“What can you tell me about Easter, sweetheart?” my hubby asked our youngest, Goldilocks, during family devotions this past week.
Goldilocks cocked her head up at him, as if she smelled a trick question.
“Oh, well . . .” she hesitated, “it’s gonna be FUN!”
We all enjoyed a good laugh before moving on to discuss why we celebrate Easter and what stories we will enjoy over the next weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday. But Goldilocks’ response has been replaying in my mind these past few days. My hubby and I have dedicated ourselves to our children’s Biblical education and we work hard to ensure our family’s holiday celebrations are just that: “holy days.” And yet . . . what did our Goldilocks remember from her little Easter basket of memories? That Easter is . . . FUN.
Now, of course there’s nothing wrong with fun. Actually, I’m quite fond of it myself. However, “fun” and “happiness” have become the largely unchallenged fundamentals of modern parenting. In fact, they’ve practically become in and of themselves a religion of sorts.
Yes, of course we want our kiddos to enjoy a “fun” and “happy” Easter. We Christian parents, however, should also desire for our families a meaningful, transforming, joyous holiday. First and foremost, our celebration should shout HE IS RISEN, indeed!
Favorite Festivities to Celebrate the Savior!
Fun is fleeting, but the truth fulfills forever. Together, let’s create truly unforgettable holidays where tears and laughter can go hand in hand. This means we need to be very selective in which traditions we keep, and even more mindful about which traditions we create; anchoring every festivity in the hope and triumph of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ!
Join our family in filling our baskets this Easter season with truth, with hope, and with joy!
~Celebrate the “Seder”~
“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.” -Exodus 12:14
Last year marked our family’s first Seder dinner —a new (for us) yet ancient tradition of commemorating Passover. The Seder dinner is such a reverent way to enter into the Easter celebrations and I am forever grateful to my sister for providing me with the inspiration, as well as to my fellow blogging friend “Fruitful Sprouts” for her beautifully-rendered Seder dinner cards and prompts pictured above!
I cannot encourage you enough, dear friend: practice this holy day with your little ones. They will never forget the ceremony, the somber scriptures, the celebratory singing, and the symbolism through all. Let us remember, together, how our God delivered the Israelites from slavery and foreshadowed the eternal deliverance that was to come through His Son!
If you want to start a Seder dinner tradition in your home, you can download the free pdf here: 🍷Host a Seder Dinner Cards🌿
~Make Healthy, Homemade, Hope-Filled Easter Candy~
Invite your child to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalms 34:8) as you make candy together.
While unapologetically “fun,” Easter candy can also provide a powerful taste of our Savior’s resurrection. We Christian parents can explain to our children that Jesus took on the bitterness of death when He paid the price for our sins on the cross. Consider giving your children a taste of something bitter such as a coffee bean or some unsweetened chocolate as you discuss together. Then, explain that Jesus conquered death when he rose from the tomb on the third day and that now we can experience the sweetness of salvation and eternal life with Him!
These delicious jewel-tone gummies can be made with the kids in just 30 minutes and boast only 3 ingredients (of which added sugar is not one)! And these to-live-for Chocolate Date “Snickers” are made with only four impressively healthy ingredients.
Get the recipes and full tutorials here: 🍬HOMEMADE EASTER CANDY TUTORIAL🍭
~Read the Easter Story~
Our favorite children’s books to read the Easter story from:
- The Jesus Storybook Bible (especially with kids under the age of four)
- Easter by Gail Gibbons (for a well-rounded and inclusive history of Easter traditions)
- Egermeier’s Bible Storybook
- The Children’s Bible by Golden Press
*Also, we highly recommend listening to “The Imagination Station” part 1 and 2 on the Adventures in Odyssey app! It’s truly wonderful.
~Grow a Resurrection Garden~
There is no Easter centerpiece that shouts “HE IS RISEN” quite the way a Resurrection Garden does!
This is such a beautiful and intentional activity to do with kids leading up to Easter. It’s sure to be a favorite activity for the holiday, plus it’s as easy to grow as it is beautiful!
Check out our tutorial here: 🐣How to Grow a Resurrection Garden for Easter Sunday✝️
~Make Baby Animal Bunting~
We love bunting. Almost every occasion and holiday in our home is honored with its own strand. And while hanging festive garlands is really just for fun, we strive to decorate with our kids intentionally leading up to “holy days.” Even a garland can be hung for the glory of God and in celebration of His son.
There is lovely Easter Sunday symbolism in the baby animals of spring; every baby animal is an opportunity to explain God’s mercy, hope, and love to our children.
Here are a few to discuss with your kids:
- A new chick popping out of its shell is a reminder of the resurrection. The shell is the tomb, the chick is the new life being born again.
- Every little perfect lamb we see is a reflection of our Savior, the perfect, spotless sacrifice for our sins.
- Bunnies jump for joy in the newness of spring; like them we can jump for joy in the hope of our salvation!
Click here for 🦔Baby Animal Bunting for Spring!🐤
~Sing the Easter Hymns~
Singing Easter hymns together is a great way to set aside some time to center on our risen Savior.
Check out our family’s favorite Resurrection Day hymns here: 🎵EASTER HYMNS~ for Little Lungs and Eager Ears!🕯️
Thanks so much for reading, friends. May you and your family have a blessed, joyous Easter season!
Love, Candace Arden
