to give, as long as you present it as a surprise. Consider the interests of the receiver when assembling your Easter gifts. If your child really enjoys playing with model trains, consider buying her a small piece to add to her train set. If your child enjoys drawing or coloring, consider loading up the basket with inexpensive colored pencils, crayons or paper. The type of gifts contained in an Easter basket are usually comparable with ones stuffed in a Christmas stocking--inexpensive and fun bonus gifts.

Warning

Every year there is the tendency for adults to purchase live rabbits or chicks for their child in celebration of Easter. While it is a sweet gesture, the sad truth is that these live animals are not well-suited for most families. Often the baby chicks die within weeks of being received. Immediately following Easter Sunday, animal shelters have the tendency to be overrun with abandoned rabbits whose families decided to let them go. Rabbits startle easily, so they are usually uncomfortable with excessive handling by children. It is important to really consider the needs of the animal before purchasing a live rabbit or chick on a whim.

Significance

The significance behind offering gifts to children has been debated for some time. Many see the Western idea of distributing gifts commercializes and "secularizes" the religious origins of the holiday. Others are interested in distributing gifts in order to keep the celebration of the day alive.