20 Things to Put in Plastic Easter Eggs (Beyond Candy)
Plastic Easter egg hunts are a favorite part of many Easter celebrations, but filling dozens of eggs can be tricky.
While candy is common, many parents and grandparents prefer mixing in small toys and surprises so the eggs feel fun without being filled entirely with sweets.
These simple ideas fit easily inside standard plastic eggs and work well for egg hunts at home, school, or community events.
A Quick Safety Note
When filling plastic Easter eggs, remember that small items can be a choking hazard for young children.
A common guideline is that anything small enough to fit inside a toilet paper roll can pose a choking risk for children under age three.
If younger children are joining the egg hunt, consider using larger eggs or age-appropriate items instead of small toys.
20 Things to Put in Plastic Easter Eggs (Beyond Candy)
• stickers
• temporary tattoos
• small erasers
• mini crayons
• hair ties
• bouncy balls
• tiny toy animals
• LEGO mini pieces
• small puzzle pieces
• coins
• mini cars
• glow sticks
• friendship bracelets
• rubber bracelets
• mini slime containers
• small whistles
• joke slips
• coupons (stay up later, pick the movie, choose the family movie night, etc.)
• parachute toy men
• glow-in-the-dark wall stickers
These small surprises help keep the hunt exciting while giving kids something fun to keep afterward.
Treat Eggs
In Gigi’s egg hunts, there are always a few special eggs filled with wrapped chocolates or jelly beans, mixed in with the toy-filled eggs.
This keeps the hunt fun while avoiding filling every egg with candy.
Where to Find Small Egg Fillers
Many of these small items are easy to find at:
• dollar stores
• party supply stores
• craft stores
• seasonal aisles at grocery or big-box stores
These places often carry small novelty toys and sticker packs that fit perfectly inside plastic eggs.
Buying a small variety pack can make it easy to fill many eggs quickly without repeating the same item.
Gigi Says
When filling eggs for little ones, it can help to keep things simple.
At our house, the older kids have mismatched two-tone eggs with small surprises inside, while the younger ones get solid color eggs with no choking hazards.
It keeps the egg hunt fun for everyone and makes it easy to tell which eggs belong to which age. The two-tone eggs also help keep the distribution of egg finding balanced, so the older children do not accidentally gather all the eggs meant for the younger ones.
Sometimes the smallest adjustments make traditions work for every age.
Looking for Easter Basket Ideas Too?
If you’re also putting together Easter baskets, you might enjoy this guide:
