Easter Gifts for Children (Not Chocolate)

By the end of an Easter weekend, the chocolate is usually gone by Sunday lunch. What remains is the wrapping paper, the sugar dip, and a house full of children looking for something to do.

A gift that lasts longer changes that rhythm. A wooden game or a well-made toy can carry a child from the bank holiday into the summer term and beyond. The best of them are built to be handled, dropped, and picked up again — timber from FSC-certified forests, finished to UKCA and CE safety standards so a young child can play without a second thought.

This guide sets out how to choose an Easter present that earns its place. If you would like a shorter starting point, our companion piece on Easter gifts for children that aren't chocolate covers the essentials.

What to Look for in Easter Gifts for Children (Beyond the Sugar Rush)

The first question is simple: will it still be used in June? A chocolate egg gives a bright half-hour and then it is finished. A good gift keeps giving long after the shells are in the bin.

Look for open-ended play — the sort a child returns to for their own reasons rather than because they have been told to. A skittles set, a stacking game, a pack of cards: none of these has a single correct way to be enjoyed, which is exactly why they last.

Material matters more than it seems. Wood has weight and grain, so it feels like an object worth keeping. Ours comes from responsibly managed FSC forests and is tested to UKCA and CE standards, which is the plain baseline for anything a small child will put in their hands.

Consider whether the gift brings people together. Easter is one of the rare weekends when a household is under one roof, and a game that seats three or four turns an idle afternoon into something shared.

Think about the screen, too. A present that draws a child away from a tablet without any fuss is doing quiet, useful work. Our guide to screen-free gifts for children gathers the ones that manage it most easily.

Finally, ask whether it grows with the child. The best children's toys stretch across several years, so the gift you give a five-year-old still holds their attention at eight.

The Best Types of Non-Chocolate Easter Gifts by Age Group

Age changes everything about what a child will pick up. A toddler wants colour, weight, and cause-and-effect; a ten-year-old wants a challenge they can win.

For the youngest, from around one to three, chunky wooden shapes, stacking towers, and simple pull-along toys reward small hands. There is no reading required and no small parts to worry about when the toy is made and tested properly. Much of our wooden toys range sits in this bracket.

From four to six, children begin to grasp turns and rules. Snakes and ladders, simple dominoes, and garden skittles suit this stage, because the rules are light enough to learn in a minute and the play is physical enough to hold interest.

Between seven and ten, the appetite for strategy arrives. This is the age for draughts, backgammon, and a first real chess set, where a child starts to plan two moves ahead rather than one. Our board games collection spans this whole span.

Older children and teenagers often want a game with genuine depth or a garden pursuit they can grow into. Chess and croquet both reward years of practice, so neither is outgrown.

If you are buying for a child who seems to have everything already, our notes on toys that actually get used may help narrow the field. And for a present that quietly teaches something, our round-up of educational gifts is worth a look.

Traditional Wooden Toys and Games: Are They Worth It for Easter?

Wooden toys cost more than plastic, and it is fair to ask why. The answer is in how they age.

Plastic scuffs, cracks, and eventually splits, and once it does there is nothing to be done. Wood takes knocks and keeps its shape; a chipped edge sands smooth, and a scratch simply becomes part of the object's history. A well-made wooden game is often handed down rather than thrown away.

There is a sensory argument, too. Wood has grain, warmth, and heft, so a child registers it as something real. That difference shows in how long a toy holds attention, which is the whole point of an Easter gift meant to outlast the weekend.

Jaques has been making games in timber since 1795, and the standards set then still apply. Our traditional games are built to be used daily, not admired on a shelf.

The heritage is not a marketing flourish. The Staunton chess pieces used in tournaments across the world were first sold by Jaques in 1849, named after the English master Howard Staunton, and they remain the international standard recognised by the World Chess Federation. A design that has held for well over a century is a fair guide to what lasts.

So yes, they are worth it for Easter — provided you want a gift that is still in play when the next Easter comes around. If you want something that is finished by teatime on Sunday, chocolate does that job perfectly well.

Our Picks: The Best Easter Gifts for Children in 2027

A few gifts earn their place year after year, and these are the ones we return to for Easter.

Garden skittles top the list for families. The moment the weather turns, a set of wooden pins draws everyone outdoors, and the rules are loose enough for a four-year-old and a grandparent to play the same round. You will find them within our traditional games.

Croquet is the classic Easter garden pursuit for slightly older children and the whole household. Standard Croquet is played on a lawn of up to 32 yards by 28 yards, with six hoops and one peg, under rules governed by the Croquet Association, founded in 1897. You need nothing like that much space to start, but the game scales up as skill grows.

For a gift with the longest reach of all, a Staunton chess set is hard to better. It teaches patience and planning, it works for a beginner and a club player alike, and it is never really finished with.

Indoors, dominoes, draughts, and a good pack of playing cards fill the wet-afternoon gap that every Easter seems to produce. All sit within our board games range.

For the youngest members of the family, a stacking toy or a pull-along from our wooden toys gives colour and movement without a single sweet wrapper. Browse the full children's toys range to match the age you are buying for.

How to Choose an Easter Gift Your Child Will Actually Use After the Bank Holiday

The test of an Easter gift is not the moment it is unwrapped. It is the second Tuesday afterwards, when the excitement has faded and the child chooses to pick it up anyway.

To get there, match the gift to how your child already plays rather than how you hope they might. A busy, physical child will use skittles or croquet far more than a quiet puzzle; a thoughtful one may take to chess or draughts and barely glance at the garden.

Choose something with no single ending. Toys that can be won and then set aside get less use than those that reset and start again, which is why classic games outlast most novelties.

Give it a home the child can reach. A game stored on a high shelf is a game forgotten; one kept where small hands can find it gets used on ordinary days, not just special ones.

Play it with them at least once. A child who has been shown how a game works, and enjoyed it in company, is far more likely to return to it alone. That first shared round is what turns an object into a habit.

If the aim is a calmer household as much as a busy one, some of these gifts double as a way to slow down. Our piece on mindfulness techniques for children pairs neatly with the quieter games here.

Get those choices right and the gift keeps working long after the bank holiday, which is rather more than a chocolate egg can promise.

Frequently Asked Questions About Easter Gifts Children

What are the best easter gifts for children that aren't chocolate?

The best non-chocolate Easter gifts for children combine lasting play value with quality craftsmanship. Jaques of London offers a strong range of options, including wooden toys, traditional games, and outdoor play equipment. A croquet set introduces children to a lawn game governed by rules dating back to the Croquet Association, founded in 1897. A beginner chess set using the internationally recognised Staunton pieces — first sold by Jaques of London in 1849 — makes a timeless Easter gift. Other excellent choices include skittles, dominoes, card games, and classic wooden puzzles.

What age are wooden toys suitable for?

Wooden toys are suitable from birth onwards, provided they are age-appropriately designed. Smooth, large-piece wooden rattles and stackers suit babies and toddlers from around six months. Wooden puzzles and shape sorters work well from age two. More complex wooden games such as chess, draughts, or croquet sets are appropriate from around five or six years, depending on the child. Wooden toys are durable enough to be passed between siblings and generations, making them practical across a wide age range.

Are wooden toys worth the money compared to plastic?

Wooden toys generally offer better long-term value than plastic alternatives. They are more durable, less likely to break under rough play, and do not degrade in the same way plastic does over time. High-quality wooden toys from established makers such as Jaques of London are crafted to last decades rather than months. They also tend to encourage more open-ended, imaginative play. Whilst the upfront cost may be higher, the lifespan, repairability, and heirloom quality of wooden toys make them a sound investment for most families.

What should I look for in easter gifts for toddlers?

For toddlers, prioritise safety, durability, and developmental value. Look for smooth finishes with no sharp edges, non-toxic paints or stains, and pieces large enough to prevent choking. Gifts that support fine motor skills — such as wooden stacking toys, shape sorters, or simple puzzles — are well suited to children aged one to three. Avoid small components or loose parts. Traditional wooden toys from reputable British makers tend to meet these standards reliably. Simple outdoor toys such as a wooden push-along are also excellent Easter gifts for active toddlers.

What is a good easter gift for a 5 year old?

A five-year-old is ready for games with simple rules and satisfying play. A beginner chess set is a particularly rewarding Easter gift at this age; Jaques of London has been producing Staunton chess pieces — the international standard for the game — since 1849. Other strong choices include draughts, snakes and ladders, skittles, or a junior croquet set for outdoor play. Games that introduce turn-taking, strategy, and counting are especially valuable at five, supporting both social development and early numeracy in an enjoyable way.

How much should you spend on an easter gift for a child?

In the UK, there is no fixed expectation for Easter gift spending. Many families spend between £10 and £30 on a non-chocolate Easter gift for a child. For a quality wooden toy or traditional game from a heritage maker such as Jaques of London, budgeting £20 to £50 is reasonable, particularly for items intended to last many years. Heirloom-quality toys, such as a full chess set or croquet set, may cost more but represent a one-time purchase that can be enjoyed well into adulthood and passed on to younger children.

What are traditional easter gifts for children in the UK?

Traditional Easter gifts for children in the UK have long extended beyond chocolate eggs to include outdoor games and toys that celebrate the arrival of spring. Lawn games such as croquet — with full rules governed by the Croquet Association, founded in 1897 — are a classic seasonal gift. Wooden toys, skipping ropes, marbles, and board games are also firmly rooted in British Easter tradition. Heritage toy makers such as Jaques of London have supplied these kinds of gifts for generations, reinforcing the connection between Easter, outdoor play, and quality traditional pastimes.

Is a board game a good easter gift for kids?

Yes, a board game makes an excellent Easter gift for children. It encourages family play, develops strategic thinking, and provides entertainment beyond the Easter weekend itself. Chess is one of the finest examples — Jaques of London has manufactured Staunton chess pieces, the internationally recognised standard, since 1849, making their sets a meaningful and lasting gift. Other strong options include draughts, Ludo, snakes and ladders, and dominoes. A well-chosen board game suits a wide age range and offers far greater longevity than consumable gifts such as chocolate.

What easter gifts are suitable for children who have everything?

For children who appear to have everything, consider a gift that introduces a new skill or pastime rather than adding to an existing toy collection. A Staunton chess set — produced to the international standard first established by Jaques of London in 1849 — is a sophisticated and enduring choice. A croquet set for the garden offers seasonal outdoor appeal, with the game's full rules set by the Croquet Association since 1897. Personalised wooden toys, classic card games, or a high-quality craft set also offer something genuinely distinct from typical mass-market gifts.

What are the best easter gifts for children under 3?

For children under three, the best Easter gifts are safe, tactile, and developmentally stimulating. Wooden stacking rings, shape sorters, simple jigsaws, and push-along toys all support motor skill development and imaginative play. Look for toys made from solid wood with non-toxic finishes, with no small parts that could present a choking hazard. Traditional British toy makers such as Jaques of London produce items built to last well beyond toddlerhood. A simple wooden egg-and-cup toy or a set of chunky wooden blocks are particularly fitting Easter gifts for this age group.