Alicia64 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I'd love to share ideas. My boys -- at 11 -- don't want cutesy baskets anymore. One year when they were four I bought super cheap, giant baskets at Good Will and spray painted them a chocolate brown. I attached curly ribbon in yellow and blue to the top -- cheap and ADORABLE. Highly recommend. They use those same baskets today today to hold Legos, action heroes etc. Do you have any fun ideas for older kids? We have a giant sandbox behind our house and I'm thinking of a sand pail theme -- they still love to dig. My guys love Batman, Ironman, Legos etc. Edited to add: I'm not asking about items to put into the basket -- I'm trying to find unique basket ideas. Any other ideas are very welcome! Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 We re-use the actual baskets every year. I now tend to put things they need for spring/summer. Depending on what they need in a given year, I've done: sunblock flip flops shorts cute tee swimsuits hair accessories lip balm nail polish DVD bubbles & sidewalk chalk (never gets old) always some chocolate/candy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia64 Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 We re-use the actual baskets every year. I now tend to put things they need for spring/summer. Depending on what they need in a given year, I've done: sunblock flip flops shorts cute tee swimsuits hair accessories lip balm nail polish DVD bubbles & sidewalk chalk (never gets old) always some chocolate/candy Great ideas, but I'm specifically trying to find neat/fun/different ideas for the baskets themselves. I'm hoping for baskets for older kids that can be re purposed after Easter. Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gentlemommy Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Do they like building things? Maybe a small tool box? Fishing tackle box? Heck, mine would love a cardboard box with scraps of building material from the recycle bin and some fun duct tape. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gentlemommy Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 A big pot with gardening tools and packets of seeds? A bird bath/house to decorate and some bird seeds? A new bike helmet turned upside down? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I've used the same large wicker basket for about 17 years. Does that make me a bad mom? lol Books, DVDs, CDs, iTune & other GCs, candy/chocolate, sugarless gum (because you gave them the candy lol), t-shirts, baseball caps, headbands, toothbrushes, bobby pins, hair nets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Waitasec, you get new *baskets* each year? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 We are using mesh nylon drawstring backpacks this year. I got a dozen from Oriental Trading for cheap. We'll use them for our egg hunts then sew them onto the back of their beach towels to make summer pool runs faster. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 We reuse the same basket every year - I treat it like a Christmas stocking. New backpacks - the drawstring kind. A white pillowcase with some fabric markers as one of the gifts so they can decorate the pillowcases and use them plastic bucket to keep outside stuff in - water guns, balls, etc Oversized lego container for a basket we got these neat storage cubes from Walmart that can fold down flat or pop out. DS keeps toys in them. That would be a neat basket A fun fleece throw - put the Easter presents in the middle and use a wide ribbon to tie up like a pouch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Given that it is still snowing here, I figure there will still be snow on the ground on Easter. I'm thinking one of those round disc sleds would work - albeit as a rather large "basket." Other basket thoughts: a large mixing bowl, a gym bag, a big planter with gardening tools... For those who clicked on this thread to get ideas of what to put in Easter baskets for older kids, my DS is getting a chess book and a Shakespeare action figure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewber Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 The last two years I have used a small Nike gym bag- this was a perfect size and shape- and a drawstring bag. That was harder to fill but used more probably. Both are still used as overnight bags and gym bags for basketball season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewber Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 They sell larger Lego themed storage boxes at the container store. They look like a giant Lego.,You can get them there or see them- there's diy instructions on the Internet to make them., 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilly Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 My younger son is getting a metal lunch box (Scooby Doo) as a basket. My older son is getting a Zelda backpack, and my daughter is getting an art bag. In my family we give a new basket every year, but it is always something functional, never just a basket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimerinkydo Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 We too use the same basket every year. It is a very large one that holds my mending the rest of the year. Our Easter hunt is an Easter Hike at a different outdoor location every year. We picnic. Dad takes the kids on a hike while the Easter bunny hides the eggs and one large Easter basket for everyone. I have considered making it an Easter backpack instead of a basket because sometimes lugging it up a canyon trail isn't so easy. It's a family outing that my kids still enjoy at ages 12-18. Last year was memorable. The park we were going to go to closed at 5 pm - before we got there. So we drove up the canyon another direction, parked the car and climbed up a hill. It was steep enough that Dad got to hide the eggs and basket and we sat on the side of the hill perched on rocks eating our picnic dinner. The big basket has good lindt chocolate easter bunnies, peeps. I'm have to think harder this year what else to put in the basket. This week the 18yo requested a new water bottle for the easter basket. One year I put in a hummingbird feeder and food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry in OH Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Toolbox or tackle box Wooden ‘treasure’ chest Bicycle helmet New mud boots Put treats on a tee shirt, then pull edges of shirt up and tie with ribbon to make a bag. You could do the same thing with a beach towel. Popcorn bowl Mess kit Paper gift sack No container of any sort – this is what we’ve done the past few years. I put chocolate bunnies on top of small LEGO sets. My boys were happy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerileanne99 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 'Giant' Easter baskets--shape a bean-bag chair and fill the hollow with spring goodies. Make a handle from either cardboard or something useful/fun like arranging the bag in a Hulu hoop. Big jump rope bow. That sort of thing:) It would be fun to do an outdoor the theme for the stuff, maybe the Hula Hoop handle, Nerf items, all things to play outside... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Ivy Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 A popcorn bucket with a DVD or two, candy, drinks, a pass to the theater 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I made dd a nature study bag by using a pair of khaki (dark) cargo shorts. (I should clarify--it was sewn by someone else, but here's the idea.) You cut off the leg and sew the bottom shut, using the loop you cut off as a strap. You sew a snap (or button, or whatever) in the waistband to close it. Maybe that could be your basket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnwife Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Ummm...I shouldn't be in this thread. Our oldest isn't quite 5, and he uses the basket my dad used as a kid. And our middle child uses the one I used as a kid. The concept of getting new baskets is unknown in this family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 My "kids" are almost 19, 21, and 23. They still expect their chocolate bunnies! Except one dd wants white chocolate or cookies and cream, and if I don't buy it as soon as Easter stuff hits the shelves, I won't get one. They should make more of those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 We use the same baskets every year. Except this year the older will be getting stuff in a USPS or UPS box instead of a basket since she won't be able to get home for Easter, sigh. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I've always done the sand bucket and shovel every year. Somehow they always seem to get broken so we need new ones. I love some of the other ideas here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia64 Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 I've used the same large wicker basket for about 17 years. Does that make me a bad mom? lol Books, DVDs, CDs, iTune & other GCs, candy/chocolate, sugarless gum (because you gave them the candy lol), t-shirts, baseball caps, headbands, toothbrushes, bobby pins, hair nets. No, it makes you a smart mom. Here's what happened: because I had so much fun buying giant baskets at GoodWill and spray painting them when the boys were four, I wanted to continue coming up w/ creative, fun ideas each year. Turned out that was my only really good idea! :lol: When we travel for a long weekend, I ask my boys to pack their backpacks so they can easily wear their suitcase on their backs -- I've decided to buy them Easter backpacks that they can then use for suitcases!!! Thank you everyone for your AWESOME ideas!! Alley 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pehp Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 We also use the same baskets. For the first couple of years we just used wicker baskets I had here that I use for other things during the rest of the year (with no decorating other than maybe a ribbon), and then my husband's aunt had hand-painted baskets made for the children. They are gorgeous. So of course, we just use those every year now....and will until my children have children of their own!! I also like baskets w/ no handles that can be used for storage on bookshelves at other times of the year. That might be good for your son's ages, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Op, I see you've made your decision but I still want to throw in my two cents! If we did different baskets each year I think I would search out crazy vessels at Goodwill that I would donate back after easter if no one wanted them. We reuse baskets...one of them is my childhood basket! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VendyThomas Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Kids are growing and they do not want the same gifts like candies or chocolates. So a basket can be filled with different products like fragrance bottles, candles and some useful products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 We don't use baskets anymore at all. Ideas for inside? Birdfeeders Birdhouses Flower pots (these would work as a basket) Seeds - garden or flower Bubbles Sidewalk Chalk - Stencils Sandbox Stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matrips Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) No help here, sorry. I used to go nuts at Easter doing all kinds of neat ideas for their baskets, but it became too much, and was beginning to feel like a hassle and not what Easter was about. Christmas was just a few months ago and they don't really need more stuff. I went back a few years ago to a chocolate rabbit, a few little chcolate eggs and some jelly beans. Keeping it very simple and the same every year- a simple tradition with expectations kept in check. I do still hide plastic eggs all around the house and yard though with small change and little snacks inside. That's what they really love, their egg hunt. Good luck! Edited to add: I loved my Easter baskets as a kid, teenager and young adult. I was bummed when mom stopped. And it was the same every year. A hollow chocolate egg with jelly beans inside and a few small chcolate pieces. Maybe a barrette as an extra. Something nice about a tradition. I wish I still got my basket with candy! :) Edited March 14, 2016 by matrips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 We lucked out and both of our big kids need new bikes this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWillSoar Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Saw a cute idea online using a hat as a basket. I always use the same basket every year too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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