Clarify terms. I've talked about it directly: "Some people killed Jesus and he died and God made him alive again." I am happy to share this adorable idea for sharing with your children/ Sunday school children/ family, or friends the true meaning of Easter. You may want to explain to the children that we may not be resurrected after three days, like Jesus was, but we will all be resurrected someday. No one ever does. The idea of Lent and the driving principles behind it can be difficult for children … Since the early days of Christianity, the week beginning with Palm Sunday and ending at sundown on Easter has been a sacred time because it commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You might want to plan an activity during Lent that culminates on Easter to show children how the solemn time of Lent leads up to the of it into a mixing bowl. Easter is sometimes referred to as Resurrection Sunday and teaching about the true meaning of Easter gives us a chance to show children that there’s more to the holiday than Easter eggs and the Easter bunny. Explaining Palm Sunday to children can be entertaining for everyone especially if visuals and various crafts are offered while the story is being told. Check out this awesome Youth Group Game on Easter. Explain to your child that on Saturday, there is typically no liturgy (save for evening Easter vigils in some traditions), so that the faithful can focus completely on Easter. How to Explain Palm Sunday to Children. How To Explain St. Patrick's Day To Kids. This post originally appeared here on Catholic-Link Spanish. Some stories mention Easter bunnies sitting over a nest of eggs, and in other secular stories the Easter Rabbit would judge whether children have been good or bad at the start of Eastertide and like Santa Claus, the Easter Rabbit would bring treats like colored eggs and candy even toys to children. You have renewed, strengthened, and made me see my faith through child-like wonder! Blessing of Easter baskets: In many cultures, families bring food that will be eaten on Easter Sunday to church in a basket for a special blessing on Holy Saturday. If you don’t know the story at all, I … I went to church to see my kids in the choir, but this year I observed much more than I participated, unlike most … I like to explain Ash Wednesday using a visual, such as a bowl of ashes or fine dirt. I let the children feel its grittiness and make crosses on the back of their hands with it. Holy Water blessings: Some families bring holy water containers to Mass on Easter so they can bring home some Easter water, which is blessed during the Easter Vigil, to bless their homes. Pray that God would give you wisdom and that the Holy Spirit would bring clarity to your children … Image credit: The images in this post are taken from the beautiful Spanish-language resource mentioned in the original article, a 1900 children’s book by Arturo Cañamares entitled Guía de los Sacramentos para niños (Paso a paso) , ( Catholic-Link Amazon Affiliate link ). It also includes a short Easter bible lesson. As a cradle Catholic I feel like there are certain things I should already know about and believe but it never ceases to amaze me how much I can learn by doing these activities with my children. It has been translated into English by María Isabel Giraldo. 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. Working with children (and raising a batch with my husband), I've picked up a few critical pieces of information about how children learn. A Sense of the Resurrection: An Easter Experience for Families. It can be easier to chat with your son or daughter when you focus on personal reflections. Use what is most helpful for your kids and ignore the rest. I understand that it’s not easy to share these stories with your children. Other symbols of the meaning of Easter are discussed here. 1. Remember, the Gospel message is simple to grasp – even for a child. Another way we can instruct our children to “fast” during their Lenten journey, is by encouraging them to be more loving to brothers, sisters and parents. Thank you! Explaining the meaning behind the ashes is important for children to understand why they are walking around with dirt on their foreheads. Explain to the children that the eggs represent life and that Jesus … How Do I Explain Easter to My Child? Vocabulary Words: dltk-bible.com-Easter Word Wall Word Templates (scroll down He died and was separated from me for your sake. 4. Perhaps ask another adult to help with these activities as you are explaining the story of Palm Sunday to the children. Before proceeding to explain Jesus’ death and resurrection, make sure the kids understand these basic words: Explain to your children what Easter means to you. While Lent was originally intended as a time of preparation for those being baptized at Easter, it gradually became a time when all of us focus on getting ready to renew our own baptismal promises. Reconciling the true meaning of Easter with the secular, marketing-driven holiday the world celebrates can be tricky for adults, and even more difficult to explain to kids! For example, children require simple explanations in terms they can understand instinctively. It’s much easier to just share in the fun parade on Palm Sunday and the beautiful resurrection on Easter. Main point: With God’s help, the power of sin in your life can be broken! KATE TAYLOR 29 SEP 2017 CLASS. Explaining the Easter story to children in terms they understand requires clarifying the terms specific to the main points. But it is a shame, really, because Easter symbolizes so much more about what it means to be a Christian. April 3rd, 2012. In today's post you'll find some faith-filled ideas to help you keep the holy in Holy Week. It is important to me that our children feel the contrast between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, because without the darkness, the light won’t shine as bright. dan. Easter starts on Sunday, but to help hold off on Easter celebrating until the actual Easter season begins, you can try to get your family involved with these Holy Week resources for kids! Many people think that Christmas is the most important day in the Catholic liturgical calendar, but from the earliest days of the Church, Easter has been considered the central Christian feast. Fasting from arguing with siblings or talking back to parents for 40 days will lead to good practices that might even last past Easter … Tell the children when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Lent lies at the very heart of our Catholic faith. Sharing the Easter Story. By Carolyn C. Brown. How to Explain Lent to Children. If you’re creating your own Easter message, you’ll want to read this blog post: How to Make Your Easter Message Stick. INSIDE: how to explain the resurrection to a child, and a free printable conversation guide! Even though the historical celebration of Easter was a really big deal in the early Church, today Easter is often celebrated in a single week, with waving palm fronds one Sunday and singing “He Is Risen” the next. It is a time when we reflect on the dying and rising of Christ that has made our salvation possible. This Sunday School lesson for Good Friday was designed for parents to use with their children at home on the week of April 12, 2020. 10 Ways to Teach Kids About Easter: Hands-On Activities & Books. 4. Children also have little patience for information or activities that seem irrelevant to their concerns; they learn new concepts best when they can relate to the topic 1. Talk about Easter with joy and enthusiasm, and explain the symbolism of painted eggs and the wonder of resurrection, salvation, and life with God after death. Back when I lived in Washington State, we had a neighbor named Karin who had children the same age as my siblings who are 12 … Happy Easter… 3. Resurrection Rolls. A good starting point is to realize that Easter is bigger than any of us ever fully understand so we do not have to know all the answers. Angel – a messenger from God; ... Email to a Friend: How to Explain Easter and the Resurrection to Children . Explain the meaning of Easter to kids with these three easy activities for Christian families. March 3, 2014 Lent is ... On the first Easter God said, “I know that you have done wrong and it makes me sad that you have turned away from my love but Jesus has taken the world’s trouble on himself. As Saint Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14, "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. The people who designed the Haggadah wanted to give future generations of Jews -- your child included -- a way to connect to the Passover story and re-experience the journey from slavery to freedom. Everything is included in the PDF download below (teaching notes, coloring pages, craft directions, game ideas, and worksheets). I don't know how to explain Easter to my children—Penny, 5, and William, 2. Try these suggestions to help your child see the meaning of Easter as a compelling tale of tragedy capped off with the joy and mystery of new life. Have the children smell the vinegar as they put 1 tsp. I've tried two approaches so far. Explain that when people die, their spirits are still alive. Add to Bin. The children know that they are not to open the lid until Easter Sunday. Easter is the most significant Holy Day celebrated by Christians each year, but families and churches can be increasingly sidetracked by the secular marketing of this holiday. View our newest Easter Youth Group Lesson. How to Explain Lent to a Child. The definitions should be short and easy to remember. So I decided today to attempt to explain to my non-Christian friends a bit about the meaning of Easter and what it is we are celebrating. Resurrection Sunday happened shortly after my kidney surgery . Someday they will be resurrected, which means their bodies and spirits will come together again like Jesus’ did. by mtsofan. I've tried two approaches. This post includes recipes, crafts, activities and more, and I will walk you through … Read a Children’s Book about Easter. 2. Then share your fondest memories of Easter with them, be it participating in an Easter hat parade at school or making your own Easter eggs. Let’s be intentional about teaching our children deep spiritual truths on a level they can understand and share with their friends. After his collegiate reversion to Catholicism, Dan Gonzalez began an intense study of the liturgy. Easter/Empty Tomb Objectives: The children will be able to - retell the Easter/Empty Tomb story - explain that on Easter Jesus rose from the dead - discuss resurrection Review: Prayer and questions from last week’s lesson. The temptation for families is either to leave the emphasis to their church via Sunday School teachers or to attempt to mix the secular theme with the sacred truth, therefore, confusing the child. 3. ... 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