Easter Traditions: Engaging Kids of All Ages
*This article is a transcript summary of Episode 171 of our podcast, “Holy Week Activities To Nurture Faith in Kids of All Ages”. If you’d like to dig a little deeper into these concepts, we encourage you to listen to it in its entirety.
As you approach the season of Easter, you are presented with a beautiful opportunity to share with your children the profound significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This time of year is more than a celebration; it’s a chance for you to instill deep-seated truths and create traditions that will strengthen both faith and connection in your family.
Attending church services, singing hymns, and sharing a meal are great ways to celebrate Easter. But how do you best explain the significance of the Resurrection to kids? Read on for scripts, verses, and a fun activity to make the Resurrection real to kids of all ages.
Understanding the Resurrection
So what does the Resurrection of Jesus mean? This extraordinary event signifies the grace and truth that are the foundation of the Christian faith. Romans 6:4 reads, “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
This scripture reassures you that despite life’s inevitable missteps, God’s grace offers you a new beginning! The transformative power of the Cross means that the Resurrection is not just about Jesus’s victory over death but also about His ongoing invitation to live in the fullness of His love, forgiveness, and grace.
As you share the profound significance of the Resurrection with your children, the empty tomb and the stone rolled away become powerful symbols of steadfast truth and abundant grace. In John 11:25, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die,” This verse reinforces that our identity and worth are not defined by our shortcomings but by Christ’s saving work on the cross.
Celebrating the Resurrection’s redemptive story can transform it from history to a living experience and grow a more profound sense of connection and purpose in your family.
FREE Easter Activity PDF
Grab your free Resurrection Sunday Rock Hunt PDF and share your pictures with us on Instagram or Facebook. We’d love to see how you use this resource with your family!
Explaining the Resurrection for various ages
When you sit down with your youngest, you can explain the resurrection in terms they can grasp. You could use the example of an experience your children know and understand, like feeling clean after a bath.
Sample script for little ones:
“Jesus died on the cross for our sins. BUT, if Jesus did not rise again, He would just be dead. There would be NO Christians. No church. No Bible. Only Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, can make Himself come alive again because He is God, and He did that for us. Jesus came alive so that when we ask Him to forgive our sins, He will cleanse us from all our sins. The Bible says that God doesn’t even remember our sins after that. They are gone, meaning we feel clean and new – just like when we get out of the bathtub.”
As your children grow into their tween and teen years, they develop the ability to think more abstractly. This is when you can have deeper conversations with them about the implications of sin, the power of redemption, and the life-changing sacrifice Jesus made. To illustrate these profound truths, you can share scriptures like 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NIV), where the Apostle Paul says, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins… that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”.
Sample script for teens/tweens:
“The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope that who we are does not have to be defined by our sin. Jesus’ blood paid the price instead of our sin being counted against us. But, if Jesus had not risen from the dead – he would just be dead, and what hope would we have? Jesus became alive again on the third day. ONLY God can do that. The Bible says that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection symbolize our salvation. Our sin brings death to ourselves, our relationships, and the world, but when we ask Jesus to forgive our sins, then, like Jesus’s resurrection, we come alive too. Our sin does not define us; instead, we are defined by Jesus’ love for us.”
A fun new tradition: Resurrection Sunday Rock Hunt
Want to help your children better understand Jesus’ forgiveness and grace through a fun activity? (And you only need a few things you likely already have around your house!) This FREE downloadable PDF has all the instructions.
As you discover meaningful traditions and engage in thoughtful discussions, may the joy of the Resurrection deepen your family’s connection to each other and God.
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