How do you explain Easter to kids?

Years ago one of our family friends asked my then three-year-old brother, Brent, about what happened at Easter. My dad heard the question and quickly swooped in to whisper, "Jesus rose from the dead" into my young brother’s ear.

Brent then fixed his big blue eyes on our friend and proudly announced, "Jesus froze to the bed!"

It’s a cute anecdote that my family brings up when the Easter season rolls around – and yes, it’s one we’ll likely share at Brent’s future wedding. We’re thankful that, as he’s grown, my brother has developed a rich understanding of the Easter season, and is continuing to uncover more truths about the depth of God’s love and the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice. He didn’t, however, come to this place on his own.

Parents play a vital role in faith development

Much of the credit is due to our parents, who diligently taught us about Christ. Parents play a vital role in their children’s faith development and, considering the central role of Easter in our Christian faith, it’s a significant season to engage with your children about Jesus’ death and resurrection.

However, there are many themes within the Easter story that may leave parents uneasy about addressing them with young children. While this season represents the ultimate expression of love and sacrifice, Christ’s resurrection didn’t occur without betrayal, denial, torture, pain and death.

Tips for discussing serious themes of Easter

If you’re feeling anxious or uncertain about what to say to your children, consider these tips as you talk to them about Easter in the coming weeks:

• Consider your child’s age, developmental stage and personality. Some children may be more sensitive to certain details than others. If you’re unsure about reading your children the entire Biblical account of the Easter story, use John 3:16 as your guide to explain what happened. Continue to build on the foundation you’ve set by adding more details about the story every year, or as you see fit.
• Listen and answer your children’s questions honestly. Give them time to process what you’re sharing with them and don’t be afraid to tell them when you don’t know the answer. Even as adults, there are some things about Easter we still may not fully comprehend.
  
• Engage them in activities that can help bring the truths of Easter to life. Get creative! Use real-life scenarios, science experiments, skits or an Easter-themed book to help your kids understand forgiveness, sin, new life and salvation. See this article for a few ideas to get you started.
  
• Explain to your children what Easter means to you. It can be easier to chat with your son or daughter when you focus on personal reflections.
  

Remember, the Gospel message is simple to grasp – even for a child. Pray that God would give you wisdom and that the Holy Spirit would bring clarity to your children as they learn.

Ultimately, as a parent, you know what’s best for your family. Take advantage of the opportunities you have to engage your children in conversations about Jesus and His sacrifice. And make sure you take opportunities to celebrate Easter with your family. After all, Jesus didn’t stay frozen to the bed!

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 NIV

The look on my six-year-old niece’s face was enough to make me want to crawl in a hole and cry myself to sleep. She was shocked, terrified, repulsed and utterly distraught. As the tears streamed, she asked in the smallest, saddest, little voice, “Jesus died?” At that point, my entire family began trying to explain. “But he rose again!” we all chimed in. “He lives! He is with us now.” However, there was nothing we could do or say to make her feel better about it. We learned that explaining Easter to kids can be a delicate matter. In her little-girl mind, Jesus—her loving Father—the one she accepted in her heart at an early age, had just died and she was inconsolable.

Easter is a unique holiday for Christians because it carries weight. We know that in order for the stone to be rolled away, Jesus had to first be crucified, tortured and left to die next to thieves. This is not an easy topic for adults to discuss, so how do we explain Easter to our kids without completely terrifying them? How do we describe the gravity of the holiday without horrifying them with the ugly, painful details of the suffering that Jesus endured? Or are we supposed to let them feel the pain and join them where they are?

As parents, we must think through our options and make the best decisions for our children (after all, we know that not every child is the same). But when my niece completely melted down, I started rethinking the ways we could have shared the Easter story. Maybe we could have…

1. Focused the message around the resurrection. Simply just reminding her that Jesus will always be with her might have been a little less traumatic for this tender-hearted girl. We will maybe get a little more detailed every year as she learns and grows in the Word.

2. Started the conversation a week or two before the Easter celebration. Maybe if we could have walked her through each day, she would have been ready to celebrate Easter morning.

3. Incorporated a children’s activity or book. DaySpring has several age-appropriate art projects and resources to help kids get a better understanding of Easter. Another idea would be to help the kids act out Luke 24.

It’s not easy being a parent (or an aunt, come to think of it…) when it comes to explaining hard concepts—especially when it is as deep as our Lord and Savior dying on a cross for us (I mean, it doesn’t get any deeper than that, does it?) So, how about we start thinking today about how best to share the Easter message with our little ones?

Share this article with a friend, family member or loved one and start making a plan today! Check out Easter resources for children to help you explain the holiday, and start preparing your child’s heart for the celebration that is about to begin. After all, you don’t want to be in a hole crying yourself to sleep, right?

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