Easter Devotional for Kids: Teaching the True Meaning of Easter
Easter is a time of joy, renewal, and celebration. While egg hunts and chocolate bunnies are fun traditions, it’s essential to teach kids the deeper meaning of this special holiday. An Easter devotional can be a meaningful way to help children understand the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection and what it means for their faith.
Our Easter devotional will guide you and your family through the easter story in an engaging way that will spark meaningful conversations and deepen their understanding of God’s love.
Why an Easter Devotional?
Developing habits of a family devotion is a wonderful way to set up intentional time with your children for them to learn about God and who He is as well as give them the opportunity to ask you questions about what they are learning about the Bible. Easter is a great time to start this tradition because it is a wonderful opportunity to share the good news of the Christian faith.
An Easter devotional provides an opportunity to:
- Focus on Jesus: Shift the attention from commercial aspects of Easter to the story of Christ – his death and resurrection is a message of hope for all who believe in Him
- Teach God’s Love: Explain the powerful message of sacrifice and redemption. How God’s promises are fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
- Create Lasting Memories: Build family traditions centered on faith. There is no better way to reach your child’s heart than by teaching them about Jesus.
How to Structure Your Easter Devotional Time
1. Set a Time and Place
Life gets so busy, and one of the best ways to make sure your family devotional time happens is by choosing when your family will set aside this intentional time learning about Jesus. For my family, it works best to have our family devotion right after dinner. Everyone is already gathered together, it gives us a set time, and a table to sit at so we can keep little hands busy.
Create a calm and inviting atmosphere for your devotional time. Light a candle, play soft music, have easter coloring sheets for your little children. Let your kids know this is a special time to learn about God’s word.
2. Plan what you will do each day
This will change depending on the age of your children and how long their attention spans are, but I know that if I don’t have a plan then I lose my children’s attention before we ever get started.
Do you need help coming up with a plan? We have the perfect 7-day easter devotional that is perfect for kids of all ages. It has activities to keep your young children engaged and your older children interested.
3. Start with Prayer
Before beginning any time in the Bible, it is important to start with prayer. Ask God to help your family to listen and learn about the truths of God.
4. Read scripture
Choose a passage that highlights the Easter story. Here are a few child-friendly options:
- Palm Sunday: Matthew 21:1-11
- The Last Supper: Luke 22:14-20
- The Crucifixion: John 19:16-30
- The Resurrection: Matthew 28:1-10
Read the passage aloud and pause to explain any difficult words or concepts.
In our 7-day Easter Devotional, we have done all the work for you. The entire study will walk your family through the events of holy week (This week starts with Palm Sunday and ends on resurrection Sunday. It highlights Jesus’ last days.) Each day includes a story card where we retell the events of the scripture in a kid friendly way. It also includes the exact bible passage that you can read with your older children.
3. Engage with the Story
Tell the Easter story in a way that resonates with your kids’ ages. Use a children’s Bible or act it out with props. For younger kids, you might compare Jesus’ love to a shepherd caring for his sheep. For older kids, discuss the meaning of sacrifice and forgiveness.
Another great way to engage with the story is to use the resources in our easter devotional. Each day will include a fun activity that your kids can complete. Talk with your children about what they learned that day while they complete the activity.
4. Memorize Scripture
One very important tool you can give your kids is to teach them to memorize scripture. Our study includes two different bible verses for your family to learn as well as daily activities you can use to help learn the memory verses.
5. Discussion Questions
Encourage your children to reflect with open-ended questions:
- Why do you think Jesus chose to die for us?
- What does the sacrifice Jesus made mean for people who believe in him?
- Why is the resurrection of Christ important?
- How do you feel knowing God loves you so much?
- What can we do to share God’s love with others?
- How would you share the real meaning of easter with a friend who doesn’t know Jesus?
- Do you have a personal relationship with God?
6. Praise
A great way to praise God as a family is to spend time worshipping him through hymns. Not only are hymns filled with God’s truth, but it helps focus our hearts on God.
7. End with Prayer
Close each day of your devotional time with prayer. Here’s a simple one to get you started:
“Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us so much that You gave Your life for us. Help us to remember Your sacrifice and share Your love with others. Thank You for the new life you give us through Your resurrection. Amen.”
Activities to Reinforce the Easter Story
1. Resurrection Eggs
Create or purchase a set of Resurrection Eggs, each containing a small item that tells part of the Easter story. Open one egg at a time as you go through the devotional.
2. Craft a Cross
Use sticks, string, and other simple materials to make a cross. Talk about how the cross reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice and love.
3. Write a Prayer
Have each child write or draw a prayer thanking Jesus for His love and sacrifice. Younger kids can dictate their prayer to you.
4. Plant a Seed
Plant a small seed in a pot to symbolize new life. Discuss how Jesus’ resurrection brings us new life in Him.
Our 7-Day Easter Devotional Overview:
Our study is a fantastic resource that will guide your family through the events of holy week. Each day includes a story card/scripture reading, memory verse practice, coloring page and activity, and an easter hymn.
Here is what you will learn about each day:
- Day 1 – Palm Sunday
- Day 2 – The Last Supper
- Day 3 – Jesus is Betrayed
- Day 4 – Jesus is Arrested
- Day 5 – Jesus is Crucified
- Day 6 – Jesus is Buried
- Day 7 – Jesus is Risen
The study also includes a book list, recipes, and crafts that will create additional fun to your easter celebration.
Give your children the greatest gift of all – a deeper understanding of God’s love.
This Easter season, take time to go beyond the surface and lead your kids to understand the wonderful truth of our salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus. An Easter devotional is more than an activity; it’s a way to plant seeds of faith that can grow for a lifetime. Whether you’re sharing Scripture, engaging in hands-on activities, or simply spending time together in prayer, you’re giving your children the greatest gift of all—a deeper understanding of God’s love.
