10 Great Clutter-Free Gifts For Kids

Easter is coming up and I've been planning these baskets for quite some time... Mostly because I really don't want a bunch of crap around the house and if I don't plan ahead, the quick and easy thing to fill Easter baskets with is crap. So I started thinking about things that would thrill the kids, but would go away after use. Here are ten ideas I'm excited about that would work for Easter baskets, Christmas stockings, classmate gifts, or small occasions as needed:

1. Seasonal Must-Haves: This has already been a tradition in our house, but I always use Easter baskets as a way to give my kids their new Summer gear. Fresh (non-broken, non-scratched) sunglasses, swimsuits that fit, rain boots and/or sandals if they need a new size, etc. While these aren't "disposable" you'll need to buy them anyway... Instead of making them part of a routine Target run, get some "gift" mileage out of them by saving them for the holiday joy.

2. Baking or Cooking Project: I shared this idea on social media when I used it for Valentine's Day and it got a great response. It's so cheap and easy to pull together a box of cake or brownie mix with a jar of icing and some fun sprinkles. You can do any little project from cookies to spaghetti, depending on what your kid loves and what level of competency they are. Take it to the next level with super fancy sprinkles like these or with special pasta shapes or some "out of the ordinary" special ingredient. The "gift" is the fun of making the food and eating the food, and then it's gone and out of the house!

3. Water Beads: Inexpensive on Amazon, these water beads go from tiny plastic-looking bits to fun, slippery, jewel-like marbles after sitting in some water. Kids love to watch them grow over several hours and then they get to play with them. Put them in a giant tupperware tub and throw the kids outside so you won't stress about them going everywhere. Great to play with little cups and spoons and plastic dinosaurs or whatever stuff you already have. Put the lid on the tupperware to keep them around for a week or two. When you're sick of them, you can throw them away in the trash or smoosh them up to add to your indoor plant pots.

4. Seeds/Bulbs To Grow: If you have a corner of your yard available to gift, do it! Let your kids have their own little space to grow a couple vegetables or flowers. If you don't have any room in your yard, or if you don't have a yard at all, give them a pot and a sunny spot. There are lots of compact vegetables or herbs you can grow in a pot, or you can enjoy watching a bulb grow and bloom. Gift them the seed packets and/or bulbs based on their interests and let them joyfully watch something grow while learning about how to care for it. Eventually they can harvest some cherry tomatoes or a bouquet and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

5. Recycle Your Crayons: Make old crayons new again by taking all your broken or partially used ones and melting them down in silicone molds. I knew this was something I wanted to do for the Easter baskets so I've been searching the swap & sell sites for weeks. I finally found some for sale that included a longer shape that would be easy for my kids to hold. But you could use stars or hearts or whatever you manage to find... Of course, you can buy new molds but part of my personal minimalism journey is trying to frequently buy things second hand. I picked up four different shapes for $4 and will either donate or re-sell the shapes I don't want. My advice is to get a neutral shape that you can use again and again every time your crayons need renewal.

6. Band-aids: If you're like the majority of parents who have tumbled down the rabbit hole of "character" or "print" band-aids, then you know how much kids love cool band-aids. Any little injury is an excuse to wear a minion on their knee. But also, it really does turn those screaming frowns upside-down when they have a legit ouch. I've already heard the comments from parents who "never got those band-aids because they didn't want to get stuck in that trap" so GOOD FOR YOU if that's you. The rest of us idiots have a drawer in our house full of glorified stickers with magical healing powers. So, if you're an idiot like me... Band-aids! Band-aids make an excellent small gift for children's Easter baskets or Christmas stockings. Grab some you know they'll love and by the end of the summer they're likely to be all gone.

7. Single-Use Face Masks: This is pretty much for tweens and teens, but a great idea nonetheless. They come in an endless variety of colors and ingredients and brands. They get used once and then they go. Make it go further by doing one WITH your kid, along with painting their nails and styling their hair. You don't have to buy anything new to create a fun memory with them.

8. Digital Movies or Music: If there is a movie, show, or album your kid would like... Print off a picture from the internet and glue it to a piece of cardboard. Then, buy it digitally! It gives them the opportunity to "receive" the present but it doesn't take up any space in your house.

 9. LED Balloons and/or Glow Bracelets/Necklaces: I found some LED balloons at my local dollar store and thought the kids might enjoy them... I WAS SO RIGHT. These were so cool and the kids loved batting them around in a darkened room. The lights lasted for several days and nights so by only doing a couple at a time, the kids had a week's worth of fun (every night when the sun went down). Once the light stopped working or they popped/deflated, they went bye-bye. While my kids are a little young to enjoy glow bracelets/necklaces, I think those would have a similar element of fun for older kids. Let them deck themselves out and go crazy in the backyard for a night of glow fun. Then, toss 'em!

10. Science Experiment: Similar to the baking/cooking project, this is an experiential gift that can be cheap and easy. There are so many experiments available on the internet using simply household ingredients... A classic baking soda volcano is fun, or you can make your own rock candy, turn white flowers into a rainbow of colors with dyed water, blow up balloons with sugar and yeast, clean pennies, or any number of fun DIY science activities. Put a bow around one or more of the "ingredients" and print a picture of what you're going to do. The gift is the fun you'll have together and while you keep the memories, the "things" don't add any clutter.

I'm using several of these ideas for this year's Easter baskets, and I'm saving others for other holidays/occasions. I'm also decorating some cardboard trays from buying soda at Costco to use as our "baskets." Since Easter only comes once a year, I don't see any reason to store an oddly shaped basket in the basement or attic. The kids won't care and they can use one of our often-used empty ice cream buckets or a plastic shopping bag to collect eggs. I'll update this post with pictures once I execute all my plans.