Is there anyone more excited than a child just before an Easter egg hunt?
While its lots of fun, the thrill of an Easter egg hunt and shiny paper wrappings can make it difficult for young minds to focus on the true meaning of the celebration.
We know that pulling kids’ attention away from the chocolate-filled shopping aisles can be a challenging task, so we’ve put together some of our favourite resources for helping your child or kids club understand the real significance of Easter.
Books
Young minds often respond best to a storytelling style of learning. There are many excellent books that tell the story of Easter in a narrative style.
The Donkey Who Carried a King by RC Sproul
Featuring beautiful illustrations by Chuck Groenink and an artfully written story by Sproul, this book can teach children from preschool to pre-teenage about what it means that Jesus was a suffering servant.
The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross by Carl Laferton
Rather than starting straight in the gospels, this book starts in Genesis to give an overview of why Easter was even necessary. This is helpful for kids aged 5-8 to understand the big picture of why Jesus came to earth to die and rise again.
Goodbye to Goodbyes by Lauren Chandler
A creative retelling of a well-known story that helps lead into the gospel. By illustrating the story of Lazarus and Jesus’ awareness of suffering, Chandler movingly brings to light the implications of the resurrection and how Jesus will one day bring an end to all human suffering.
The Quiet/Crazy Easter Day by Jill Roman Lord
A great book for Easter Sunday to assist kids in grasping the excitement and joy of Jesus being alive. It features rhyming words and fun illustrations that are perfect for a toddler age group.
Brighten up Sunday school
Children’s ministry has such an important role in demonstrating to our little ones that they, too, have a special place in God’s family. There are plenty of creative ideas that can help you present the Easter story to your Sunday school class in a different way this year. Here are just a few to get you started.
Painting Eggshells
Painting eggshells creates a tangible reminder of the new life and joy brought by Jesus’ resurrection.
Play Acting
Get your class to participate in a re-enactment of Easter and take on the roles of Pilate, Mary, the angels and the disciples.
Easter Egg Hunt with a twist
Run an Easter egg hunt, with each egg hidden having a part of the Easter story or memory verse for the week taped to it.
Cross Shaped Craft
Make a cross-shaped stained glass window or mosaic with some cellophane or crepe paper for something pretty to take home.
Make it tactile
Another well-trodden way of communicating messages to children is by using symbols and objects to demonstrate an idea. Teachers will often use these methods in a kids’ club, but they can work well for teaching your children at home, too.
Use a Calendar
While you may not celebrate Lent, following a Lent-style calendar like the ABCs of Easter can help remind children of the significance of Easter as it approaches.
Get into Baking
Set aside a fun baking day in your long weekend to make resurrection-themed treats! You could make your own hot cross buns or empty tomb rolls.
Choose a Playlist
Start playing gospel-themed music around the house in the weeks before Easter, such as the Colin Buchanan song Boss of the Cross.
Get into the Garden
Pot your own plants to create mini-resurrection gardens, which can be a long-lasting reminder of Jesus defeating death.
Look for Other Resources
Print out the Youthworks Kids Pray resources to model thankfulness to God and recognition that Easter is all about his plan to save us.
Join your church community
One simple yet helpful way to show your children the meaning of Easter is by attending your local church over the weekend. It demonstrates that Easter is all about celebrating some really important events for God’s family. By being part of a church community, children can also experience for themselves the true joy God’s people have in the salvation he offers us.
If you aren’t already part of a church community, you can connect with your local church here.
