Confession: In the past, I have personally known Lent is almost here when fast-food signs start advertising fish sandwiches. So maybe your kids ask, “Hey, what’s Lent?” around Ash Wednesday (PSA: today is the start of Lent!). But if it isn’t something your family typically observes, you might be scrambling for answers that don’t include “Filet-O-Fish.”
So allow me a brief rundown of lent for kids, in language they (/we) can understand—and some tips to help it sink in.
First, catch this article I’ve written for FamilyLife.com: “What is Lent?” Lent for Kids, Made Easy.
If you, too, have occasionally allowed the Arby’s sign to remind you of the Church calendar–or have just been burned by feeling Lent has become a tradition without much meaning–this is a basic primer with ideas to make Lent fun for kids. It might kindle a little excitement of your own to observe Lent for kids. And Lent for yourself.
Then, grab this super-fun Lent paper chain I created with them, “Countdown to the Cross.” Every day has yep-you-can-do-this-and-still-survive activities to help you count down to Easter together. And that’s even if your kids are still at the “I remind them to wash their hands after the bathroom” phase, or “I’m just trying to get my kids to remember where they put their shoes.”
(Bonus: this is SUPER CUTE, and the graphics build up to Easter as you get closer!)
Why do Lent for Kids?
Lent’s an ideal time to introduce spiritual disciplines—prayer, fasting, remembering, simplicity, celebrating—into your family’s lifestyle and rhythms. I
t’s also a great opening to communicate that Easter’s so much more than a pastel-doused sugar-fest. Lent’s a time to get our hearts ready to truly appreciate Jesus’ death for us and celebrate a history-altering Resurrection.
It says, Hey, kids. This.
And it really can be fun–with engaging, doable activities that allow you to build anticipation and introduce spiritual disciplines for a lifetime. Lent can be great “training wheels” for future practices that fuel and add robust fullness to our relationship with God.
You game?
Click here for the article and paperchain download.
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