Kendra Wilkinson’s priority is always her two kids: Hank Randall Baskett IV and Alijah Mary Baskett.
The former model and her ex-husband, Hank Baskett, welcomed their first child, Hank IV, in 2009 and grew their family again when Alijah was born in 2014.
Wilkinson and Baskett agreed to split custody of their children after their 2019 divorce, which the mom-of-two said was difficult for her at first. Now, the former couple seem to have found their rhythm as co-parents, as she told PEOPLE in January 2024.
“The kids are so lucky to have him. I’m lucky to have him,” Wilkinson said. “So the thing about it is, you just have to look at what you do have — what are the things you do have and be grateful for those things … We’re co-parenting really well. It’s what divorce is about, it’s a very giving thing.”
Despite the initial struggles, Wilkinson has also said she feels lucky to have good relationships with Hank IV and Alijah.
“I couldn’t have asked for better kids,” she said in a 2021 episode of Kendra Sells Hollywood. “I mean, when it comes to parenting and when it comes to my bonding with them, so sacred and so powerful. If there’s one part of my life I’m doing right, it’s them.”
In another 2021 episode of her reality series, Wilkinson opened up about maintaining a career in the spotlight while raising her children. “Balancing work and kids is hard work but I’m 36 now, not 19 — the girl you saw dancing around on the tables — anymore. I’m not,” the former Playboy model said. “I have a different mind frame.”
In 2024, Wilkinson told PEOPLE that she wanted to look forward by prioritizing Hank IV and Alijah. “What makes me happy? It’s my kids,” she said.
Here is everything to know about Kendra Wilkinson’s two kids, Hank and Alijah.
Hank Randall Baskett IV, 15
Wilkinson and Baskett welcomed their first child, Hank Randall Baskett IV, on Dec. 11, 2009, in Indiana, where his father played for the Indianapolis Colts.
Months before his birth, Wilkinson said that she and her then-husband had decided to pass Baskett’s name on to their son. “We’ve already decided to name our son Hank Baskett IV,” she wrote on her blog. “Hank’s dad and his grandfather were both named Hank, so it was very important to us to carry on the family tradition.”
Wilkinson’s elder child and Baskett don’t only share a name, either — Hank IV has started to follow in his dad’s sporty footsteps.
“I’m telling you right now, he’s already been scouted and spotted and seen,” the proud mom told Entertainment Tonight in 2017. “He will be an athlete, there’s no question about it. I’ve never seen a greater athlete at 7 years old, but at the same time, he’s an old soul.”
She added, “He’s a nerd, he’s an inventor, he loves to invent new things and loves to experiment.”
Hank IV has played soccer and competitive hockey, and according to Wilkinson’s Instagram, he has also shown his younger sister how to navigate the skatepark like a pro.
Baskett has also posted his son on Instagram, sharing a picture from a hike in 2016 and images of Hank IV playing baseball and basketball when he was younger.
Even though he has a famous mom and dad, Hank IV had a classic teenager moment on Kendra Sells Hollywood in 2021 when he got embarrassed by Wilkinson. The mom-of-two tried to convince her son that she was cool after he rejected the idea of her coming with him to register for sixth grade.
Hank IV isn’t always embarrassed by his mom, though — Wilkinson often posts smiley pictures of her and her son on Instagram.
In 2018, Wilkinson shared a picture of her and Hank IV in China. She captioned the photo, “Up here on the Great Wall of China with my wonder of the world.” Four years later, Wilkinson shared pictures of her family enjoying the beach in Maui.
Alijah Mary Baskett, 10
Wilkinson and Baskett’s daughter Alijah Mary Baskett was born on May 16, 2014, in Los Angeles. Later that year, the television personality opened up to PEOPLE about how she chose her daughter’s name.
“I ended up going to Sundance [and] I met a driver who was amazing and so kind. He was talking about his daughter who was named Alijah and I knew right then that would be my little girl’s name,” she said. “Mary is for my grandmother — I’m carrying the name on.”
In the same interview, she spoke about her son becoming a doting older sibling. “I’ve been dreaming about little Hank holding his little sister for so long … Little Hank had a huge smile and he now knows he really is a big brother.”
For her 4th birthday, in May 2018, Wilkinson shared a sweet picture of Alijah wearing a tutu and holding rainbow balloons. The mom-of-two wrote in the caption, “Happy 4th bday my sweet angel Alijah. Just like mama, she’s here on earth to celebrate life at all times.”
Based on Wilkinson’s Instagram, Alijah spends a lot of time with her mom. In 2021, the reality TV star shared a picture of her daughter doing her makeup with the caption, “My makeup artist most days.” The following year, Wilkinson posted a photo of herself and Alijah rolling around in the yard. “Moments of joy with my mini,” she wrote.
Though she’s too young to have settled on a future career, Wilkinson has said she’s open to whatever Alijah wants to do, including following in her footsteps as a model.
“I won’t sit here and say that I would like that, but if she made a healthy decision and a healthy choice with a healthy mind to want to pose for Playboy … We are a free home, we are a free spirit,” she told ET in 2017 when Alijah was 3 years old. “If that’s your way of wanting to express yourself and who you are, then go ahead and be exactly who you want to be.”
In 2024, Wilkinson reflected on her history at the Playboy mansion and how her experience affected her relationship with Alijah. “I look back at what happened to where I felt like I had to date an older man at 18. What drove me to that place, and why did I choose to do that?” she told PEOPLE. “These are things I’m trying to correct in my parenting to my daughter. What can I do to show her that she’s more than that?”
Wilkinson continued, “At the end of the day, I don’t want my daughter sexualized at a young age like that.”
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