Amid widespread layoffs and overrun hospitals, filling kids Easter baskets may be a small concern, but it was one small problem where I could use my design talents to help. As many families are homebound, parents struggle to get to a store to purchase Easter supplies and online retailers struggle to ship products in time for Easter Morning.

To help alleviate some of the holiday stress, provide an easy DIY Easter basket stuffer, and give kids who are stuck inside a new, fun activity, I designed some free printable lacing cards and play dough mats.

Honestly, I just want to be able to help other families who are struggling through this COVID-19 pandemic, and designing some free printable kids activities is one small thing I can do to help.

Easter Lacing Cards

Lacing marks a wonderful activity for building fine motor skills. These spring-themed lacing cards are easy to make and small enough to fit in Easter baskets. Simply print, laminate (or use durable paper when printing), cut out the cards, and hole punch along the edges. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be fun.

Need an extra Easter egg filler? Put the shoe string string, craft cord, or twine that kids can use to lace through the holes in their Easter eggs for a great, non-candy alternative.

Click here to download a PDF of these free, printable Easter lacing cards.

Easter Play Dough Mats

Play dough is huge for my toddler right now! We use it for a variety of crafts and loose parts play activities, so I’m always looking for ways to make it new and exciting for her. Play dough mats provide some structure as well as a challenge for littles.

To make these mats, print, laminate (or use very durable paper), and cut. Like the lacing cards, these mats are small enough to slide into Easter baskets. Fun additions to these play dough mats include small craft items like gems, foam shapes, and cutting tools. Small gems and foam shapes can be used to decorate their play dough creations and will fit easily inside Easter eggs.

Click here to download a PDF of these free, printable Easter play dough mats.

More Easter Basket Ideas

Because many families are struggling financially and large online retailers may not be able to keep up with shipping demands, I highly recommend buying other Easter gifts on Etsy or through one of your local crafters. After all, your purchase would directly benefit another family amid this global pandemic. Here are some ideas from my Etsy shop as well as two other shops I have come to love!

1. Spring Mini Busy Book by KindredInspiration – One of my favorite items this time of year is the spring-themed busy book I designed for my toddler. It’s small enough for most Easter baskets and easy to make and includes 7 different learning activities. Click here to check out this book as well as some of my printable learning activities. Also, for those who want to know more about how to makes these books, here’s a link that gives you an in-depth look this easy, DIY gift.
2. Bath & Body Products by SugarSugarScrub – I love these handmade scrubs, soaps, lotions, and perfumes! With adorable names like “Unicorn Kisses,” “Mermaid Magic,” and “Easter Bunny,” these sugar scrubs, lotions, and roll-on perfumes make delightful Easter gifts (and not just for the kids)! Browse SugarSugarScrub’s latest fragrances and products here.
3. Personalized Easter Baskets and Shirts by Cookie & Pearl – Quality materials and fantastic design (often with a bit of country flare) merge together to make some truly noteworthy kids shirts, onesies, mugs, and other gift items. Personally, I am a big fan of this shop’s shirt that says “Guess What? Chicken Butt!” as well as the shirt with the Jurassic Park logo stating “Motherhood: A Walk in the Park.” This shop’s items are well-made, and the owner even takes custom orders. Take a look at Cookie & Pearl’s Easter baskets and other gifts here.