Celebrate Holy Week (with simple activities for each day)

Easter week is upon us and this week is called Holy Week…a week set apart to think, ponder, and worship Jesus for his death and resurrection.

This post today is for those of us who may be approaching Easter week thinking, “Oh, it’s Easter.  Man, how that crept up on me.”

There’s still time my friends.  We have a whole week where we can spend a little bit of time each day thinking of Him and building up anticipation to the big day, Easter Sunday, when we remember Jesus conquering death and giving us a NEW life! 

So, let’s celebrate Holy Week.

Simple Day by Day activities for Holy Week:

Sunday–  Share with your kids that Jesus is the Servant King.  Tell them the story of Palm Sunday.  Let the kids climb on Daddy’s back and ride around the house.  Wave a branch from a tree outside and lay down coats as they pretend to be King.

Monday–  Cuddle up on the couch and read Easter books!

Tuesday–  Share the Jelly Bean Prayer with your kids.  Put some extra jelly beans in a ziplock bag and encourage them to share the jelly bean prayer with a friend that week.

Wednesday–  Spring clean the house!  In some cultures, it is tradition to clean the house in preparation for Easter.

I love this idea, and what a lovely illustration it gives to the children.  Have the kids help you and while you are cleaning remind them that Jesus washes their sins away!

Put some fresh flowers in the house or maybe a new decorative item that spruces the place up and makes it an extra special place to be for the week.

Thursday–  Have a picnic and share the Last Supper!  Have some juice and bread and tell your kids what they represent–Jesus’ blood that would be poured out on the cross and His body which would be broken for them.

Friday–Make a resurrection garden while remembering that Jesus died for your sins.  Place a toy figure as “Jesus” in the tomb.  (We us a potato as our tomb!)

Saturday–  Make resurrection rolls for breakfast!

Take a crescent roll, a big marshmallow, melted butter, and cinnamon and sugar to teach them the Easter story.  Prepare Jesus (marshamallow) for burial by rolling in the butter and cinnamon and sugar.

Wrap him in cloths (crescent roll), and lay him in the tomb (the oven).  When they are done, pretend an angel comes and rolls the stone away.

Take rolls out of oven, and you will see that Jesus (marshamallow) is not there!

Sunday–  Greet one another with “He is risen.  He is risen indeed!” 

Enjoy a church service together or have your own.

Take the figure out of the tomb from your resurrection garden on Friday, and let them find the empty tomb!

photo courtesy of Tabletop Truths

A dear friend of mine and mom to four grown children, once encouraged me with this.

She told me her kids don’t really remember the specifics of what all she did for them (like crafts, recipes, activities, or stories) BUT they do remember she spent time with them, she was present and engaged with them, and was making wonderful memories along the way.

So I leave you with this–No matter what we “do” with our kids for Easter, let us love them this week and by God’s grace point them to Him.