Teaching Kids About Easter: 5 Great Ways

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Easter is a wonderful Christian holiday where we celebrate the risen Jesus Christ. Each year we should look forward to this day because it is a reminder of our promised future resurrection. However you choose to celebrate this holiday, here are five ways for teaching kids about Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Here are five ways you can teach kids about the meaning of Easter.

Attend a Sunrise Service

As the two Marys approached the tomb of Jesus on the day of His resurrection, it was early in the morning. After the confusion of the moment and the realization that Jesus was alive, the small crowd celebrated together. They celebrated a risen Savior.

Many churches and communities have early-morning sunrise services on Easter Sunday. You can attend one of these celebrations with your children. Younger kids are likely to enjoy the excitement of getting up early for the special day. 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.

Learn (or Write) an Easter Poem Together

Here is a good poem by Joanna Fuchs that is easy to learn. She has written many Easter poems you may want to read.

His Love

God sent His Son to take the punishment
For all the thoughtless, sinful things we do;
Jesus gave his life because He loves us;
His love is boundless, sweet, forever true.

On Easter morn He showed He is our Savior;
His resurrection proves He is our Lord.
That is why we tell you, “Happy Easter!”
He secured our heavenly reward!

By Joanna Fuchs – Poemsource.com Christian Easter Poems

Read the Account of Jonah

Jesus said that the story of Jonah can be interpreted to show a type of Christ (Matthew 12:38-42). As a family you can read the story of Jonah and then try to find the ways that it points to Christ, His death and resurrection. The obvious similarity (and what Jesus points out in Matthew) is just as Jonah was in the whale for 3 days that Jesus would be in the grave. Other parallels are that Jonah was willing to sacrifice himself for his shipmates and that he preached for 40 days after his “resurrection” from the whale. What others can you find?

Read Crucifixion and Resurrection Stories

Depending on the age of the children you may want to start with the resurrection story. The resurrection doesn’t make much sense unless you teach why Jesus died. However, starting with the good news of the resurrection may make the crucifixion story a little less scary.

You can read these stories in each of the gospels. You may want to summarize or choose to read one story a day in the days leading up to Resurrection Sunday. Matthew 26-28, Mark 15, 16, Luke 22-24 and John 18-20

12 Eggs Activity for Teaching Kids About Easter

This little activity involves 12 eggs filled with various items. Number the eggs and fill them with the following objects. There are many variations of this activity. You can do it with different objects each year to keep the story fresh for your children.

1. A small leaf to represent Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Mark 11:8, 9

2. Cloth with perfume to tell the story of Jesus being anointed with spikenard. Mark 14:3

3. A piece of cracker, tortilla or bread to teach the last supper. Matthew 26:26, 27

4. Use a flower to teach the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:30-42

5. Coins to show Judas’ betrayal. Matthew 26:14, 15

6. Leather to represent the whip. Mark 15:15

7. A thorn to show the crown of thorns. Matthew 27:29

8. A small cross. John 19:17, 18

9. Dice to show the soldier’s gambling for Jesus’ clothes. Matthew 27:35

10. A nail to show the crucifixion. Matthew 27:31, 32

11. A pebble to represent the stone over the tomb. Matthew 27:60, 62-66

12. Nothing. To show an empty tomb and a risen Savior! Matthew 28:5, 6

Happy Easter! Remember that the event of Jesus’ resurrection is the reason we celebrate this wonderful holiday.

If you are needing a great list of Bible Verses for teaching kids about Easter, check out this link below:

20 Easter Bible Verses

Resources:

They Holy Bible, King James Version

Tagged as: bible, Children, Easter, Jesus, Kids, Teacihng