Teaching littles about Easter

Easter is my most favorite holiday. Not because of decorations or good meals like at Christmas time, but simply because of Jesus. I made the decision this year to completely disregard the Easter Bunny. To me, the Easter Bunny is just irrelevant and it takes away from the entire meaning of Easter. Yes, my children will get an Easter basket (full of candy and one small gift) - but they will know it's from Mommy and Daddy. :)

I want Easter to remain focused. On Jesus! Easter is the most special day of the year, to me. While Good Friday is holy beyond words with the death of our Savior who overcame all of our sins by dying on the cross, Easter is GLORIOUS!

I have a very sensitive little girl. The first time we read through the Jesus Storybook Bible, she cried when Jesus was put on the cross. I understood her heart - how could someone so good die because of those mean people?

So we don't focus on Jesus' death too much right now. No, we exalt Easter Sunday! Isn't Easter Sunday, the third day, what sets apart Christianity from all other religions anyway?! Every other "great leader" of any religion died...but only Jesus rose again! And that is what we celebrate. Easter Sunday, He Is Risen, is our celebration!!!

One way that I have found to teach the Easter story is through Resurrection Eggs. My kids really enjoy these eggs because they tell a story and because they can touch them. :)

We sit on the floor together every day during the week leading up to Easter, and we talk through the story of Easter together. You will be surprised at how quickly little ones can remember the entire story as they hold and touch the elements that each egg represents.

Egg 1: A small branch w/ leaves for Palm Sunday
Egg 2: A small wash cloth to represent Jesus washing the disciples' feet
Egg 3: A dime to represent Judas' betrayal
Egg 4: A cracker to represent Jesus' body at the Last Supper
Egg 5: A small cup to represent Jesus' blood at the Last Supper
Egg 6: A rubber band or piece of leather to represent the whips used to beat Jesus (we touch very lightly here)
Egg 7: A small stem from a rose bush (of only thorns) to represent the crown of thorns the Roman soldiers gave Jesus to wear
Egg 8: A small cross made out of sticks (We talk about how Jesus chose to stay on the cross because He loved us so much. He could have come down at any moment, but His love kept Him there.)
Egg 9: A piece of gauze to represent the linens that Jesus wore on the cross
Egg 10: A die to represent the Roman soldiers casting lots for Jesus' linens
Egg 11: A stone to represent the one in front of the tomb
Egg 12: Empty - to represent Jesus' resurrection - He Is Risen!!!

We celebrate BIG after we open Egg 12. We sing and dance, and the kiddos say over and over He Is Risen! He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!!!

I would love to hear any of your ideas that your family does to celebrate Easter and keep Jesus as the focus. :) And I just love to say...We serve such a wonderful Savior and King!