The Best Lent Family Activities {Simple and Meaningful}
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I’m going to admit something to you here: we celebrate Easter every year in our home, but I haven’t made the Lent season a priority.
I haven’t spent much time teaching my kids about this important time of preparation and remembrance, and if you asked them…they probably couldn’t even tell you what Lent is.
And to be quite honest, the first thing that often comes to mind when I think of Lent is the tradition of “giving something up” for 40 days, or the ever-popular fish fries on Friday evenings. Growing up, I knew people participated in these things in the weeks leading up to Easter, but I never grasped the deeper meaning. Never internalized it.
So many times, we go through motions or keep up “traditions” without truly understanding the reason or significance. Or, we understand it, but don’t make it the priority. Which got me thinking…
How can I do better this year in teaching my kids about the meaning of this season? What Lent family activities can we do that will be meaningful and more than surface level?
What are some simple things we can do this year to help us all reflect on the holiness of this season, when Easter baskets, Easter egg hunts and chocolate bunnies compete for our attention?
Why Do We Even Celebrate Lent?
First, let’s make sure we understand what the Lent season is and how it helps us prepare for Easter.
It’s generally agreed upon by historians that Lenten practices began during the 4th century AD, as new Christian converts fasted in preparation for baptism on Easter Sunday.
The practice became adopted by the church as a whole, and continues today, as people use the Lenten season to focus on spiritual disciplines such as fasting, prayer, and reflection. The time of Lent is for preparing our hearts to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Celebrating Lent is a tradition, and is not a Biblical mandate. However, it’s a great time to be intentional about getting rid of sin in our life, focusing on the Lord, and reflecting on how He is working in our lives.
How Long is the Lenten Season?
Lent does not begin on the same day each year, since it follows the liturgical calendar (which is basically a calendar of key seasons Christians observe as they follow the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus).
It begins on Ash Wednesday (which is 40 days – excluding Sundays – before Easter), and the end of Lent is three days before Easter (Maundy Thursday).
A few other days you will hear about during this season are:
Palm Sunday – Commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the beginning of the last week of his earthly life.
Holy Week – The time between Palm Sunday and Easter.
Good Friday – Not included in Lent, but the days of Lent lead up to this day that we remember Jesus’ crucifixion and death. Easter Sunday follows.
How Do People Celebrate Lent?
When I was younger, I never truly understood why people fasted or “gave something up” during Lent. It seemed as though many used the time to get rid of bad habits, or give up something good. It’s common now to hear of people giving up social media, video games, sugar, or meat during Lent.
But what I do understand now is that there is a true meaning behind these acts, and we never want to turn inward or put on a show. Instead, when we give up something during Lent that causes us to sin, we should use it as a time of repentance. When we are giving up something we enjoy, we practice denying ourselves for the sake of Christ.
Great Way to Teach Our Kids About Lent
Recognizing the significance behind our acts takes intention. Rather than just following a rule for 40 days, we should have a deeper focus. God cares about the heart behind our actions.
So in my quest to prepare for this Lenten season, I stumbled upon Sonlight’s Lenten Unit Study: Amon’s Adventure. I am really excited about using it with my kids this year and wanted to share, in case you were looking for some help in this area too!
Sonlight’s Lenten Unit Studies
Amon’s Adventure is a 7-week (40 day) unit study that will help us navigate the weeks leading up to Easter, helping my kids (and me!) learn new ways to think about and give up our sins, and spiritual disciplines that will help us grow closer to God. It will help us more fully experience the joy of celebrating the Resurrection.
Because that’s what the season is all about!
Each week, this unit study leads us through readings from the book Amon’s Adventure and related scripture verses, along with crafts, music and baking activities. It’s perfect to use with both your younger children and older kids; every family member will benefit from the activities and scripture readings.
The scripture verses will help me guide my kids through topics and disciplines like: self-examination, repentance, prayer, fasting, self-denial, meditating on God’s Word, and almsgiving.
Daily lessons are short yet meaningful, and most of the supplies you need are included, which makes it even easier to incorporate the various activities into your homeschool lesson plans. Here’s a peek at the weekly overview calendar, plus a couple of the daily lesson plans so you can see how practical they are:
As with other Sonlight curriculum materials, the lesson plans are all done for you. No planning, little to no prep work, and no stress. Simply open and go, and enjoy the time spent learning with your kids and growing in your relationship with the Lord.
Flipping through the book makes me excited to dig into it with my kids. The author of Amon’s Adventure recognizes that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is a hard story, but a true story that kids need to learn about and understand. And this is a great resource to help all of us do just that!
Head over to Sonlight to learn more about Amon’s Adventure Lenten Unit Study to see if it would be a good fit for your family.
Simple Lent Activities for the Whole Family
There are many great ideas out there, and various Lenten activities you could decide to do with your little kids. It’s important to choose resources that will help you be intentionally devoted to the Lord this season (and hopefully therefore have a stronger relationship with Him even after the Easter season is over).
Here are a few other Lenten resources you could use with your family during Lent this year:
Make a paper chain – Grab this free printable scripture paper chain from The Littles and Me. My kids love making paper chains, so we are going to do this in addition to our unit study. You could also make a paper chain yourself and add scripture verses that celebrate the Easter story, good deeds, or a random act of kindness to each day’s chain.
Crown of thorns craft – I hadn’t seen this craft before, but it would make a good visual during Lent to remind your family of the sacrifices you are making during this time. Check out the crown of thorns craft here.
Bake pretzels – Did you know that pretzels became a popular food during Lent, and are symbolic of this season of prayer? The twist of the pretzel is symbolic of the shape of arms crossed or folded in prayer. Learn more (and grab a recipe to make with your kids!) here.
Sacrifice jar – This would be another easy activity your kids will love, and another great visual. There are different ways you could make a sacrifice jar, but this one involves jelly beans. I love the thought of bringing more meaning to a common treat we typically see this time of year!
DIY Resurrection Eggs – Here is a great tutorial and free printables so you can create this popular Holy Week activity with your entire family.
Printable Lenten calendar – This free resource is great especially for you, mama! It could also be more suitable for older children. Each day includes a discipleship activity for you to complete throughout Lent.
A Meaningful Season of Lent
I hope these Lenten ideas will inspire you this year. My prayer is that you cherish your walk with God this season, long for time with Him, and are filled with His presence. And that you will take this opportunity to give your kids tools to grow in their walk as well.
Just keep in mind, while Lent gives us a great opportunity to be focused and intentional, you can grow closer to God anytime throughout the year. So build some good habits this season that will stick!
Sonlight Specials + Giveaway!
While you are checking out the Sonlight Lenten Unit Study, take a moment to peek at their deals and specials page. This page is updated when new offers are available, and they might just have a sale on something you need!
And you’ll also want to enter the giveaway they’ve got going on for their new Butterfly Unit Study. This looks like it will be a great study to do this spring!
Let me know in the comments: what are your favorite Lent family activities? In what ways have you celebrated that have been the most meaningful? I want to hear from you!
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- 20+ Easy Easter Unit Study Ideas for Homeschoolers
- FREE Printable Easter Family Devotional Game
- 14 Best Christ-Centered Easter Ideas for a Meaningful Holiday
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