Easter wouldn’t be Easter without chocolate, and while we love watching our children racing around trying to collect as many eggs as they can, the sugar-high? Not so much. If you find your kids are still working their way through the Easter chocolate well into the summer months, perhaps it’s worth considering a non-chocolate gift this year instead.
Whether you choose to throw a couple of non-chocolate presents into the mix, or decide to forgo traditional chocolate eggs all together, there are plenty of season-appropriate gifts to celebrate Easter (which falls on 17 April this year) in style.
Our round-up covers everything from books and games to cuddly toys and fancy dress, which all deliver plenty of fun – and will last longer than even the most mega sugar-high.
How we tested
Rather than general gifts, we looked for seasonal treats that felt more Easter-specific. Plenty of bunnies, eggs, chicks make an appearance, alongside more practical presents to help make the most of the spring holiday.
Our little helpers, aged two-and-a-half and five, stepped away from the chocolate (momentarily) to put these gifts to the test. We looked for quality, “Easter-appeal”, something that really captured our testers’ imaginations, and also whether they could hold the children’s interest through April and beyond. Coming in at a range of budgets and styles, we think there’s something for everyone.
The best non-chocolate Easter gifts for children for 2022 are:
- Best overall – Le Toy Van egg cup toy set: £9.95, Letoyvan.co.uk
- Best Easter book – ‘The Spring Rabbit: An Easter Tale’ by Angela McAllister, published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books: £6.99, Blackwells.co.uk
- Best cuddly toy – Miffy corduroy plush: £19.99, Miffyshop.co.uk
- Best Easter fancy dress – Meri Meri chick costume: £58, Merimeri.co.uk
- Best for Easter adventures – Pachee beltbackpack: £35, Notonthehighstreet.com
- Best board game – Orchard Toys egg surprise: £5.50, Orchardtoys.com
- Best Easter cardigan – Frugi cuddly knitted cardigan: £34, Welovefrugi.com
- Best baby doll dress-up – Baby Annabell deluxe sheep onesie: £14.40, Boots.com
- Best nursery print – The Charming Press Liberty bunny nursery art: £25, Thecharmingpress.com
- Best for outdoor fun – The Den Kit Company cottage garden den kit: £45, Thedenkitco.com
- Best for imaginative play – JoJo Maman Bébe farm animal eggs: £12, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
- Best family game – Hoppy Floppy’s Happy Hunt: £17.50, Learningresources.co.uk
