Simple Ways to Practice Lent with Kids
Christmas is behind us and Easter is drawing near.
If you’re like me, it seems like the time between these two holidays passes by more quickly than it used to. After all, the new year brings new commitments—resolutions for a better you, whole-house cleanouts, work demands, intense sports schedules, school projects and more.
Before you know it, it’s time to hide the eggs.
That’s what’s so beautiful about the season of Lent. This tradition encourages us to pause and think of God’s goodness in the midst of life’s chaos.
In this post, we’ll take a quick look at what Lent is all about, as well as share a few simple ways you can enjoy lent together as a family.
What is Lent?
Even if you were raised in church, you may not have practiced lent growing up or even know much about it. That’s okay! You can take what you’re learning here and share it with your kids.
Let’s start with a simple explanation:
What Jesus did for us on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice. And His resurrection was the greatest miracle. Yet, if we’re not careful, these realities can begin to seem commonplace.
Lent offers us a time to prepare our hearts and minds for the gravity and wonder of Easter. To better understand our own sin and our need for God, as well as His great capacity to love us.
When does Lent begin?
Each year, the Lenten season lasts 40 days. The start date changes based on multiple factors, but this year Lent begins on February 18 and ends on April 2.
If you’re thinking about practicing Lent with your kids this year, you might consider taking a few minutes each day or once per week to check in with one another. We’ll share a few simple ideas for practicing Lent below.
3 Simple Ways to Practice Lent Kids
When it comes to sharing our faith with our kids, we want to be sincere and keep the sacred sacred. That’s what helps their own faith to grow. But we’ve also got to have a simple approach. After all, we’re busy parents and they’re little goofballs.
That’s why, here at Minno, we always try to find a way to bring fun and biblical truth together in ways that are simple for parents to implement at home. Our ideas for practicing Lent are no different. So take a deep breath. Relax. You can find time in your day for one or two of these ideas—and you might just find the whole family laughing and learning along the way.
Watch the Laugh and Grow Bible Easter Special
The best way we can think of to kickstart the Lenten season is to introduce kids to the best moment in the history of the world–when Jesus laid down His life in love for us, and then rose again three days later.
Here at Minno, we’re featuring a 30-minute Easter Special all about the life, death and resurrection of our Savior. The special includes stories of His disciples, the miracles He performed here on Earth, the last supper, His death and resurrection, as well as the promises He gave before He went back to Heaven.
What we love most about this special is that it answers a lot of questions kids often ask about Easter. And watching it alongside your kids early in the Lenten season gives you plenty of time to discuss those questions—and any others that might come up—as a family. And this year, we’re launching an exclusive, extended edition of the special with 6 brand new Easter songs for kids!
Even better? The Easter Special is available to everyone—no Minno subscription required!
Read the Laugh and Grow Easter Devotional
Grab a copy of our brand new Laugh and Grow Easter Devotional!
This is the perfect open-and-read approach to Lent, with a six-part study designed to guide you and your kids through the season. The devotional offers three quick reads each week covering:
Week 1: John Baptizes Jesus
Week 2: The Desert Temptation
Week 3: Jesus’ Disciples
Week 4: Sermon on the Mount
Week 5: It’s a Miracle
Week 6: Holy Week
Each devotional includes memory verses, family connection points and a quick game. The weeks correspond to episodes of the Laugh and Grow Bible for Kids that you can watch on Minno or YouTube. You can use this Lenten devotional book for years to come!
Download The Laugh and Grow Bible Easter Family Guide
Our Easter Family Guide is totally FREE and loads of fun—perfect for engaging young kids in the wonder and miracle of the Lenten season. It comes with so many printable ideas and activities, including games, coloring pages, crafts, prayers, and discussion guides.
You might be especially interested to check out the guide for hosting your own passover meal! This section includes a dinner menu, symbol cards, a passover plate, and a guide for how to conduct a traditional passover meal—a wonderful tradition for families to share together!
You do not want to miss this hope-filled and meaningful Easter Family Guide!
No matter how you and your kids prepare for the Easter season, we hope you experience Jesus in new ways. Our prayer is that these resources help you share in the beauty of Lent this season as a family!