CHOCOLATE and Easter will be forever linked in children's minds.

But, while a choccy treat is not a problem for most children, the kind of over-indulgence that many children "enjoy" is not such a good thing for teeth and diets.

One way out of this situation is to give an Easter treat instead.

This could be a day out, maybe to the Water Place, Granada Studios Tour or Camelot.

Or, you may prefer to buy something else for Easter Sunday, especially if you are giving to children who are not allowed chocolate for medical or other reasons.

Youngsters of all ages enjoy Neil Buchanan's award-winning Art Attack series on TV.

Now, stationery firm Staedtler has produced an exciting Art Attack range of pens, pencils, rulers, coloured pencils and erasers, from just 99p.

How about the range's Classroom Kit?

This comprehensive selection of arty items costs £5.99 and allows plenty of creative, non-calorie fun that still makes Easter Day special.

And you can give "green fingers" rather than chocolate fingers this weekend with their very own pair of brightly coloured gardening gloves.

This not only encourages them to spend more time in the garden, but one range - jersey gloves from Town & Country - come in bright blue, pink or purple at just £1.75 a pair.

Tough suede gloves cost £2.50, and you'll find both at local garden centres.

Add a packet of seeds and a cheap trowel and you'll struggle to keep them out of the garden with your unusual gift.

A clever idea voted Educational Toy of the Year is Sea-Monkeys.

Sea-Monkeys hatch from suspended animation in tiny eggs about two seconds when added to purified water. It's great fun to watch these fun little shrimps grow before your eyes in their own little tank - and they do tricks!

There are several Sea-Monkey products to choose from, around the £8.99 to £12.99 range, and all products come with a life insurance policy and detailed instruction book.

They're on sale at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

Easter bunnies with a difference come in the form of Smunchies - soft, cute bunnies that come with a trendy, scrunchy hair band to adorn the hair of any little girl.

They cost around £4.99, available from Index.

For small children, Sainsburys have a lovely babycare range of cuddly, squeaky Kiddiwinks toys, including Tommy Turtle, Katy Crab and Larry Lobster at just £2.99 each.

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