As a parent, I want my kids to have fun memories of Easter day. However, I also know that the true Easter meaning can easily lose its significance amid the crisp new outfits, fun family dinners, delicious candy, and exciting egg hunts.
Q: As an adult, Do YOU even know "why" we buy new clothes to wear on Easter Sunday ??
Answer: This Easter tradition is based on a similar idea as the centuries-old practice of Christians wearing new white clothes after baptisms to symbolize spiritual rebirth. Christians in medieval times began wearing new, clean clothes on Easter Sunday to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus and the new life for His followers. In 300 A.D. Roman emperor Constantine even declared his court would be required to wear their nicest new clothing on Easter Sunday.
Did you know that? Or had you even taken the time to ever stop and think about where this practice originated? Crazy, isn't it?
Family traditions are powerful things! Think back over your life...What are some of your favorite childhood memories? Do some of them involve family traditions done together?
When we re-create the same memory together year after year, it, not only, brings our family closer together, but also, teaches our children that it is something important to us. If something is important to us, we will go out of our way to celebrate and acknowledge it!!
So, incorporating or implementing Family traditions that uplift our Savior can be an integral way to instill Biblical truths in our little ones. Traditions can be wonderful tools if we will be intentional in using them to help us bring glory and honor to our Redeemer!
I believe we should try our best to be super intentional about teaching our kids about Jesus. It is our job to be instilling the appreciation for what Christ has done down inside the hearts of our little ones... participating in yearly family traditions is an excellent way to impart Biblical truths in a fun and exciting way. Most kids are super pumped about doing activities, cooking, making crafts, etc. so why not use these things as avenues to saturate our kids with the gospel?
With that being said, there are so many fun things that can be made into yearly holiday traditions that teach powerful doctrinal truths to our children!
Let's look at a few now ....
Here are some simple ideas that help demonstrate the Resurrection story to children of any age.
There are tons of DIY versions of resurrection eggs, if you'd rather do it yourself to save money... but the link above is for premade ones (for those seeking convenience lol 😂 ) These eggs can also work for a variation of the Easter tree listed above!
Alternatively: here is a more simplified Toddler version of the Resurrection eggs https://happyhomefairy.com/resurrection-eggs-for-toddlers/
Another idea is to have a .....
Special Easter dinner with meaning!
Make it fancy! Incorporate Biblical ethnic foods if you can. Read Scripture. Decorate your table. Do a craft or object lesson to help the Scriptures come to life for your children!! Do something to make it extra special and something your kids will remember and look forward to doing next year!
(Another idea is to make a Passover/last supper style dinner. I would recommend doing this on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday instead of actually on Easter itself so you can take the time to focus and really drive home the sacrifice that was made for our redemption. I have always wanted to do this !!! I am gonna attempt to do it this year !)
Kids enjoy one-on-one attention and most the time, are captivated by new and exciting things. So, I can really see this tradition as being a really cool way to acknowledge and celebrate the awesome sacrifice our Savior became for our redemption. ( I will have a post coming up on my specific plans for my own family celebration meal in more detail...)
For those interested, Google it... There are so many ideas and resources from : what to put on the menu, how to contrast Jesus' sacrifice with the sacrifice of the Passover lamb of Egypt, and how to use symbolism to drive home the point to your kids, as well as ideas for decorations, scripture readings, songs, games, etc.
I am so excited to try this one out!
Other Resurrection Day Activities/Object lessons
We had a preacher do this one at our kids crusade. It was a wonderful illustration that seemed almost like magic to the kids. Works perfectly to illustrate the atonement of Christ!
Another idea is to have a:
Here's another version (complete with free printable for subscribers!) from my friend Erica over @ A Simpler Life blog (https://asimplerlife.blog/easter-activities-we-are-doing-this-year/)
Here's a great idea for those with littler ones.....
Here's a simplified Easter Story Script to go along with it ....
Try recreating the
Easter Story-Lego style
This is a new one we are doing this year! My kids love legos, especially my 10 year old son. So this activity is really grabbing his attention. It's a cute and constructive way to get the "wheels turning" in the minds of your kids! And YES! These recreations are proudly (AND PROMINENTLY !) displayed in our home right now!! Lol 😂
My son built this crucifixion all by himself ⬇️
My daughter built the Garden tomb...
Here is their rendition of the Last Supper.....
If your kids love play-doh, here's an activity that they will love!!
Use Play-Doh to tell the Easter story! Just download, print, and laminate this free story set.
Easter Resurrection Set
Simply grab some card stock and print out ( or draw) the various parts to the resurrection story-- laminate them if possible to help them stand up. You can always glue them to popsicle sticks as well. Tell the story using your "puppets" to illustrate it!!
Easy Cross Craft
Teach your children the significance of Jesus on the cross while crafting DIY tissue paper crosses together. Simply print out the outline of a cross. Provide glue and multiple colors of tissue paper torn into small pieces. It is a super easy craft and they look beautiful hung in a sunny window!
Alternatively, go find sticks in the yard. Bring them in and hot glue them into the shape of a cross. Decorate the cross with a ribbon or purple felt to represent the robe they put on Jesus. Find a thin twigs (or even long blades of grass) to fashion a crown of thorns to hang at the top of your cross... add a dab of hot glue to secure the decorations in place-- all while you are crafting with your child, be sure to be telling them the story of Jesus' great Sacrifice! Having busy hands (while listening to a story) often makes children more likely to retain the message you are trying to instill in them!
These sticker scenes are a fun activity/craft for kids of any age. Read them the story of Easter and have them create the scene as they listen!
Use the free printables to make an Easter story wreath. She has even included printable scriptures to go with it.
Salt Dough Tomb
Let the kids make their own miniature tomb using salt dough. This one is super cool. I highly recommend it! ( just Google "salt dough recipe" for the ingredients. Shape, let dry, and then let the kiddos paint or color it with markers! Super easy and entertaining!!
Use a large cardboard box and some poster board or paper to make Jesus’ tomb. Your kids will love being able to go inside the "tomb" while you recount the story of Jesus’ resurrection
Resurrection Garden
As I mentioned last week, My kids and I made this cute Resurrection garden this year. (It was even free to make!)
For mine, I just used a bowl I already had on hand. We filled the bowl with small rocks first then we added a (washed out/empty) yogurt container for the "tomb". We covered it with dirt to make a mound for Calvary's hill. We hot glued sticks together to make 3 crosses and stuck them into the "hill". We decorated the garden with moss, pebbles, small plants, etc... along with a larger rock for the tombstone to go over the opening of the tomb. I think it turned out pretty well!
When my kids were a bit younger, I did this as well but I incorporated the Easter story with the garden. At the time, they had a tiny Jesus figure. I attached him to the cross on Friday as I read them about the crucifixion. Later that evening, we removed "Jesus" from the cross and wrapped him in toilet paper to represent the grave clothes. We placed him inside the tomb... I read the coordinating verses as we did so. I made sure to speak in a somber, sad tone...We placed the stone over the tomb, sealing Jesus inside. I added a toy soldier outside to "guard" the fomb. The next day, I reiterated the story we had discussed the previous day, again, with a sad tone... but I did tell the kids that, perhaps, there may be more to the story (Jesus did promise to rise again) but we would have to wait and see... Sunday morning on Easter, before the kids woke, I moved the rock from its place over the tomb and removed Jesus from inside. I added an toy angel in His place and a little sign that declared "He is not here! He is risen, as He said!
When the kids woke up, they ran to the garden see if Jesus was still "dead". To their delight, Jesus had indeed risen just as He had promised! In an excited and enthusiastic tone, I proceeded to finish reading the resurrection story as told by the gospels!
I thoroughly enjoyed this illustration! It was a wonderful opportunity bring the Bible to life in a tangible way for my kids to see!! I highly recommend!!
I love this idea if you already have the tradition of coloring eggs with your kids. What a great way to take something that is not really religious and make it become Christ centered! All you have to do is attach this free printable cover to a store bought coloring kit.
Here are some more Resurrection Day ideas (these involve food! Yum! 🤤)
Recreate the crown of thorns using a cookie or cracker, some peanut butter, and pieces of pretzels
Have fun and make Resurrection cake together Google "Resurrection Cake" for more inspiration/ideas
Rice Krispie treats are perfect for molding your own Easter scene. We love how they used Twizzlers to make the crosses.
I have done both of the following activities many times over the years and I highly recommend them! They are an amazing way to demonstrate the Easter story in a way easy for kids to comprehend!!
Well, I hope that gives you some ideas and inspiration to assist you if you decide to join me in the quest of making Easter more Christ centered this year !!
Feel free to share this post with anyone who you think might be interested in celebrating an Easter more about Christ this year!! .... drop me a comment and let me know what your own favorite Easter/Resurrection Day activities or traditions may be!! I would love to hear your ideas!!
Rejoicing in His Triumph,
Tiphanie 💖
Fun fact- so my little sister was bout 5 one spring season and she asked my dad if she could have a bunch of nails to hide outside. When we asked why, we found out she was trying to re-create the neighbors Easter egg hunt into a spiritual “nail” hunt. (Nails that hung Jesus on the cross) ❤️ you couldn’t help but love her enthusiasm and heart in this even if it was a tad dangerous 😂
Love this 2 part post! Your kids did amazing on the legos ❤️ . We’re gonna try the resurrection rolls this year . Can’t wait! Also can’t wait to hear your plans for the dinner