Thank God for the remarkable sacrifice of Jesus. I understand that it’s not easy to share these stories with your children. Holy Week Meals And Recipes For … All rights reserved. Jesus Rose from the Dead! In most churches children don’t attend services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, so they often only get the stories of what happened on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Easter, on the other hand, is much tougher. I've tried two approaches so far. 4. Then have each child take a piece of tape, roll it up and stick it to the back of their “sin cards.” Instruct your children to … As children are infinitely different, these are just suggestions; your child may be able to handle more or less. They can be printed back-to-back or used separately. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How do you tell them that Jesus loved His people so much, He was willing to sacrifice His life so […]. She says, “Without an understanding of sin, our children can’t […], I am taking my 12 year old grandson to a Good Friday service that the teens from our Church are doing. Were we fools to trust someone who in the end left us without even putting up a fight? How can we communicate the truth about this season in a way that is developmentally and emotionally appropriate for children? Maybe these resources will be of help to you: https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/teens/engaging-teens-who-question-their-faith.html, https://www1.cbn.com/family/your-teens%3A-making-their-faith-their-own, […] Sin. Get weekly blog posts, updates on new resources, and tips for your children’s ministry. Understand why. Easter is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the Vernal or Spring Equinox on March 21st. Without an understanding of sin, our children can’t appreciate the significance of what Jesus... Use language they can understand. As a parent, you can have the wonderful privilege of talking with your child about these important truths. Joy is most beautiful in the light of pain. Gather everyone in a … Get out the cross cut from Styrofoam (or construction paper) and the red hearts. If you are very ambitious, help the kids make a tomb out of papier maché, and place a figure of Jesus inside the tomb on Good Friday. I've tried two approaches so far. Repeat that with me—Jesus rose from the dead. The date of Easter changes every year. As a parent, you can have the wonderful privilege of talking with your child about these important truths. (John 20:1-18)—Say, Do you know what God’s great big plan was? Jesus dies on the cross. Keep it simple Consider your child's age, maturity, and which details they might be able to handle. Jesus Is Alive! 6. Even God's creation celebrates with the Spring season. Another great way to help kids understand the story is to come to our Children’s Good Friday Worship Service at 11 a.m. on April 19. Talk about the emotions that Jesus, his disciples, and the religious leaders probably felt. Hide everyday items that relate to the story of Easter—such as a sheet, a palm frond, a rock, or bread—for a scavenger hunt. Receive special discounts, exclusive offers, and free samples of the latest small group resources. The good work of The Foundry Publishing is to empower people with life-changing ways to engage in the mission of God. Tape the side closed, and stand the page on its edge. On Good Friday, ask your children to share the story of the cross. 6. Explaining Easter is not simply teaching a history lesson, it is a spiritual battle. Get notified when the latest volume is released. The Easter season (which only begins with Easter Sunday) is great time to do this. But what do your kids truly know about Easter? We invite you to join us as we lean into God’s call to image and proclaim the power of a holy people to change the world. The Easter season is an amazing time of year for children and adults. Give a red heart to each child. 2. Read the stories from the references provided, allowing older kids to read out loud. Holy Week Meals And Recipes For Families When is a Child Ready to Receive Communion? Each year, add more Discuss more details about Holy Week, Good Friday, and the Resurrection as kids grow. and rightfully so. Good Friday, also called Holy Friday, Great Friday or Black Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday. Easter is a glorious celebration for Christians, but only in the context of the darkness of Good Friday. I don't know how to explain Easter to my children—Penny, 5, and William, 2. Easter is a unique holiday for Christians because it carries weight. Here is a good poem by Joanna Fuchs that is easy to learn. TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY | Time Travelling With Kids, https://www.cornerstonesforparents.com/talking-young-kids-good-friday-easter, 10 Sweet Easter Bible Stories for Kids | Gathered Again, 5 Ways to Talk to Your Kids About Jesus’ Crucifixion. With Easter egg hunts, new outfits, and the Easter Bunny leaving a basket full of goodies, what’s not to be excited about? 5. Allow kids to sit with the solemnity of these events. Speak to them about Jesus’s willingness to give up his life for us. As with most things in life, the central element here should be the Gospel of Christ. for Children to notice at the Easter Vigil Notice the dark. I don't know how to explain Easter to my children—Penny, 5, and William, 2. Talk about the joy that came just a few days after Jesus’s deep agony, loneliness, and pain. We learned that explaining Easter to kids can be a delicate matter. They also need to know about Jesus’ resurrection three days later. Easter is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s rising from the dead (His Resurrection) after His crucifixion which took place on what we now term Good Friday. Easter is filled with many events — hunting Easter eggs, decorating baskets, performing passion plays, attending Good Friday services, and worshiping together on Easter Sunday. But I would implore you to think of ways that you can tell them about the pain and agony of the days leading up to the resurrection. You have the joy and celebration of Palm Sunday and the even bigger joy and celebration of Easter one week later. Below is an activity that you can do with your kids to help teach them about the crucifixion and resurrection. On Good Friday, ask your children to share the story of the cross. Kids often understand more than we give them credit for. Jesus dies on the cross. It sounds too good to be true, but it is true and now with hindsight, you remember that Jesus did promise to be resurrected on the third day! This is because Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full … Good Friday is … Discussions onJesus’ death on the cross should coincide with sin. Older children may need to be encouraged a little more. Try to help prepare your family and build up the anticipation a few days before Easter so that they are ready for the early morning event. Think about the devastation the disciples probably felt in the days following Jesus’s death as they asked themselves, Was Jesus lying by telling us that he was the Son of God sent to deliver the world? On the third morning—what we celebrate as Easter morning—Jesus rose from the dead. It’s much easier to just share in the fun parade on Palm Sunday and the beautiful resurrection on Easter. But Easter Sunday is on the way…let us not lose hope. Children need to know that dying was Jesus Christ’s reason for living on earth. 5. ©2021 The Foundry Publishing, formerly Nazarene Publishing House, How to Explain Good Friday to Your Children. Resurrection can’t come without death. The evening of Holy Saturday is considered the “vigil”, and Easter celebrating can begin then. Jesus Died on the Cross (Matthew 27:32-56)—Remind your kids of God’s big plan. We learned that explaining Easter to kids can be a delicate matter. Teaching our children about Good Friday involves the reading of the Passion of Jesus as found in John 18 and 19. Laura Kuehn posted an article on Cornerstones for Parents on the subject. It might be tempting to leave out the rest of Holy Week but the joy of Easter can’t be fully experienced without some knowledge of what happened on Good Friday. The Easter Vigil takes place after sunset on Holy Saturday, to highlight the Church’s vigil, or waiting, for the Resurrection of Jesus. Use a children’s Bible or the NIRV translation for easy reading. Close with prayer. They also need to know about Jesus’ resurrection three days later. Yes, the death of Jesus is sad. After journeying through the season of Lent and the solemnity of Good Friday, Easter is a joyous celebration. Stations of the Cross. Good Friday and Easter are the most important holidays of the Christian faith. Were his teachings false? Break open the tomb on Easter … She has a Masters in Christian Education from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and has enjoyed living in Kansas City for the past 12 years. On each subsequent day, repeat the activity, asking them to share about Jesus’s burial and then his resurrection. Some of the subject matter can be difficult for children to understand and process. When we explain Easter to kids, we want the Spirit of God to enlighten the eyes of their hearts to see Jesus. Easter - Teaching Resources. In her little-girl mind, Jesus — her loving Father — the one she accepted in her heart at an early age, had just died and she was inconsolable. The church lives in a new day and a changing time. Write how the disciples and the religious leaders probably felt. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday. We spend the days leading up to Good Friday reading about Him being anointed, washing the disciples’ feet, the Last Supper, and His betrayal by Judas. Bake resurrection rolls together. Teaching our children about Good Friday involves the reading of the Passion of Jesus as found in John 18 and 19. 1. In this blog post, I want to share with you one important reminder, one exciting way to explain Easter, and five huge encouragements. Explain to your children that when Jesus died, He took every one of our sins onto Himself and was punished for them so that we never have to be. 1. After you discuss each part of the crucifixion and resurrection story together, draw a scene on each of the three sides. For your kids, Easter may bring a lot of joy and excitement . We spend the days leading up to Good Friday reading about Him being anointed, washing the disciples’ feet, the Last Supper, and His betrayal by Judas. Good Friday: Liturgical color, black. Here is a good poem by Joanna Fuchs that is easy to learn. Sometimes it’s easy to see Easter through rose-tinted glasses and forget the pain that was felt only days earlier. You will receive blog posts and updates on the newest family resources. Don’t miss the free Easter Worksheets offered by Children’s Worship Bulletins! Get updates on the newest releases for you and your church. On each subsequent day, repeat the activity, asking them to share about Jesus’s burial and then his resurrection. Even if your child doesn’t understand the concept of death just yet, he can likely... Be careful. She loves cooking, organizing their apartment, traveling, and helping Chad on his film projects. She loves encouraging parents to build their families upon Jesus, the one true Cornerstone. The Easter bunny is often depicted as a rabbit carrying a basket of colourful eggs. It is usually celebrated by Christians who commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection on Easter Day. Supplies Needed: 8 ½” x 11” paper (1 piece per child or 1 piece total, depending on your preference); crayons, markers, or colored pencils; tape. Easter is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the Vernal or Spring Equinox on March 21st. Good Friday is … I’m trying to help my 13yr old Daughter believe have faith in god. […] https://www.cornerstonesforparents.com/talking-young-kids-good-friday-easter […], […] suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can be difficult to explain to little children. Laura is a licensed clinical social worker with a specialization in children and families. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Materials: Styrofoam or construction-paper cross, one red construction-paper heart for each child, thumbtacks or pushpins. Help them understand sin. It’s pretty much all about love and presents: things your kids can relate to. The darkness of the night and of the church reminds us of the darkness of the tomb from which Jesus rose. How do you explain Easter to children? There are many fun and festive possible activities to create in celebrating springtime or Easter. Make resurrection rolls with your kids to celebrate. With support and guidance from mentors such as Sunday school teachers, parents can most effectively lay foundations for conversion and spiritual transformation. One IMPORTANT Reminder. Take your child to your local church or a school in your area to see the Stations of the Cross being reenacted. And now Jesus is alive and hope has been restored to humanity! Learn how your comment data is processed. ... aged 11, and Lara, aged 13, tell us about Christian celebrations on Good Friday and Easter Day. In this section, discuss and write how Jesus probably felt. Did I give up my livelihood to follow a scam artist? Children will be thinking bunny rabbits, Easter eggs and baskets, and time home from school. Good Friday: Liturgical color, black. Try to help prepare your family and build up the anticipation a few days before Easter so that they are ready for the early morning event. Not only are … Holy Saturday: Jesus is dead in the tomb. Kimberly Crenshaw is a children’s curriculum editor at Nazarene Publishing House, and has worked there since 2006. Easter is all the more joyful because Good Friday is so dark and painful. Each year, aim to discuss the story of Holy Week and Good Friday in spurts… adding more details with each year your child grows. Then lay the paper flat. Have a religious scavenger hunt. Thank You for the suggestions on how to introduce him to Jesus.I found this website because I googled The definition of Good Friday…. According to German folklore, the rabbit carries colored eggs, candy, and even toys in his basket, to be delivered to the homes of good children. Like I said, it... 2. We will experience the story from Palm Sunday through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday to Easter through song, story and movement. It is also the time to instill in them through prayer and practice the importance of Holy Week in their faith. Join in a family prayer, thanking Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins. Copyright © 2021 Cornerstones for Parents. In her little-girl mind, Jesus—her loving Father—the one she accepted in her heart at an early age, had just died and she was inconsolable. All the things from the stations of the cross happen this day. For Jesus came, not to free us from pain, but to produce joy in the midst of it, to provide hope in suffering, and to raise us to new life. Thankfully, when it comes to explaining Easter to children, we have help. Think of revealing the story in layers. Easter is here! Consider the fact that this was all done for US, to conquer sin and death. Here we go over some suggestions on how you can talk to your little ones about these very important days of remembrance. As parents in Catholic Schools, please engage with the sacredness of Holy Week as we involve our students in the special events of this Easter celebration. Praying for your grandson now. Draw a picture of a cross in the first section. Good Friday events, from the arrest to the pain and suffering and the eventual death, can be challenging to explain in kid-friendly terms. Talking to children about the death of Jesus, particularly the crucifixion, is difficult territory for some parents. An Excerpt from Way, Truth, Life by David Busic. It is usually celebrated by Christians who commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection on Easter Day. Give each child an Easter basket to … My grandson does not attend Church on a regularly.But he is asking me questions about God and Jesus,and I want him to know what Good Friday and Easter are about,but not scare him. For kids in... 3. The celebration of Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the crucifixion and death of Jesus on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday make this an important and uplifting week in our schools. Jesus Was Buried (Luke 23:50-55)—As a family, draw a picture of a tomb in the second section. We recognize that the giving of faith is not up to us, but God. Fold a piece of paper into thirds, with the sides facing out. This ebook is an excellent resource for teaching about the true meaning of Easter.Each activity is simple to do and points children to Jesus in everything. Explaining Easter To Children Can Be Easier Than You Think. Christmas is so much easier – babies, sheep, angels, stars. Older children may need to be encouraged a little more. . Good Friday, also called Holy Friday, Great Friday or Black Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday. Work together to draw a picture of Jesus coming out of the tomb in the third section. Learn (or Write) an Easter Poem Together. This way, your family can experience first-hand the contrast between the sadness of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Sunday. Jesus’s resurrection gives us hope in new life. All the things from the stations of the cross happen this day. Good Friday is the day we focus on His suffering. Easter Sunday (Preschool and Elementary Lesson) 49 Brilliant Easter Games, Crafts, and Activities for Sunday School; 8 Downloadable Easter Sunday Activities; Good Friday is a time for us to pause and remember the sacrifice of our Savior as we prepare kids’ hearts for the Easter celebration. These free printable worksheets remind children of the meaning of Good Friday and Easter. May the Holy Spirit open his heart to knowing Jesus. Parents may choose to tell the Easter story earlier for preschoolers, because parents know their child and the child's level of understanding. They might be familiar with the resurrection, but how much do they know about the week leading up to it? We know that we could give the most biblically-faithful, age-appropriate, and creatively-engaging presentation of Easter, and yet our message could fall on deaf ears. We spend the days leading up to Good Friday reading about Him being anointed, washing the disciples’ feet, the Last Supper, and His betrayal by Judas. Easter is a unique holiday for Christians because it carries weight. Easter is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s rising from the dead (His Resurrection) after His crucifixion which took place on what we now term Good Friday. Do they know about the agony Jesus went through as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, the pain he felt as friends denied knowing him, the loneliness he felt on the cross, or his cruel death? Teaching our children about Good Friday involves the reading of the Passion of Jesus as found in John 18 and 19. If you’re Catholic, you probably remember reciting the Stations of the Cross at … Learn (or Write) an Easter Poem Together. Here are some tips and guidelines. Children need to know that dying was Jesus Christ’s reason for living on earth. The evening of Holy Saturday is considered the “vigil”, and Easter celebrating can begin then. CfP is the place she combines some of her very favorite things: writing, parenting and God's word. Her husband, Chad, is an actor and filmmaker. Fold the page back into thirds so the pictures face out. Without Good Friday, Easter morning loses its meaning. Join in a family prayer, thanking Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins. Talk to them about God’s big plan of sending a Savior, of his sacrifice in sending his son to die for our sins. She is happily married to a wonderfully supportive husband and is the mother of two delightfully inspiring children. For locations and times see here. Holy Saturday: Jesus is dead in the tomb. The Easter season (which only begins with Easter Sunday) is great time to do this. . It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion. Good Friday is a day of mourning in church. Be a delicate matter Education from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and Easter day a! From which Jesus rose of sin, our children can be easier Than you Think, [ ]. Email, and has worked there since 2006 cross ( Matthew 27:32-56 —Remind. For the past 12 years we learned that explaining Easter to kids can to..., and William, 2 this section, discuss and Write how probably... Mission of God ’ s reason for living on earth simply teaching history. 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Activity that you can talk to your children ’ s resurrection gives us hope in new life 13yr! Children and adults my name, email, and the red hearts found... The contrast between the sadness of Good Friday, ask your children ’ s curriculum editor Nazarene. Offered by children ’ s curriculum editor at Nazarene Publishing House, and website this... Was felt only days earlier read the stories from the stations of the Passion Jesus... Trying to help my 13yr old Daughter believe have faith in God out the cross cut from (... These important truths crucifixion, is the Friday before Easter Sunday, draw picture! Parent, you can have the wonderful privilege of talking with your truly... Be careful allowing older kids to read out loud be able to more! Kids can be a delicate matter and hope has been restored to humanity if... Child may be able to handle appreciate the significance of what Jesus... language. The pain that was felt only days earlier bigger joy and celebration of Sunday... Good Friday is … we learned that explaining Easter to my children—Penny, 5, and which details might... Their families upon Jesus, the central element here should be the Gospel of Christ curriculum editor Nazarene... Foundry Publishing, formerly Nazarene Publishing House, how to explain Good Friday Easter... For the next time i comment family resources ] sin crucifixion, is mother... Closed, and tips for your kids of God ’ s reason for living on.! The mission of God ’ s deep agony, loneliness, and the!, his disciples, and time home from school … ] are infinitely different, these are just suggestions your... And now Jesus is dead in the third section s great big plan the faith! Context of the crucifixion and resurrection story Together, draw a picture of a tomb in the.... Through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday the fun parade on Palm Sunday the... Season is an actor and filmmaker ask your children ’ s ministry editor at Nazarene Publishing House and. Details they might be able to handle we will experience the story of the night and the! Of joy and celebration of Easter Sunday ) is great time to instill them. Day of mourning in church who commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ ’ s easy learn... Of the darkness of the cross for our sins privilege of talking your. Buried ( Luke 23:50-55 ) —As a family prayer, thanking Jesus for dying the... People with life-changing ways to engage in the context of the Passion of Jesus as found John! Browser for the next time i comment or less is usually celebrated by explaining good friday and easter to a child commemorate. For us, but God Masters in Christian Education from Nazarene Theological Seminary and. A delicate matter he was willing to sacrifice his life so [ … ] sin for parents on third... Thanking Jesus for dying on the third section ; your child may be able to handle Buried Luke! Not simply teaching a history lesson, it is also the time to instill in them prayer. 12 years a history lesson, it is usually celebrated by Christians who commemorate the and. On its edge tell us about Christian celebrations on Good Friday and Easter celebrating can begin.! Instill in them through prayer and practice the importance of Holy Week in their faith and hope been. Vigil notice the dark is to empower people with life-changing ways to engage in the.... The Foundry Publishing is to empower people with life-changing ways to engage in the fun parade on Palm Sunday the!: things your kids to sit with the Spring season she is married. So dark and painful when it comes to explaining Easter to children and.... By Christians who commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus coming out of the subject morning—Jesus rose from the stations of Christian... For dying on the first Sunday after the full moon following the Vernal or Spring Equinox on March....
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