Explaining Easter to a child can be a way to help them learn and grow, both spiritually, intellectually and emotionally. Easter is a significant holiday that is celebrated by Christians all around the world. Sharing this holiday with our youngest ones is a special and meaningful way to celebrate the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
How Do You Explain Easter To A Toddler?
The first thing that you want to keep in mind when preparing to share Easter with toddlers or young children is to keep the message age-appropriate.
One way that we do this in our home is by using Resurrection Eggs to tell the story of Easter.
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Resurrection Eggs are a set of 12 plastic eggs that are often used as a teaching tool to help children understand the events leading up to Easter, including the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each egg contains a small object or symbol that represents a different part of the Easter story.
My kids absolutely adore these eggs and we usually open up each one of the 12 eggs every morning during Lent as part of our morning basket. I believe it’s more common to spread out opening the eggs over several days, however we just enjoy the whole process so much that my kids end up wanting to open them all and hear the entire story.
Resurrection Eggs are not the only tool available to you when it comes to teaching toddlers about Easter. There are several ways that you can teach them about Easter.
What Is The Story Of Easter In Simple Words?
One of the best ways to teach little kids about Easter is to just share the story of Jesus with them. You can do this by using simple language, words, and concepts that they will understand.
“Easter is a special day that we celebrate because it reminds us of Jesus. Do you remember when we learned about Jesus at church? Yes, that’s right! Jesus is the Son of God the Father and a long time ago He came to live on earth just like we do. On Easter, we remember that Jesus did something very special for us. Jesus died on the cross and then He did something that no one has ever done before. Do you know what He did? He came back to life again! This is why we celebrate Easter! Easter is all about Jesus coming back to life.”
Another option for doing this is to use a children’s Bible or children’s story book Bible and read the stories they have written about Easter. We have this storybook Bible as well as this gorgeous illustrated New Testament stories for Children. Any kind of child’s Bible that you have will work really well for this story time activity.
Each year as your child grows and matures you can add more details of the story and help them to put the story of Easter in context with the other stories and lessons from the Bible.
Be sure to ask them questions! You will be surprised by how much information they pick up on and understand. You may even find that your tiny toddler has some perspectives about life that make you stop and think.
How Do You Teach Little Kids About Easter?
Easter can also be taught through a variety of crafts, activities, and hands-on projects.
Coloring pages and Easter related crafts or desserts are popular at our house. You can also listen to Easter music for children and have a dance party! I’ve put together a free playlist of 50 Christian Easter Songs For Kids that’s great to listen to any time of the year but especially at Easter.
How Do I Introduce My Toddler To Jesus?
Jesus Christ is the main focus of Easter so it is helpful if your child knows and understands, on their level, who Jesus is.
Introducing your toddler to Jesus can be done in a simple and age-appropriate way. Here are a few tips:
- Start with age-appropriate resources: There are many children’s books, songs, and videos that introduce Jesus and his teachings in a way that is engaging and appropriate for toddlers. Look for resources that use simple language, bright colors, and fun illustrations to capture your toddler’s attention. Some of my favorite books are the Big Theology for Little Hearts Collection, the Generation Claimed Collection, and for older toddlers or younger children the Picture Book Apologetics.
- Talk about kindness and love: One of the central teachings of Jesus is to love one another and to treat others with kindness and compassion. You can introduce your toddler to these concepts by talking about how we can be kind to our friends, help those in need, and show love to others. Remember the old saying, “more is caught than is taught”. Your toddlers will learn much about kindness and love by following your example.
- Share stories: There are many stories in the Bible that are suitable for young children. You can read these stories to your toddler and use them as a starting point to talk about Jesus and his teachings.
- Pray together: Praying is a simple and meaningful way to introduce your toddler to the concept of spirituality and to connect with Jesus. You can pray with your toddler before bed, before meals, or at other times during the day.
- Attend church as a family: Attending church is one of the best ways to introduce your toddler to Jesus and to connect with other Christian families.
What Is The Main Message Of Easter?
The main message of Easter is one of hope, renewal, and new beginnings.
The message of Easter is also one of love and sacrifice. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, and his resurrection represents the triumph of good over evil and the ultimate victory of life over death.
You can read about the story of Easter in the Bible in Luke 23:32-24:12
Luke 23:32-24:12
Crucified between Two Criminals 32 Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided his clothes and cast lots. 35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 An inscription was above him:[b] This Is the King of the Jews. 39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at[c] him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me[d] when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The Death of Jesus 44 It was now about noon,[e] and darkness came over the whole land[f] until three,[g] 45 because the sun’s light failed.[h] The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”[i] Saying this, he breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” [j] 48 All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests. 49 But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. The Burial of Jesus 50 There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, 51 who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.[k] 54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.[l] 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. Resurrection Morning 24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they[m] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” 8 And they remembered his words. 9 Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. 11 But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths.[n] So he went away, amazed at what had happened.
Easter For Toddlers
Ultimately, explaining Easter to toddlers involves breaking down the story and its significance to a level that your child will best understand.
Teaching Easter to children is about sharing the story of Jesus’ resurrection, conveying the message of love and forgiveness, and celebrating the hope and joy that come from the story of His resurrection.
Although this is a very serious topic for Christians it’s perfectly acceptable to make it fun and exciting. You want this to be a fun memory for your toddlers and a pleasant learning experience.
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