Easter Lessons and Reminders
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” - Proverbs 22:6
Holy Week is so powerful. Starting on Palm Sunday, it’s the most miraculous week, culminating with the resurrection. It’s so important to me to share in the power and miracles of this week with my family. And no matter their age—even when they’re toddlers!—there are so many ways to reflect on the Easter story with your kids and help them focus on the meaning of Easter, beyond the chocolate, egg hunts and bunnies.
Jesus said "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." (Matt. 19:14). So let’s bring the truth of Easter to our children! Your kids may have big and sad emotions, especially as they get into the 4 - 10 age group, and it’s so important to recognize and validate these feelings. They may not yet have the capacity to see the hope of Sunday, but each year it will make more and more sense to them. It’s so amazing to see my kids learn more and understand more with each passing year!
Here are five ideas for activities you can use to introduce the Easter story to kids of any age:
1. Jellybean gospel activity
The jellybean gospel is a great way to put the story of Easter into perspective with kids, especially toddlers and preschoolers. All you need is jellybeans in different colors that each represent a part of the Easter Gospel, that you can use to make the Gospel engaging and memorable for kids. There are tons of great, free print-outs available online—here is one you can use!
2. E-book from This Mother Hen
There’s no doubt about it: it can be hard to talk to kids about the truth of Easter and present the story to them. I wanted to find something to do with kids in the middle years, and came across an amazing e-book from Heidi Anderson of This Mother Hen, called the Passion Week Devotional.
I love this book because it made it so, so easy to bring these big truths to kids in an easy way. There’s a different page for each day of Holy Week with a part of the story and a corresponding verse. I like to print the e-book and put it in folders for my kids so we can share in it together throughout the week. Each day also has an egg coloring page, which is so fun to cut out as a handmade Easter decoration.
3. Have a conversation as a family
Watch or read the Easter story together as a family, whether in the Bible, a children’s Bible, or with a video. YouTube has lots of videos to help kids understand Easter, like this one from the channel The Beginners Bible.
After you share in the story together, discuss and debrief as a family. Let kids lead in the discussion and ask you any questions they have. Like I mentioned above, your kids may feel overwhelmed with all the big feelings and emotions they have. By opening a safe space for discussion, it will help facilitate their learning and understanding each year! Here are some ideas on answering kids’ questions about Easter for different age levels.
4. Make resurrection rolls
My recipe for Resurrection rolls would make the perfect addition to your Easter table. It’s a great way to get your kids in the kitchen and help teach them how to bake! Everything in this recipe symbolizes Jesus’ Resurrection. It’s a great hands-on activity for little ones—as you make the rolls together, you’ll also learn about the story of the Resurrection.
5. Easter Scavenger Hunt
Spring has sprung, so what better way to celebrate than by enjoying the outdoors with your kids? This Easter Scavenger hunt is a fun outdoor activity for your kids that will also help them learn about Easter in a hands-on way.
Check out this activity guide—you can read the Easter story together outdoors, then you’ll give each child a list of items to find that each represents a part of the Easter story. At the end of the hunt, you can discuss the significance of each item as it relates to the miracle of Easter.
Do you have any ideas for teaching your kids about Easter? Share them in the comments! No matter how you choose to reflect and celebrate, I'm wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter.