5 Simple Ways to Emphasize the True Meaning of Easter with Kids
What is it about every American holiday that we have to make it a day about CANDY? Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Flag Day…okay well maybe I’m pushing it with Flag Day but I’m not the only one that feels like it’s out of hand, am I? I’m not going all Bah-Humbug over everything non-holy about each holiday, but I think our message is getting muddled especially at Easter.
Easter is the pinnacle day for believers to celebrate Jesus’ miraculous resurrection, and sacrifice for our lives so that we might have life– are we treating it with the gratitude and wonder that we should or are we passing it up for plastic eggs and fake grass? More importantly, what message are we passing on to our kids?
Believe me, I know how distracting candy and all things plastic can be. It doesn’t have to become a battle or a stressor. I’m not saying to boycott your in-law’s Easter egg hunt, or refuse the family picture opportunity with cute live bunnies. However, we have to continue to bring the meaning home to our children.
It doesn’t have to be complex or craft fair worthy to create a meaningful moment with your children. Yesterday, we read John 19 and 20 from the Bible together, and I was amazed how interested my boys were with the details and how engaged they were with following along.
Here are 5 Simple Ways to Emphasize the True Meaning of Easter with Your Kids:
1. I love this magic watercolor art from I Can Teach My Child for little ones. Great way to impress their hearts with the wonder of the resurrection.
2. Make a resurrection garden like the tutorial on We Are That Family. What a great reminder to sit at the table this season!
3. Read The Jesus Storybook Bible together with this Easter reading plan from Home with the Boys. It’s definitely not too late – the stories are short enough to read several at a time! Oh and The Jesus Storybook Bible is still only $1.99 for the Kindle edition (the hardcover edition is on sale for $16.49 and with Amazon Prime you still have time to give it as an Easter gift!)
4. Make “Empty Tomb” Resurrection Rolls. These couldn’t be more simple, but the Scripture you read together during this activity is my favorite part. My biggest tip on this activity is to make it with 3 mini marshmallows (representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
5. And these nail print hands from OhAmanda are a striking reminder for little hands and big hands alike.
These are all great ideas….I am feeling so guilty about not doing more Easter stuff. I’ve been so busy trying to get ready for the baby due in 6 days that it’s almost been totally pushed aside. I’m not even sure where we’re having Easter dinner on Sunday….or even if we are! Agh!
Some years look like that…it’s what you do throughout the year that will be remembered, right? Praying for you as you are nearing the end!
I really enjoyed this! I have only seen one of these ideas before, so now I have four more to choose from! We have a 15 month old, and I have been wanting to still do fun things for the holidays while focusing on what the holiday is really all about. One idea that I have really had on my heart was to maybe spend some time on Friday remembering Christ’s sacrifice for us by sacrificing something for others, whether it be time, or money, whatever- but just to share that same love God has for us. I also still put together a basket for her, just filled with stuff relating to Easter- her first board book Bible, the Veggie Tales Easter movie, and a stuffed animal just for fun. Thanks again for sharing, and I’ll be sure to pass this post on to some other Mommy friends!
I’m so glad I read this post. I love the wax resist idea – I will definatly be using that with my Sunday School class! Also – I didn’t know that the Storybook bible was on offer for Kindle. I have a copy for home – but it’s a great resource for school too – and it’s so much easier to have a Kindle copy for sharing 🙂
Wonderful ideas. You’re right, with all the colors and candy, it’s hard to not get wrapped up in the unimportant things and miss making sure your children understand the real meaning of Easter. Thanks for the reminder!
these are great ideas. I know a lot of people get bent out of shape when a religious holiday is hijacked by commercialism, but I try to celebrate both sides. I explain that Easter is a celebration of our risen Lord…but the secular side comes from celebrating that winter is over and spring is here. After all, that’s where we get the idea of painted eggs and ham dinner. So, I teach my children that it’s OK to embrace both sides and help them to understand where our traditions come from.
This year we’ve read a few Easter books and also used the Resurrection eggs….but I’m always keeping an eye out for more resources to help teach them.
I really love these. Great reminder, not only for little ones, but for my bigger kids–and us adults! Thank you for sharing!
Great post! Thanks for these ideas…I love them all Lisa~
One tradition we started last year that worked so well we did it again this year is to have a “Last Supper” service at home.
Both last year and this year I made a standing rib roast for dinner on Thursday night. After dinner my husband read about the Last Supper and we talked about what happened immediately after dinner. We talked about Judas’ betrayal and how Jesus established Communion that night. We then used matzo bread and grape juice and took Communion as a family. Our kids were 5 & 3 last year and obviously they were 6 & 4 this year. It worked very well, even though we got a VERY late start to dinner because of Little League starting at 5:30 Thursday night, but we ate our nice dinner slowly and then had our time afterwards.
Sunday we’re doing Resurrection Eggs and the Resurrection rolls you mentioned above.
This morning when I woke up my 6 year old was excited to show me what he had drawn on his chalkboard while I was sleeping . . . he drew a 16X20 picture of Jesus on the cross and made sure to point out to me that he put the sign above the cross that the soldiers did. LOVE that little boy’s heart <3
These are great ideas … thanks for sharing! Several years ago, we started having the Easter Bunny visit our house on Saturday morning before Easter rather than on Easter Sunday. That way, the focus on Easter Sunday is on Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection rather than on the Easter baskets. It has worked for us … then of course on Easter Sunday, we go to church and celebrate our Saviour!