Nautical Easter Basket and No Candy Gift Ideas for Kids

Add some nautical flair to the Easter basket this year with boating inspired (no-candy) ideas and gifts

The modern Easter basket has evolved to include much more than the average plastic eggs and candy chicks. These days we like to fill baskets with some unique treasures that make the basket more fun… and with a little less sugar!

Personally I like to add a mix of candy and some non-candy items. The more non-candy items, the less actual candy I need to stuff into the basket!

And since Easter is in the spring, its a great time to get kids excited about boating season but adding some boat-inspired items into the Easter basket.

Here are some cute nautical ideas (that are also no-candy) to add into the basket for your little boater kid this Easter.

Nautical Easter Eggs

Have fun decorating eggs with some nautical designs for your little matey.

The trick is creating designs that are super easy for kids – like anchors, seahorses or starfish – that use stickers or tracing so that kids can actually re-create them independently.

Completely Coastal put together a nice round-up of coastal & nautical Easter egg designs that includes a few cute ideas for kids.

Painting sea shells instead of dying eggs is another great idea with a nautical spin on the traditional Easter egg.

Boating Books for Kids

Adding a book to your kid’s Easter basket is a great way to include a non-candy item that is both educational and fun.

There are many boating-themed books for kids that you can choose – from pirate books to ocean and sea adventures – that will make a great addition to your boater kid’s basket.

Of course my favorite pick is my children’s book The Amazing Adventures of Boat Girl – it’s a great way to get kids excited about boating and with a special boating terms glossary and first boat trip log at the end it makes a great keepsake gifts for boys or girls.

Here are some good picks for children’s boat themed books:

Boat, Pirate and Sea Themed Movies

A new movie is always at hit at our house. Why not pop a new movie with a boating theme into the Easter basket this year?

From pirate adventures to exploring ocean and sea life, there are tons of movies and TV shows on DVD to capture the spirit of boating that kids would enjoy as gifts.

Believe it or not, there are actually TONS of cute kid’s movies that are based on the water or on a boat.

Here’s a great round-up of some boat, pirate and sea themed movies to consider this Easter.

Nautical Nails

For girls 3 and up, decorating your nails is always fun to do… and for boater girls you have to go nautical!

There are some really cute and easy nautical wrap (decal) designs you can choose from, as well as some good nautical colors that won’t instantly chip (an even bigger problem for active kids).

Mix and match styles and have fun with it – makes a great little addition to a basket for your boat obsessed girl.

Boat Theme Toys

Small toys with a boating theme make a great addition to an Easter basket. They’ll have fun playing with the toys long after the candy is gone (and the candy is usually gone in a few days!)

Here are some cute boat themed toy options:

Boat Life Gear for the Family