Keeping kids engaged during Lent can be a challenge. As opposed to Easter and Christmas, which are marked by joyful celebrations, Lent is a time of quiet reflection and a more somber mood.
We are focused on the tragic death of Jesus and reflecting on our own sins. But there are many opportunities to make Lent interesting for young ones. By teaching them the importance of thinking about Jesus’s sacrifice, we are teaching them how to offer up their sufferings in union with His.
Jesus Tree
This Jesus Tree from Catholic Sprouts is a great way to mark the events that occurred in Jesus’s life for the 40 days leading up to his crucifixion. Each day of Lent they place a symbol on the tree that tells the story in the gospel. It’s a great way to memorialize all Jesus endured for us and will help teach kids the gospel. This tree is according to the book of Matthew.
Easter Tree
Our Family Blog uses an Easter Tree to commemorate the events of Jesus’s passion during the Lenten season. You can use a tree decoration or hang the eggs on any sturdy object. Taking 8 plastic Easter eggs, fill each one with objects that represent the events from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Or you can do one for each Station of the Cross.
Catholic Lent Lapbook
This Lenten lapbook from Sara J Creations is several activities rolled into one. Students will journey through the days of Lent and learn about the events that happened. There’s a countdown to Easter as they mark off the days. They can also write down their Lenten promises and explore the meanings of prayer, fasting and alms giving during Lent, starting with lessons on Ash Wednesday. This is a wonderful way to keep them engaged throughout the Lenten season.
Crown of Thorns
With this very easy activity from Catholic Icing, students will make a crown of thorns made from play-doh, toothpicks, and paper plates. It’s an appropriate activity for any age level and is simple to complete with minimal investment. Some care is needed to prevent poking themselves with the toothpicks, but it’s also a good opportunity to discuss the pain Jesus must have felt with a real crown of thorns on His head.
Easter Wreath
This Wee Little Miracles Easter wreath is a fun but educational way to teach kids the story of Lent and Easter. Each picture represents the events from Palm Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. Children can color the pictures and attach to the wreath all at once or make it into a lesson for each event.
Easter Resurrection Set
Catholic Sprouts is a great source of youth Catholic instruction and they have created this creative Easter Resurrection Set. Just print the character sheets, have kids color each one, then using card stock, attach a section to the back of the characters to make them stand up. They can recreate the scenes from Jesus’s resurrection and play out the events with the characters.
Hosanna Branch Wavers
This Palm Sunday craft from Mommy Snippets is great for little kids and is super easy to do. Trace their hands onto green construction paper, cut out each one and attach to craft sticks to make palm branches. While you read them the story of Palm Sunday, have them wave their hosanna branch wavers to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem.
Printable Stations of the Cross
Catholic Icing is arguably one of the best resources online for teaching kids the Catholic faith. She is a wonderfully talented mom with very crafty ideas. Her Printable Stations of the Cross craft lets kids create stand-up crosses that represent each station of the cross. These are very easy to cut and assemble and kids will be learning each station while assembling these.
Easy Holy Week Watercolor Art
This easy and beautiful project by Catholic Sprouts is a great way to teach young kids the significance of the crucifixion. Using her printable crucifix, simply cover the cross with crayon to prevent the watercolors from bleeding, then let the kids paint watercolors all around it for a stunning art project. As they’re coloring, encourage kids to talk to about the importance of Jesus in their lives and teach them to thank Him for His sacrifice on the cross.
Ash Wednesday Craft
Ash Wednesday is the official start of Lent for Catholics and is a holy day of obligation. We go to mass and receive the ashes on our forehead, but kids don’t always understand the meaning of these actions. Using this printable from Cindy at Kinderkay, have kids color in a picture of themselves receiving the ashes on their forehead.
Seder Meal
We had a Seder meal at my church last year and it was a very enjoyable experience for all of us. At the time, we were reading, “Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist” by Brant Pitre and this meal helped us to connect the Passover to the institution of the Eucharist. The Seder Meal is comprised of food, commentary, prayers and songs. It tells the story of Exodus as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. There are specific requirements for the meal, but if you are able to do it, it is an excellent way to teach about our heritage. Arma Dei breaks it all down for you in this tutorial.
Lenten Prayer Chain
This prayer chain craft from Sara J. Creations is a great way to teach the importance of praying for others. Have kids write the name of their prayer intentions on strips of paper, as well as some Catholic prayers. Attach them together into a prayer chain, then each night remove one and pray for that intention or recite the Catholic prayer. This is a great idea for little kids who may struggle with giving something up for Lent and can be used as their offering.
Rosary Guide Coloring Pages
Lent is a time of prayer and reflection and there’s no better family prayer than the rosary. Print this free guide and let kids color each mystery and beads as they move along the decades of the rosary. By matching the mystery to the beads of the rosary, you can help them to memorize the mysteries with color reinforcement. Or purchase this already colored in Rosary Guide. This is a great family activity for Catholic families and can be done any time of the year.
[convertkit form=5958746]
Lenten Sacrifice Promise Card
Most Christians make personal sacrifices during Lent to offer up our sufferings in union with Christ’s. This Lent Sacrifice Promise Card from Faith and Fabric will help young kids prepare for Lent by recording their own commitments and promises during the season. It’s a simple and easy way to make their intentions known and to remember them as they progress through the Lenten period.
Stations of the Cross Lift-Flap Notebook and Mini Booklet
Perfect for little hands, Catholic Inspired has created two activities to teach young ones the story of the events depicted in the Stations of the Cross. There are two versions, one a lift-flap notebook page and the other a mini booklet. The small size of the booklet allows them to carry it along to church or the Stations of the Cross during Lent. This free download can be colored while discussing the events.
Passover Activity Bundle
Learning about the Passover is an important part of our heritage. Make it fun with this free printable Passover Activity Bundle. There’s a memory game, word scramble, scavenger hunt and coloring pages. Students can learn about Moses and the Israelites’ passage out of Egypt while they have fun at the same time.
Lenten Resolutions Worksheet
For older students, try Catechism Angel’s Lenten Resolutions worksheet to teach them the importance of sacrifice and repentance. This worksheet will help them to grow in their faith during Lent and teach them the importance of mortification. Have them choose one or more from each category and keep track of their progress throughout the 40 days.
Handprint Easter Prayer
This hand print Easter Prayer craft is a great Sunday School or Lent learning activity from Free Kids Crafts. It’s super easy for children to make and they can either write in their own prayer or copy from one of our standard prayers. When closed, it becomes hands folded in prayer. This is a great way to teach kids the importance of prayer in their life.
Wall Cross With Toilet Paper Rolls
This project is very unique and is for more advanced crafters. Using toilet paper rolls, you will cut them into quarters, paint them, then glue them together. For an easier craft, try using black card stock or construction paper, cut into strips and tape, glue or staple them together. It makes a beautiful design that can be hung on their wall all year round.
Easter Triduum Craft Spinning Paper Plate
Catholic Inspired can help you teach kids about the Triduum, the time period between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday. Recall the events of the passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ with this paper plate craft. Simply have the students color each event from the free printable, cut them out, attach to a paper plate, cut out a portion of another plate and secure to the first one. The plate spins and reveals each day of the Triduum, along with a scripture verse at the top.
Cross in a Pocket
Take a cross with you wherever you go with this cross in a pocket project. Using yarn and canvas, you will create a pocket sized cross that is functional and pretty. Along with the cross is a prayer to remind us of Jesus’s sacrifice for us on the cross. Thrifty Fun has a full tutorial on how to make this craft.
Lamb of God Sheep Craft for Preschoolers & Older Kids
A great craft for preschoolers and up, this simple craft from Feels Like Home can be used to teach that Jesus is the Lamb of God. This is simple to make and makes a great decoration throughout the season of Lent. It will help kids remember He was the perfect sacrifice given for our sins.
Family Lenten Bags
Make the Lenten celebration a family affair with these goody bags filled with activities to complete during the season of Lent. Vanessa at Family Faith Builders has put together this assortment of Scripture passages, stickers, a give it up notebook, prayer pail, cross and more to add to each bag. You can add your own ideas and distribute them to other families. This makes a great Sunday school activity that kids can take home.
Stained Glass Cross
Lent doesn’t only have to be a somber time, so try this stained glass cross from IHeartCraftyThings to make a beautiful display for your home. There are so many variations kids can make with this craft and the results are as unique as each child. It’s a great lesson in the importance of the cross and how Jesus’s sacrifice was not just a tragic event, but a beautiful expression of His unending love for us.
Spiritual Bouquet
Perfect for any age level, Jenna at Call Her Happy has a tutorial on how to send your best spiritual wishes during Lent or any time of the year. Children will be proud to present their “bouquet” to a loved one, with a prayer intention attached to it. It teaches them the importance of praying for others in their time of need or just to commemorate any occasion.
Watch VeggieTales ‘Twas the Night Before Easter
The VeggieTales is a wholesome animated show that teaches valuable moral lessons to kids. In this movie, we follow the journey of cable news reporter Marlee Meade as she learns the importance of the true meaning of Easter.
Make these Sacred Heart Oreo Truffles
Real Life at Home shows you how to make these yummy truffles. Although they are intended to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Lent is also a good time to reflect on how our sins have pierced Jesus’s heart but He was still willing to die on the cross for us.
Chocolate Pretzel Crown of Thorns
While we’re speaking of using food to memorialize events, these chocolate pretzel crown of thorns from GodVine are another great way to remember the sufferings of Christ. As Easter approaches, try placing chocolate eggs in them as a nest and celebrate Jesus’s triumph over death and the start of our new life in Christ, as represented by the eggs.
Make a Dollar Tree Lent Home Alter Display
It’s always a great idea for Catholics to have home alters. It can be as elaborate as you like, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to show your devotion to Jesus and Mary. You can even change it up during the year, according to the liturgical calendar. For Lent, try adding in these elements to represent the Easter season. Purple is the liturgical color of Lent, as well as representing royalty, as Jesus is the king of heaven and earth. You can create a cross out of twigs, rocks, or other elements in nature. Your home alter can be as imaginative as you can imagine and doesn’t have to cost a lot to put together. Lacy at Catholic Icing made hers for just $10.
Good Deed Tracker
Though we are more focused on giving up things for Lent, it’s also a time for doing good deeds and blessing others. Kinder Craze’s Good Deeds Chart will help young children track all of their good deeds during Lent, encouraging them to be kind and helpful to others, just as Jesus is to us. Every time they perform a good deed, they color in a space on their chart. By the time Easter arrives and their charts are filled in, they can reflect on the many ways they were a blessing to others.
Create an Empty Tomb with Paper Plates
Another simple craft with items you probably already have on hand from The Confident Journal. Depicting Christ’s triumph over death, an angel sits atop the empty tomb. Using paper plates, cut in half, then cut out the tomb opening. Cut out the picture of the stone and attach with a brad fastener and hole puncher. Glue the angel on top and the scripture quote on the side. A simple but effective way to teach about the resurrection.
Make Resurrection Roles
After Lent is complete, make these rolls to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Eat at Allie’s explains how each step of this process marks the events of Jesus’s burial, as parents read John 19 to the kids while they are preparing the rolls. By placing a marshmallow inside the crescent rolls, they create a hollow treat, representing the empty tomb on Easter morning. He is risen!
Lamb Craft
Welcome the Lamb of God from The Homeschool Village into your home with this adorable Easter lamb craft. Parents can help children create this lamb using different materials. The base of the body could probably be made with other material besides the CD, but this is a great way to introduce the topic of Jesus being the Lamb of God to young kids.
Paper Plate Calvary Hill
Another great paper plate craft from Catholic Inspired (better start stocking up), create the scene at Calvary with the 3 crosses atop the hill. This is a super easy craft to create and great for any age level.
Fingerprint Cross Activity
Simple, easy and colorful describes this fingerprint cross activity at Crafty Morning. Use washable paint, as this may get a little messy, but kids will have lots of fun creating their own piece of art, all while learning about the meaning of the cross.
Easter Story Bag
This Easter craft idea can be combined with other crafts to create an Easter Story Bag. Build a collection of items to add to the bag to educate them about Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, Good Friday and Easter Day. You can use items you already have, build them from other crafts, or buy them. Flame Creative Child Ministry breaks it down and shows you the items they added to their story bag.
Easter Story Lego Challenge
Who’s up for creative challenge? From Homeschool Creations, have kids build Easter scenes with legos depicting the events of Jesus’s death and resurrection. There are so many different ways they can create these scenes and it’s interesting to see where their imagination takes them.
Jesus I Am Bible Craft
To understand the death and resurrection of Jesus, kids need to first understand who He is. This “I Am” craft from Crafting the Word of God quotes the many ways to refer to Jesus, as told to His disciples by Himself. This is also a great way to teach them to quote scripture.
Easter Story Game
Another great idea from Flame Creative Child Ministry, you can make learning fun with this Easter Story Game. The game goes through the events of Easter and the challenges help children reflect on their meaning, such as going backwards when they reach Gethsemane, a great disappointment for the disciples. It’s a thought-provoking activity that is interesting at the same time.
Jelly Bean Prayer Cross
This craft is a product from SupplyMe, but can be adapted for free in many different ways. Read the story of the first Easter as they create this jelly bean prayer cross. As they place each different colored jelly bean around the cross, parents can explain the meaning behind the color and how it relates to Jesus and our relationship with Him. This activity can be done during Easter or any time of the year.
Add comment