How We Teach Our Kids About Easter (Toddler-Kindergarten)
Conversations about Easter start on Shrove Tuesday in our family, which is the Tuesday we "fatten up" by eating pancakes before Ash Wednesday when Lent begins and some/none of our family fasts or gives up something but everyone travels metaphorically alongside Jesus through Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday (Jewish Passover) before Good Friday with a big celebration of His resurrection on Easter [Sunday].
There is a fair amount of lead time, 47 days from Shrove Tuesday to Easter Sunday and so we're able to have many conversations and do many activities, almost double the time of Advent leading up to Christmas.
Storybook Bibles
We have "The Beginner's Bible" which is a story format with cute cartoons that amalgamates the different versions into an easy to read format. The Easter texts are written into 3 small stories: The Last Supper, Jesus Is Arrested and Crucified, and Jesus Is Risen! This would be best for very young children or kids who haven't heard the Easter story before.
My favourite is T's original version of the "My Good Night Bible," as it has mini devotionals for toddlers/pre-schoolers with a short bible verse followed by an explanation of the story in easy to understand language. Next are questions about the pictures and the takeaway message from the story. It's then followed up with 3 questions about the story, a short prayer, and a night time/sleep reflection for right before bed.
One of E's bibles is "The New BIBLE In Pictures for Little Eyes." It goes a lot more in depth into the events of Holy Week (has more stories total for the week). It summarizes a section of the bible and then gives the reference but no direct quote. It also has a smaller devotion piece, two questions and a one sentence prayer. I would say this is targeted more to elementary aged kids (rather than toddler/pre-k) as it goes more in depth with the harder themes of Holy Week (punishment, betrayal, conflicted feelings, lying, realistic depiction of the cross, His body).
Nesting Eggs
This is our first year with the Nesting Eggs (I found them on sale a few months ago on Zulily so didn't pay in USD or shipping from the States). So far they're a major hit with the boys and we're working through the accompanying book.
As it's an LDS resource, I do feel the need to focus the "House of Prayer" topic firmly on Jesus' resurrection establishing God's dwelling within those who accept Jesus as Messiah and how that superseded Jerusalem's Temple as the place of God's presence (John 14:23). I don't want to emphasize the temple/house of prayer as much as the authors do. I don't think kids would take any notice of the wording of this page at all though, just my need.
Resurrection Eggs
This appears to be the new set of Resurrection Eggs for purchase but you can DIY. We were given an old set when a family with older children was done with them. We also have the book Benjamin's Box to go along with them and these free printable Easter story cards that has a corresponding bible verse for each object within the eggs. Depending on how we want to use the eggs I find both the book and the story cards are useful.
Other Books
Picture books during Story Time (usually before naps/quiet time and bed for our kiddos) is a great time to expand on concepts and see how Easter affects different characters. A couple of our favourites: God Gave Us Easter & God Bless Our Easter
I'd love to know your favourites!
Learning Activities
There is time in our week with our toddler and kindergartener to do different learning activities. Finding religious Easter activities that also involve writing or math concepts bring all of this learning together.
Beginner's Bible Come Celebrate Easter Sticker & Activity Book
Round-up of homeschooling Easter activities (variety of ages)
Emergent Readers
I like bringing out readers that match up to a topic we're focusing on. These are great for JK-Gr 1. Some of the are also colouring pages or cut & paste letter activities.
Jesus Rose on Easter
Jesus is Risen (Interactive, Protestant version)
Lent Reminds Us of Jesus (Interactive)
The Easter Story (Cut & Paste)
He Did It For You
Signs of New Life
When Is Easter / Where Was Jesus?
Stations of the Cross
The last few years (at least) our church has taken over the gym for a Stations of the Cross contemplative & interactive experience during Holy Week. This year it will run @ 22 Willow St. Waterloo, ON April 15-19, 9am-8pm. I usually try to take the little kids (who can't be quiet) before dinner so we're not interrupting others' experiences in the evening (even though I don't think anyone would mind). Let me know if you want to join us this year!
Dying Easter Eggs
Hot Cross Buns
There is a fair amount of lead time, 47 days from Shrove Tuesday to Easter Sunday and so we're able to have many conversations and do many activities, almost double the time of Advent leading up to Christmas.
Storybook Bibles
We have "The Beginner's Bible" which is a story format with cute cartoons that amalgamates the different versions into an easy to read format. The Easter texts are written into 3 small stories: The Last Supper, Jesus Is Arrested and Crucified, and Jesus Is Risen! This would be best for very young children or kids who haven't heard the Easter story before.
My favourite is T's original version of the "My Good Night Bible," as it has mini devotionals for toddlers/pre-schoolers with a short bible verse followed by an explanation of the story in easy to understand language. Next are questions about the pictures and the takeaway message from the story. It's then followed up with 3 questions about the story, a short prayer, and a night time/sleep reflection for right before bed.
One of E's bibles is "The New BIBLE In Pictures for Little Eyes." It goes a lot more in depth into the events of Holy Week (has more stories total for the week). It summarizes a section of the bible and then gives the reference but no direct quote. It also has a smaller devotion piece, two questions and a one sentence prayer. I would say this is targeted more to elementary aged kids (rather than toddler/pre-k) as it goes more in depth with the harder themes of Holy Week (punishment, betrayal, conflicted feelings, lying, realistic depiction of the cross, His body).
Nesting Eggs
This is our first year with the Nesting Eggs (I found them on sale a few months ago on Zulily so didn't pay in USD or shipping from the States). So far they're a major hit with the boys and we're working through the accompanying book.
Resurrection Eggs
This appears to be the new set of Resurrection Eggs for purchase but you can DIY. We were given an old set when a family with older children was done with them. We also have the book Benjamin's Box to go along with them and these free printable Easter story cards that has a corresponding bible verse for each object within the eggs. Depending on how we want to use the eggs I find both the book and the story cards are useful.
Other Books
Picture books during Story Time (usually before naps/quiet time and bed for our kiddos) is a great time to expand on concepts and see how Easter affects different characters. A couple of our favourites: God Gave Us Easter & God Bless Our Easter
Learning Activities
There is time in our week with our toddler and kindergartener to do different learning activities. Finding religious Easter activities that also involve writing or math concepts bring all of this learning together.
Beginner's Bible Come Celebrate Easter Sticker & Activity Book
Round-up of homeschooling Easter activities (variety of ages)
Emergent Readers
I like bringing out readers that match up to a topic we're focusing on. These are great for JK-Gr 1. Some of the are also colouring pages or cut & paste letter activities.
Jesus Rose on Easter
Lent Reminds Us of Jesus (Interactive)
The Easter Story (Cut & Paste)
He Did It For You
Signs of New Life
When Is Easter / Where Was Jesus?
Stations of the Cross
The last few years (at least) our church has taken over the gym for a Stations of the Cross contemplative & interactive experience during Holy Week. This year it will run @ 22 Willow St. Waterloo, ON April 15-19, 9am-8pm. I usually try to take the little kids (who can't be quiet) before dinner so we're not interrupting others' experiences in the evening (even though I don't think anyone would mind). Let me know if you want to join us this year!
Dying Easter Eggs
Dying eggs is a great tradition for the young and old! Historically people would not have had eggs during their Lenten fast and as a result eggs have become an important symbol for Easter.
Hot Cross Buns
One easy tradition is to pick up a package of hot cross buns at the grocery store to toast on Easter. It marks the end of the traditional Lenten fasting of dairy as well as having the symbol of the cross to remember during our celebration of Easter morning.
See Also: EASTER LEARNING ACTIVITY ROUND-UP for more ideas
Many free printables for pre-K to elementary-aged kids.
Many free printables for pre-K to elementary-aged kids.
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