Easter is this Sunday! The day that Christians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, if you walk the aisles of any big box store, you might think that Easter is all about bunnies and candy. Perhaps you are looking for less secular ideas to celebrate Easter. Today we are going to look at resurrection baskets, which are a great visual for young children.

I got this idea from watching a reel on FaceBook from Babies in the Word. This family got the idea from somewhere else. Obviously, you can personalize this idea. It is only meant as inspiration.

Alternative to Traditional Easter Baskets

On the Saturday before Resurrection Day-

Have your children or grandchildren collect rocks from outside. Have them put the rocks in their Easter baskets. Talk to them about sin and how we all have sinned. As sinners, we are separated from God because He is holy and calls us to be so too.

Then to illustrate God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice, color or paint a heart. Talk about how God made a way to be made right with Him through Jesus. Share the gospel with your children as they work on the heart before them. Describe how Jesus allowed Himself to die on the cross because His perfect sacrifice was the only way that would pay the price for sins. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Then they can put their baskets full of rocks covered by the red heart in a cabinet, closet, cupboard, or under a blanket. This represents Jesus’ body lying in a tomb.

On Sunday morning-

Your children or grandchildren will open the cabinet door or remove the blanket and discover that all their rocks are gone. Instead, the basket is filled with candies and goodies. The red heart has been also changed to a white heart. You can even write a verse like “…Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).

Resurrection Baskets like these will enable you to share the gospel with children while providing a great visual illustration. Make the holiday more meaningful while still allowing kids to enjoy the candy and goodies of the season.