With children set to receive, on average, almost six chocolate eggs each, it makes sense to ring the changes and come up with a more imaginative - and healthier - present this Easter

Up and away!
Most children love balloons, and a helium-filled Easter-themed one will go down well. You could attach a small cuddly bunny or chick to the end of the ribbon to complete the gift, or arrange for the balloon to be boxed and delivered to your home. There are a number of online companies and high-street party shops that offer this service. As a starting point, try www.eden4flowers.co.uk. Balloons cost from around £12.99.

Throw a tea party
You can buy Easter-themed party stationery now, so why not hold an Easter tea party for your child and a few friends? Don't forget to include some fairy cakes topped with mini chocolate eggs and perhaps a bunny-shaped jelly! Bunny Surprise plates are £2.49 for 8, and matching napkins £2.49 for 20, plus lots of other Easter partyware at www.nonstopparty.co.uk. Shop around for a jelly mould, or visit www.cookability.biz where you'll find a Kitchen Craft Rabbit Jelly Mould (450ml) for £1.95.

Organise a treasure hunt
Easter egg hunts are great fun, but not every clue has to lead to chocolate! Visit your local novelty shops, cake decorating outlets, greetings card stores and fundraiser suppliers to buy a collection of miniature fluffy chicks, plush bunnies and other treats kids love, like power balls, party blow-outs and glitter gel pens. Hide an assortment of novelty gifts around the house or garden, set a trail of clues and provide an Easter party bag or basket to collect the goodies in.

Alternative gifts on the high street

ELC Paint Your Own Easter Chick, £6
4 years+ (cat. no. 111495) Contains yellow shredded paper, a brush, 4 pots of paint and an instruction sheet. From stores or online at www.elc.co.uk

ELC Easter Baking Kit, £10
3 years+ (cat. no. 111497). Contains a ceramic bowl, wooden spoon, cutter, decorations, cookie mix and icing tube. From stores or online at www.elc.co.uk

FurReal Easter Bunny, £12.99
If you haven't got the time or money to put into caring for a real rabbit, treat your child to the next-best thing - the FurReal Friends bunny. The newborn lop-eared bunnies make lifelike bunny sounds, move their heads and open their eyes when you stroke their heads and come in two varieties: white and fawn. Call 0800 328 7007 for stockist enquiries.

Bunny's Easter Eggs (by Helen Rossendale, Chrysalis Children's Books) £8.24
3-6 years+ In this charming book, your child pulls the tabs to help Bunny find the chocolate eggs he's made for the Easter parade. In selected Tesco stores or order online www.tesco.com/books

Gund Daisie Easter Bunny, £16.95
With her sparkly pink Easter bonnet and ribbon, Daisie would delight most small children. The plush bunny is surface washable and can be found at www.teddybearfriends.co.uk as well as other Gund stockists. Visit www.gund.com to find one near you.

DNC Bang On the Door Rabbits Diagonal Pocket Lunch Bag, £7.47
Your child will be the envy of her schoolfriends when she returns after the holidays with this funky lunch bag. Available from www.amazon.co.uk and other Bank On the Door stockists.

Funkymoose Dancing Eggs Game £10.99
Once you've caught the 'dancing egg' the challenge is to run around with it in your armpit or between your knees without dropping it. For 2-4 players, it's fun for all the family - especially after that grand Easter lunch! From www.funkymoose.co.uk

Sweets with a difference

Organic, Gluten-Free, Fair Trade and other specialist Easter Eggs
There's a large selection of organic Easter eggs and Fair Trade Easter eggs from as little as £2.99 available from www.alotofchocolate.co.uk. Also gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan Easter eggs.

From sugar mice to Willy Wonka
If you're nostalgic and keen to share your childhood experiences with your kids, you can't do better than visiting www.aquarterof.co.uk, where you can order sweets from way back when. Remember flying saucers? Texan bars? Foam bears? Sugar mice? Liquorice pencils? They're all there - and much more! You can also buy Wonka bars - how about Whipple Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight for starters? - complete with five golden tickets to be found. The lucky winners will visit Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory in the USA!

Treats for all the family
For real family luxury, you could treat yourselves to a basket of 50 Belgian chocolate eggs for £24.95 from www.hotelchocolat.co.uk. The same supplier also produces top-quality novelty eggs, including the Footie Egg, £13.95. The thick Swiss milk chocolate shell conceals milk and white chocolate footballs and praline-filled boots.