Focusing on Christ at Easter
Activities and Ideas for Celebrating the Resurrection with Children
Mar 28, 2009
Easter celebrates Jesus Christ's triumph over death with the Resurrection. But the usual Easter traditions of baskets, candy, and the Easter bunny don't do much to remind kids of the true meaning of the holiday.
Here are some fun ways to have a Christ-centered Easter this year with your family or Sunday School class. These meaningful traditions can help even young children to remember Jesus during Easter.
Religious Easter Basket Goodies
Next to all the chocolate candy and treats in your child's Easter basket this year, include something with religious meaning to your family. It could be a simple piece of jewelry representing belief in Jesus, a small piece of religious artwork for their room, or a new pack of crayons and a small coloring book retelling the resurrection story.
Resurrection Easter Egg Hunt
Fill dozens of plastic Easter eggs with pieces of candy and include pictures representing Jesus or scenes from the Bible. Include one very special "resurrection egg" that is completely empty inside. Try to drum up the children's enthusiasm and get them excited to find this one special egg. Designate the finder of the resurrection egg the "winner" and use the opportunity to talk briefly about the empty tomb and Christ rising from the dead.
Read Children's Books about Easter
In the weeks prior to Easter, stock up with books that emphasize the religious origins of the holiday. A good book for very young children with is Easter by Gail Gibbons [Holiday House,1991] because it is short, colorful, and informative. (Many Easter books focus on secular traditions like Easter baskets and eggs without even mentioning Christ, so make sure to screen them beforehand.) Read the books together and leave them sitting in a place where kids can flip through the books by themselves throughout the day. Learning about Jesus through colorful pictures can be a powerful way for young children to learn.
Attend an Easter Sunday Church Service
Even if you think your child is too young to get anything out of attending church on Easter Sunday, the fact that you are making time for church sends a message that Easter is a time to focus on Christ. Children can also learn about the Resurrection in age-appropriate ways in Sunday School afterward. Talk beforehand about what Easter is and why you are attending church that day. For older children, prepare a list of words relating to Jesus and the Resurrection that they can circle as they hear during the sermon.
Easter Show and Tell
Lay out several items representing secular Easter traditions. These might include colored eggs, candy, Easter baskets, an Easter hat or dress, a plush bunny or chick, flowers, and so on. Let children take turns picking an item and telling how it relates to Easter. After they have explained, ask them if it's the reason Easter is celebrated. When all items have been chosen, hand out a printable coloring page of Jesus from the Internet and talk about it as the children color.
Read the Resurrection Story in the Bible
To teach the true meaning of Easter, there's just no substitute for getting out your Bible and reading the resurrection story with your children. Younger children may enjoy acting out parts of the story or using flannel board figures to tell the story as you read. Depending on the ages of the children, you may want to select relevant passages ahead of time to keep their attention.
Celebrate Easter Saturday
Consider making Saturday – the day before Easter – the day to celebrate all the secular traditions your family enjoys. Trade Easter baskets and hunt for eggs on Easter Saturday, and reserve Easter Sunday for religious observance of the holiday with some of the activities listed above. It may take a while for children to get used to the idea of Easter as a strictly religious day, but it communicates deep love and reverence for Jesus Christ and keeps him at the center of the holiday.
Colored eggs, baby chicks, and new clothes may symbolize new life, but they are not very effective reminders of Jesus and his resurrection. Put the focus on Christ this Easter with these activities for children in your Sunday School class, a special family meeting or LDS Family Home Evening, or as new Easter traditions in your family.
For more information on the origin of Easter, read Easter History, Traditions, and Dates.
Readers might also be interested in Keeping Christ in Christmas with Kids.
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