We celebrate Ash Wednesday today, marking the beginning of Lent. It is the perfect season to share wonderful traditions of our faith to our children.
While the story of Lent is filled with pain, penance, sorry, and death, let us also not forget the true meaning of the darkness: that God’s love triumphed over evil and Jesus’ resurrection saved us all from sin. This love story is what we wish our children would remember.
If you’re still looking for resources for your family, here are some of the resources that we highly recommend for different ages. Some are free resources.
1. Picture books
Picture books are excellent materials for introducing the stories of Lent and Easter to toddlers and preschoolers. Check out our recommended books here.
2. Catholic Sprouts Podcast
Here is a free resource that we absolutely love! Listen to it during downtimes, mealtimes, in traffic… you get the idea. It is filled with nuggets of wisdom that we are sure even parents will enjoy. Look for Catholic Sprouts in your favorite podcast app or website for your daily dose of “seeds of faith.”
Don’t worry about not being able to catch the episodes from the beginning. Catch up on the episodes for the week entitled, “What is Lent?” and pick up from there, just like what Mariel and family are doing.
3. Stations of the Cross for Children
It’s never too early to practice this Lenten tradition with your children. Thanks to this wonderful book, we can help our children appreciate and reflect on the passion and death of Jesus. Get your copy here.
4. Get hands on!
I am the resident crafty-momma in The Learning Basket and hands-on activities have always been part of our homeschooling. Check out our Resurrection Eggs Easter tradition, as well as this free, downloadable Easter Story Stones resource that we made with Little Human & Company a few years back.
Another favorite activity that we did for several years is Oh Amanda’s Sense of the Resurrection {affiliate link}. The ebook contains 12 activities that engage the senses and can be done loosely throughout Lent. Perfect for preschoolers and lower-elementary children.
5. Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux
St. Therese’s autobiography is a challenging but a must-read for teens. It can also be the perfect read-aloud to share with upper-elementary students. Therese’s life and “The Little Way” will inspire children and adults alike to live in the spirit of Lent every day. Get a copy of Story of a Soul here.
More important than the activities, though, let us remind our children that Lent is best spent in silence and prayer. May you and your family have a blessed Lenten season!
