Now that I'm a mom, I see how toys can accumulate REAL QUICK. The worst ones are the useless crap that no one wants. You know... the stuff that kids play with for 2.5 seconds and then abandon forever. Easter is definitely a holiday where this plays out, particularly when it comes to filling up Easter eggs. I mean.... they're so small! What can you really put inside that's worthwhile? With the sheer volume of disposable junk we put into the environment, I wanted to highlight some ideas for easter egg fillers that aren’t total crap. Instead of candy and awful little toys, try these ideas for fillers that both you and the kids will LOVE.

Easter Egg Fillers

Rings- You can DIY a bunch of rings really easily using some supplies you have around the house! You can also make rings using gemstones and metal rings. Kids love playing dress up, and they're sure to use these gems to play princess. Or, teach them how to make their own shop and "sell" them to their stuffed toys- or each other!

Stickers- Not sure what it is about kids and stickers but they love 'em. I still have my collection from when I was young! Do a mix of Easter stickers and ordinary pastels to keep the theme, but also make them actually usable outside of Easter. This is also great for encouraging trading amongst the kids!

Activities- It's a fact- people prefer experiences over material possessions! Fill the eggs with clues for your activity plans, and watch the kids guess. You can take them to a movie, go bowling, visit a local museum, etc.

Easter books- While these won't fit in the eggs, you can give books as prizes for Easter egg hunts! Include a print-out in the egg to show the kids what they get. If you have multiple families, this is also a great way to get rid of excess books, or shift around your collection to introduce some new books!

Movies- Encourage them to work together! Add letters for a movie title to each egg (like H-O-P) for a DVD they can all watch together. If you do this more than once, color-code the letters so they know which letters go to which word. And, keep a list for yourself to reference in case you forget what's what!

Chalk- You can DIY some egg shaped chalk that fits perfectly into your eggs, or break up some pieces to fit. Toss a chalkboard into their Easter basket, and they'll be entertained until Christmas! Or, at least until the end of the month.

Snack tickets- Have a basket with their fave fruit snacks, chips, goldfish crackers, etc and let them choose one for each ticket. This is super affordable AND useful! Kids love their snacks and hey- I do too!

Seeds- This is super easy, affordable, and seasonal! Give the kids a packet of seeds that they can plant and watch grow. You can get individual packets, or buy a larger pack and create smaller envelopes for the seeds using card stock.

DIY Kits- Make use of that craft stash! Put in embroidery floss or a bead kit so they can make their own bracelets. If they're too young for that, try pre-made bracelets.

Puzzles- Break up a puzzle into several eggs and have the kids come together to make it. Have a special puzzle piece with a sticker on the back to decide who gets to keep it at the end!

DIY paper clips- This is a great idea for older kids or those who use planners, need a bookmark, etc. Make some cute paper clips using pom poms or felt cutouts. You can also make some cute tassel ones!

Pom poms- these are perfect for young kids and can be used to make crafts or even to d some learning exercises, like matching colors or practicing fine motor skills. And best of all they're super affordable!

Magnets- kids love magnets and it’s a great way to keep them entertained! You can get letter magnets, animals, fruit… pretty much anything!

Coins- This is great for older kids- and a great way to get rid of all your coins! I remember that any money as a kid was AMAZING to receive. Throw in a few rolled up dollar bills, and the kids are sure to love the hunt!

Washi Tape- A fun way for kids to decorate their eggs, tape up their artwork, and more! You can get large packs of these at Michael’s, Amazon, or even at your local dollar store!

Hair bows- Here’s a super useful filler! They’re small and affordable, plus you can totally DIY some if you want too!

Cars- Depending on the age of your kids, you can probably grab some cars they haven’t played with in a while to stuff the eggs! You can also make them a track using tape on the floor or draw it on a poster board. Then they won’t mind getting some of their old toys back!

Legos or Lego people- This is a great way to spread one useful item across many different eggs.

Band Aids- Like stickers, kids love band aids. Add some fun printed ones and they’ll be ecstatic!

Pebbles- My daughter has a thing with pebbles that I don’t quite understand. Grab some from the yard to fill your eggs, or get some fancy ones in pretty colors.

Plastic animals- These are prefect for playing and adding to dollhouses or playsets. I like to paint my animals to be pretty, but you could also add some fun embellishments like a tutu or a sweater.

Fruit snacks- Pop a pack of fruit snacks or puffs into an egg for a fun and nutritious snack!

Crayons- kids love to draw, so pop some crayons into the eggs and let the kids color after they finish their hunt! Stick a coloring book into their Easter basket and you’re good to go.

Finger Puppets- These are so small and you can get them in all sorts of designs. You could even DIY some too!

Game Pieces- Throw a few pieces of their favorite games into the eggs and gather together to play once you’re done!

A prize bucket- Make coupons for your kids to pick their own prizes! You can write something like "prize ticket" for larger items that won’t fit into the eggs like pencils.

Once you've got all your egg fillers, don’t forget to make bunny ear headbands for all the kids! These are easy to whip up and can be customized in any style. And as a bonus, they’re no sew!

I hope these ideas were helpful, but I've gotta know- what do you put into your Easter eggs?!

Featured