Ash Wednesday, February 13, begins the season of Lent. I'd like to share with you some of the ideas from the past three years for making this season meaningful for the children in your life. If you have never observed Lent as a family before, I encourage you to try it. Preparing ourselves and our children for Easter makes it more celebratory and communicates that Easter is much more than hunting eggs and eating chocolate bunnies (although those things are loads of fun!) .
Click on the links below the pictures for the original posts.
A Lenten Nature Table
Children need time to prepare for important holidays just as adults do. Having symbols of Lent in the home help children to prepare for the joy of Easter. |
| Lenten Nature Table 2012 |
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| Lenten Nature Table 2011 |
The Stations of the Cross for children
This website offers a great plan for doing the Stations with children in a way that they can understand.
Lenten Prayer Pots
These are small bowls that the children make out of clay and nature materials. Each week they place a small object in the bowl to remind them of God and help prepare their hearts for celebrating Easter.
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| Lenten Prayer Pots |
Godly Play: The Mystery of Easter & The Faces of Christ
These stories focus on the meaning of Lent and the life of Jesus.
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| The Mystery of Easter Post 1 and Post 2 |
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| The Faces of Easter |
Pray for the poor of the world
Make meals that the poor in other countries eat on a daily basis. Pray for them with your children, and use the money that you save to send to an aid organization.
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| Helping Children Identify with the Poor |
Do a social project
Serve someone else during Lent as a family, church, or school group.
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| The Easter Club visits a Senior Center. |
Grow Easter Grass in the Shape of the Cross
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| Easter Grass |
Resurrection Eggs
These eggs have symbols inside that tell the story of Jesus' death and resurrection.
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| Resurrection Eggs |
Ideas from last year's Lenten Link-Up, Celebrating Lent
You can find 39 more ideas from some other wonderful bloggers here!
Linked to Montessori Monday at Living Montessori Now
and Eco Kids' Tuesday at Like Mother-Like Daughter and Organic Aspirations
and Waldorf Wednesday at Seasons of Joy
and Friday's Nature Table at The Magic Onions
Hi Sheila,
ReplyDeleteThanks for refreshing my memory on some of your wonderful ideas for observing Lent with children! I'm looking for a simple centerpiece for our dining room table to keep us focused throughout the season, as these days we are rushing around so much with sports and other activities. I like the prayer pots and nature table and may have to adapt something like that! (The hands-on aspect would really appeal to my kids, I'm sure!)
Wishing you a blessed Lent--can't believe it starts this week!
Warmly,
Cheryl
You're most welcome, Cheryl! A blessed Lent celebration to you and your family as well!!
DeleteI am so glad you share your activities with us!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Hannah! Thanks for hosting the Eco Kids' Party!
DeleteI really like the grass in the shape of the cross. That's a new idea for me!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting on Waldorf Wednesday. Hope to see you back this week!
http://ourseasonsofjoy.com/waldorf-wednesday-link-up/waldorf-wednesday-23-on-a-thursday/