Simple and Meaningful Ways to Prepare Toddlers for Easter
Easter is such an amazing opportunity to introduce toddlers to the gospel!
My children are very young (2 &3), so life for us is very busy and messy! I don’t often have the capacity for extensive crafts or elaborate activities to prepare toddlers for Easter!
As always, the Bible has a lot of wisdom to offer!
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love theLORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Deuteronomy 6: 4-7
Based on this verse I have tried to simplify things and just take a little time each day consistently during Lent to prepare my toddlers for Easter so they can better understand its significance when it arrives!
Below are the ways I have tried to do that and how I’ve worked it into our day on a regular basis!
Table of Contents
Practical Tips on How to Prepare Toddlers for Easter
When
I know that sharing Gospel truths to my children is so important, but it can be easy for the day to get away from me!
I learned from the book “Atomic Habits” that specifying when and where you will do a habit dramatically increases the likelihood of following through. It removes decision fatigue, creates a stable routine and makes it easy to start!
“I will [habit] at [time] in [location].”
For me that looked like:
“I will [do a short morning devotional with the kids], at [during or right after breakfast] at [our kitchen table].”
It might sound simple, but by taking the time to think it through at that simple level can really help you stay consistent!
For the content of our devotional, since my children are so young I keep it really really simple! I just make sure to read something from the Bible—either a verse or a passage, and we sing at least one hymn together.
How
I really believe it’s important to share the truth of the Gospel with little children starting with the rich language of the Bible and hymns.
Little children can embrace and use complex language even before they fully understand it—and that opens up the opportunity to discuss very deep truths, often over and over!
It gives them something to grow into, instead of always having a diluted “child friendly” version.
Little children need to know the truth! Even if they don’t understand it yet, they will grow into it!
Reading the Easter Story Together
One simple and easy way to prepare toddlers for Easter is by reading the Easter story to them!
Of course it is wonderful to read it straight from the Bible, but I also love having a trustworthy children’s storybook Bible to read a shorter and more simple version to reach for.
My favorite one to read this year has been Vol. 2 of the Read Aloud Bible Stories!
It’s titled “A Sad Day and a Happy Day.”
The story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is the last story in this volume. I love that it is written in a very straightforward and engaging style, and doesn’t add a lot of interpretation.
After reading the Easter story, we talk about important words and phrases like “He is risen!” We talk about why Jesus died and what His resurrection means.
I encourage my toddlers to ask questions and also pose questions to them, engaging their little minds and hearts beginning to understand the true meaning of Easter.
Bible Memory Verses
Scripture verses memorized in childhood often become lifelong treasures!
Not only do they memorize things so easily at this young age, but it also boosts their self confidence when they recite verses correctly!
Here are some great Bible memory verses for Easter:
- Matthew 28:6 – “He is not here; He is risen, just as He said!”
- John 11:25 – “I am the resurrection and the life.”
- Luke 24:34 – “It is true! The Lord has risen.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised on the third day.”
We incorporate these verses into our simple devotional time around the breakfast table that we do about four mornings each week.
Aside from our morning devotional, to help my children get familiar with verses, I go through a 3-step process.
- First, I’ll randomly recite our current memory verse out loud as I think of it through the day for them to hear.
- Then when they start getting familiar with it, I will pause before finishing a sentence and let them fill in the last word (or words).
- Once they’re confident I encourage them to recite it completely, offer correction as needed, and celebrate their efforts as they get closer and closer!
Hymns!
Introducing children to beloved, timeless Easter hymns is a joyful part of our daily rhythm! It’s a wonderful way to prepare toddlers for Easter.
During our morning devotional time around the breakfast table, we begin learning new hymns.
These wonderful songs of the faith introduce rich vocabulary! I like to read the verses aloud slowly at first so they can hear each word, sometimes I will offer a little explanation.
For toddlers, I love to pick hymns with a repetitive chorus that they can join in on!
Here are some great Hymns to use to prepare toddlers for Easter!
“Up from the Grave He Arose”
This hymn is a great option for toddlers because the chorus repeats the same each time and the verses are very short and simple!
“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”
This hymn is a little more complex in vocabulary, but toddlers can quickly join in on the “alleluias” and will pick up on the verses faster than you might think!
“Alive, Alive”
This isn’t quite a “hymn”, but it’s a short and fun praise song, perfect for Easter, with wonderful lyrics that toddlers find fun to sing!
“Jesus Paid It All”
The chorus of this hymn is a wonderful exposition of the Gospel, and toddlers often surprisingly love more somber songs too.
“Nothing But the Blood”
The repetition of “nothing but the blood” is easy for toddlers to join in on quickly!
We enjoy singing these beautiful hymns during walks, playtime outside, car rides, or just about any time!
Another great idea is to ask your church’s worship leader what songs they plan to sing for Easter and introducing those songs to your toddlers so they can join in the congregational singing on Resurrection Sunday!
Teaching Them the “He Is Risen” Exchange
A great way to prepare toddlers for Easter is by practicing the Easter greeting!
In the week leading up to Easter, we practice the joyful Easter greeting exchange: I say, “He is risen!” and I coach them to respond with, “He is risen indeed!”
It’s a simple but meaningful tradition that prepares them to participate joyfully with family, friends, and our church community on Easter Sunday.
Conclusion
Preparing toddlers for Easter doesn’t need to be complicated!
It is very helpful for me to have our short breakfast devotional as an “anchor time” to help me remember to introduce the verses and songs. It also starts our day off together on a great note.
From there, reading stories, memorizing verses, and singing hymns can all be worked into the day naturally as you go about your work and play!
If you have toddlers, I hope these short, sweet, and consistent practices will bless your family and help plant lifelong seeds!
What are you doing to prepare your little ones for Easter? I’d love to know!