Celebrate Lent with Your Kids this Easter

Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

Interesting history, fun activities, Scripture and meaningful ways to prepare, reflect, and renew your hearts together. 

Lent is a season of hope — a time to mark what is now and not yet at the same time. Families around the world observe the 40-day period with times of prayer and preparation culminating with a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. His new life brings ours to life! With a little intentionality, you can use what’s here to guide your children through the Lenten season and into Easter.  

How to prepare your heart for Easter during Lent

Easter is filled with joy—He is risen!

Where I live, it’s a season of rebirth across the board, as if the earth is hinting at what’s to come after the dry, cold Colorado winter. Dormant plants spring back to life as the soil begins to warm. Even before the grass greens up, hardy early‑season flowers emerge—announcing themselves with happy color and reminding us that Easter is right around the corner. And so are the fun festivities that come with celebrating Jesus’ new life.

When my kids were little, we made the most of the still‑cold days of Lent that lead up to Easter. To me, it feels as though the earth itself is whispering a reminder of what is coming—we are invited to prepare our hearts for the greatest, holiest day of our faith. While not part of a liturgical community, our family’s tradition is to ready our hearts through special devotions, Bible stories, and meaningful outings—activities that may include egg baskets and cute bunnies but always draw our reflections much deeper.

What is Lent? 

Lent is observed by millions of Christians worldwide Understanding Lent’s history, purpose, and practices enriches your family’s experience of Easter and helps anchor your traditions in biblical truth.   

Lent invites followers of Jesus to:  

• prepare our hearts for the death and Resurrection of Jesus 

• reflect on Scripture 

• pray 

• fast 

• repent for things that are not in line with His Word 

• announce the work of Jesus’ grace in our lives 

Like spring flowers, learning the roots of Lent and its connection Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter/Resurrection Sunday helps grow your walk with God. 

What does it mean to “prepare your heart” for Easter? 

In the Bible, Isaiah 40 and Mark 1 call us to “prepare the way for the Lord, and make straight the paths for him.” But what does that actually look like? 

Think of it as a kind of “spiritual spring cleaning” — a time to declutter your heart, clear out what weight you down, and make room for renewed life with Jesus. 

Here are some reflective questions to guide your daily time with the Lord:  

• What part of my life has gotten a little messy? (1 John 1:9) 

• What areas of my heart feel dusty or neglected? (Matt. 23:25-26) 

• Are there areas of my life where I am holding onto unforgiveness or bitterness? (Eph 4:31-32) 

• What emotional closets need cleaning out? (Col. 3:5-9) 

• Has my schedule become too cluttered for time with God? (Matt. 22:37-18) 

• Do I need to tidy up some relationships by repairing unresolved issues? Do any of my relationships need healing? (Matt 5:23-24) 

• Is the fruit of the Spirit in my life fresh — or does something need to be tossed? (Gal. 5) 

Start where you are, pace yourself, and let God guide your reflections. This isn’t a season to get bogged down in shame for shortcomings, rather it’s an opportunity to start again, enlisting the Holy Spirit to guide you. And remember, observing Lent doesn’t “earn” you anything. God simply wants to walk with you as you ready your hearts for Easter. 

Notice if there are themes that surface. Look up Bible verses about what you sense God telling you. For example, do you struggle with anger? Read what James 1:19-20 has to say. Ask the Lord to show you the source of your anger and how you can change this pattern with His help. 

Activities to help you guide your kids hearts 

The questions and activities we’ve included will help you guide your kids’ hearts in the process of praying about their lives, reflecting on Easter scriptures, and clearing out what doesn’t grow their life with God. 

Is Lent in the Bible? 

While the word “lent” doesn’t appear in Scripture, the 40-day pattern of preparation is woven throughout the Bible in seasons of testing, discipline, transformation, and readiness.  Some examples? 

• Moses 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai 

• The Israelites 40 years in the wilderness 

• Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting before beginning His three-year ministry 

Matthew 3:16-17 describes how, after Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to prepare for the work ahead of Him. That season models the heart of Lent.  

Lent is rooted in the early Christian Church. The season takes its name from the Old English word “lencten,” which means “spring.”  

What does the wilderness have to do with Lent? 

In the Bible, the wilderness was a lonely, bleak, and twisted piece of limestone desert located in a remote area between Jerusalem and the cliffs overlooking the Dead Sea. Out there, no physical consolation was available — things were getting real. Jesus was all alone —or was He? Imagine the conversations He must have had with His Father. This solitary stretch of wasteland brought Him opportunities to seek and deeply connect with God. 

And there He faced temptation.  

Where may we experience the wilderness? 

The wilderness was a hard place and a hard time—but it was necessary. It prepared Jesus.  

We experience our own “wilderness seasons” too: 

• financial strain 

• grief 

• sickness 

• loneliness 

• relational stress 

• spiritual dryness 

Lent reminds us that Jesus knows these moments and meets us in them. 

Why is this a time of testing for Jesus? 

We learn in Matthew 4:1-11, that at His weakest moment, the devil tempted Jesus with: 

• food 

• public acclaim 

• earthly power 

But Jesus responded to every temptation with Scripture. His example teaches us how to confront our own temptations today — by grounding ourselves in God’s Word and relying on His strength. 

Is Lent a time of testing for us? 

Some people may look at Lent as a time of testing their faith, however Jesus already passed the test for all of us. Another way to think about these 40 days is that they offer us another way to compassionately connect with Jesus and the suffering He endured for us — in the desert and on the Cross. 

Satan seems to lie in wait at desolate times like these, doesn’t he? At the end of Jesus’ forty days, when He must have been a weak and vulnerable point, the devil came to test him. He offered Jesus three things: 

1. food (to a man breaking a forty-day fast, the bread Satan held out probably looked pretty good) 

2. earthly prestige (a chance to show off and let the angels save Him from a fall), 

3. power and glory over all the kingdoms of the world (if He would bow to Satan). 

Jesus responded with the truth of God’s Word to each temptation the devil offered. And the devil left Him. (Matthew 4:11) 

What are some practical ways to prepare your hearts as a family? 

Throughout Jesus’ life, He prayed, fasted, and studied Scripture. You can follow His example with some simple, meaningful practices.  

1. Set a Family Fast 

Choose something age-appropriate and family-friendly such as temporarily giving up a particular treat, show, habit, or screen time. Talk about how fasting helps us focus on God.  

2. Take a Prayer Hike 

Walk quietly through nature, noticing God’s creation. Begin with prayer or a short Scripture reading. (Adjust the length of your walk to fit the age and limitations of your kids.) Before you begin your trek, pray together or read a passage about God’s creation. Encourage everyone to walk quietly — praying, reflecting, and connecting with God as they go. Share about the time you had with the Lord. 

3. Create a Prayer Jar 

Have everyone rite down prayers or blessings throughout the week and keep them in a jar on your mealtime table (be sure to help children who are too young to write). Add to the collection throughout Lent. Read several each week and encourage one another. 

4. “Acts of Grace” Eggs 

Fill plastic eggs with small acts of grace (service, kindness, etc.) on strips of paper. Make them simple tasks like writing notes of encouragement, performing chores, saying something kind, or serving others. Then, place each act of grace (one slip of paper) inside a plastic egg. 

Once per week, read the words of John 3:16 as a reminder before family members choose an egg. Give each person 48 hours to complete their act of grace and share their experience. 

Specifically ask: 

• Tell us about your act of service or kindness. How did you personalize the task? 

• How did it go? Who did you interact with? How did that person(s) respond? 

• How did God express His creativity through you? 

• How did it make you feel? 

• What does God want you to know about Him from this experience? 

5. “For-Give“ Gift Wrapping 

Have each family member write down a person they need to forgive — or who has forgiven them. Model the first steps in forgiveness. Discuss the incredible and life-giving gift of forgiveness. Ask: How can our family foster a culture of forgiveness (a culture of deeper love).? How does asking for forgiveness and forgiving others guide brave decisions and clear behaviors. 

Lent invites us to pray, reflect, sacrifice, and serve as He did. When you practice some of these ideas, you share the celebration of Easter together. 

Conversation Starters to Prepare Each Age and Stage 

Ages 4-8 

Using a Children’s Bible, read John 3:1-4:11 

• What do we celebrate at Easter? 

• Why do we prepare for something special? 

• Does God want our hearts to be clean and ready? 

• How can God help prepare your heart for Jesus as we get ready for Easter? 

Ages 9-12 

Take turns reading John 3:1-4:11 

• What is Lent? 

• Why does it come before Easter? 

• What do you want to pray about this Lent? 

• Have you ever asked God to clean up anything in your heart? What happened next? 

• Is there anything you want to pray about in your life as we get ready for Easter  

Ages 13-18 

Read John 3:1-4:11 

• Do you know why Lent is forty days long? 

• Why did Jesus go out to the Wilderness after John the Baptist baptized Him? 

• How does temptation show up in your life today? 

• How can we make practice prayer, fasting, and reflection as a family practice? 

What is the Christian Calendar? 

If you’re unfamiliar with the Christian (or liturgical) calendar, Lent may feel new. But this calendar walks believers through the story of Jesus each year — His birth, life, death, and resurrection. It’s filled with seasons, feasts, fasts, and “ordinary time” (the days that remain). 

Here is a snapshot: 

• Lent — preparation for Easter that begins 40 days before Holy Week begins. the season between Epiphany and Easter. (Some traditions honor Lent through Maundy Thursday, others do so through Holy Saturday.) 

• Ash Wednesday – the first day of Lent. On this day, Christians apply ashes — made from burning the previous year’s Palm Sunday fronds — in the shape of a cross to the forehead to mark the beginning of Lent. The ashes symbolize repentance and mortality and mark the beginning of 40 days of temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). 

• Holy Week – (Everything we are celebrating this week!) It’s the week before Resurrection Sunday (Easter), including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, and Easter. 

• Palm Sunday – the day Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey as the people who recognized the Messiah waved palm branches to honor Him.  Matthew 21:1- 11, Psalm 118:25-26  

• Maundy Thursday – The day of Jesus’ Last Supper, His final Passover meal, with His disciples. Three notable events happened that evening, leaving their mark on biblical history: Jesus takes the role of servant and washes the disciples feet, He wrestled in the Garden of Gethsemane, and was betrayed by Judas. John 13:34-35 

• Good Friday – The Friday before Easter is time to reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus, acknowledging the sacrifice made for the redemption of humanity (Matthew 27:24-61). 

• Holy Saturday – Christ had not yet been resurrected on Holy Saturday. For many, this day represents Jesus’ victorious descent into hell on our behalf. 

• Easter/Resurrection Sunday – Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, triumph over sin and death, and the promise of new life for all who believe (Matthew 28:1-20). 

• Eastertide – the 50-day period between Easter Sunday and Pentecost. 

• Ascension – 40 days after Easter, this is the day Jesus returned to to the Father in the presence of many witnesses (Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11). 

• Pentecost - the coming of the Holy Spirit — when believers received God’s gift of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room (Acts 2:1-21). Some consider this the birthday of the Christian Church.) 

• Advent – Liturgical “new year” marking preparation for the coming of Christ 

• Christmas – Jesus’ birth and the beginning of the twelve days of Christmastide (ends on Epiphany). 

• Epiphany – Jesus’ manifestation, also known as Three Kings Day, when the magi came to celebrate, bearing gifts for the Savior. It also marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmastide. 

How can the Christian Calendar help your family’s spiritual growth?  

Every day is sacred. The Christian calendar encourages us to stay focused. For those who follow Jesus, it reminds to slow down and make space to remember — especially on the days and seasons dedicated to retelling His story. Lent is just an example. So slow down during this season. Make space for Scripture, prayer, and conversation. These spiritual moments will shape your children’s faith for years to come. 

Want more family ideas to grow and have fun this Easter? 

For more fun ideas to help you and your kids explore God’s Word draw closer to God as a family, visit www.FamilyReadingOfScripture.com.   

Embracing the joy of Easter together strengthens faith, builds bonds, establishes lasting traditions, and makes great memories! 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Want some random Lent trivia? 

Share the following little-known facts or—better yet create your own trivia contest at your Easter table. See who answers the most questions correctly: 

• On Ash Wednesday, how did leaders originally dispense ashes to believers? Instead of marking foreheads with a cross, they sprinkled ashes over each person’s head.

• Fasting is described by some as eliminating food in order to feast on God. What are some other reasons some Christian traditions fast? Some people fast to eliminate distractions or to redirect the money they would have spent on food so they can donate it to the poor.

• Eggs were first decorated in the 13^th century. Holy Week eggs — those laid during the period when the church prohibited the eating of eggs— were decorated instead. 

• Easter Egg hunts began in the US in 1876, after the easter egg roll  sponsored by President Rutherford and Lucy Hayes’ (celebrated from 1870-1875) did too much damage to the White House grounds.