With two little girls in my life (ages 1 & 3), this year it’s more important than ever for my family to keep Jesus in the absolute center of Holy Week and Easter. I’ve never been more acutely aware of how non-Christian the most important day in the history of the world has become in our culture.
Don’t get me wrong - I love, love, love Easter egg hunts, fuzzy baby chicks, and even the can’t-miss tradition of snapping a photo of your toddler’s face when you make her sit on a wide-eyed, human-sized, mutant bunny rabbit. (Priceless memories, I tell you. Priceless.) And I really love jelly beans.
But aside from finding The Easter Story board book, I came up empty handed as far as finding Christ-centered Easter paraphernalia…until my friend Sarah popped in my office with these adorable printables and daily activity ideas from Maddi Fieleke. Day made! I’m really excited to start the 10-day countdown to Easter with my girls this year…and with you!
Each of the 10 days includes Scripture, an extremely short (great for snappy attention spans) lesson, and a fun activity. And let me be the first to tell you, this is a guilt-free zone right here. If you miss a day or want to mix up the days – anything goes. The main goal is that you’re engaging with your kids and learning about Jesus together.
Explore the 10 days of Easter
Each of the 10 days includes Scripture, an extremely short (great for snappy attention spans) lesson, and a fun activity. Print out the PDF and have fun!
Day 1: Friday, April 7
To Read: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life!” John 6:48
Today we get to celebrate that Jesus is better than any food we eat. Having a full belly is nice but having a full heart is even better. He is sweeter than any donut! When we have a relationship with Jesus our hearts are full of life! Let’s tell Jesus thank you for filling our hearts full of his love.
To Do: To celebrate, let’s color a picture & go get donuts!
[Check out the donut coloring page printable!]
Day 2: Saturday, April 8
To Read: Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” John 8:52
Today we get to celebrate that God is ETERNAL. That means that no one made Him. He has always been God. And he sent His son, Jesus, to earth to save us from our sins. Jesus has loved us forever and will love us forever. Let’s tell Jesus thank you for loving us and coming to die for our sins.
To Do: To celebrate, let’s make Resurrection Eggs!
[You can find ideas on Pinterest or buy them online through Amazon or Barnes & Noble.]
Day 3: Palm Sunday, April 9
To Read: “Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” John 12:12-13
Hosanna was a happy thing to shout! When Jesus went to Jerusalem, a big crowd cheered for Him on the street and waved Palm Branches. People loved Jesus because they hoped He was their new King. Now we know for sure that He has been and will be our King forever! Jesus is the best King because He gave us the gift of eternal life. Let’s tell Jesus Hosanna! He is a great King! Let’s pray for the whole world to hear about Him!
To Do: To celebrate, let’s make a palm branch out of paper!
Day 4: Monday, April 10
To Read: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12
Let’s turn off the lights in our room and try to find something. Let’s try the same thing with the light on. Jesus lights up the darkness of our lives. We can know God because Jesus took away our darkness when He died on the cross and came back to life! Let’s tell Jesus thank you for filling our lives with light. And let’s ask Him to help us shine His light to the world!
To Do: To celebrate, let’s egg our friend’s house!
[Hide eggs in a friends yard, then ring the doorbell and tell them to have a hunt! All the eggs but one have a little treat inside. Whoever finds the empty egg, gets a big candy bar because the best news about Easter is that the tomb was empty.]
Day 5: Tuesday, April 11
To Read: Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
Did you know that sheep aren’t very good at taking care of themselves? Shepherds take care of sheep really well. Jesus took care of us when we couldn’t take care of ourselves, by dying in our place. Now we don’t ever have to be separated from Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Let’s tell Jesus thank you for taking such good care of us.
To Do: To celebrate, let’s color a picture & use glitter!
[Use the coloring page printable & glitter glue.]
Day 6: Wednesday, April 12
To Read: Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25
Jesus has promised that Heaven will be so wonderful! It will be full of everything good and people we love. Did you know that no matter how good we are, we could never earn our way to Heaven? But Jesus died and rose again so that anyone who knows Him can go to Heaven as a wonderful gift from Him! Let’s tell Jesus thank you for the gift of Heaven!
To Do: To celebrate, let’s color a picture and share our favorite book about Jesus with a friend!
[Color the printable coloring page & read the Jesus Storybook Bible or The Story of Easter.]
Day 7: Maundy Thursday, April 13
To Read: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father, except through me.” John 14:6
Can you think of a time you messed up? I can. Let’s share them with each other. Jesus is our way to God because He is perfect, just like His Father. We get to know God, because Jesus is perfect in our place. He made a way for us to become God’s children! Let’s tell Jesus thank you for being perfect. He is so kind and good. Let’s tell Him why we love Him today!
To Do: To celebrate, let’s make colorful crosses of sticks!
[We are growing a resurrection garden. We will use popsicle sticks, glue, and paint to make 3 crosses for it.]
Day 8: Good Friday, April 14
To Read: Jesus said, “I am the true grapevine and my Father is the gardener.” John 15:1
When we act selfish or disobedient, does Jesus give up on us? No! Never! He is making us more like Him each day! God is helping us, by the power of His Holy Spirit, to become sweet like grapes on a vine! It’s not about trying; it’s about trusting Him! Let’s tell Jesus thank you for never giving up on us and dying for us when we were still sinners. Let’s thank Him for being so good at helping us grow.
To Do: To celebrate, let’s make resurrection rolls!
[I really like this recipe, and it’s great for little helpers!]
Day 9: Holy Saturday, April 15
To Read: “But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” Isaiah 53:5
What is something nice someone has done for you lately? In our Jesus storybook Bible, it says that the nails didn’t hold Jesus to the cross; it was love that held Him there. Jesus dying for us was best gift we have ever been given. Let’s tell Jesus thank you dying for us. Even though he got hurt really bad, He did it because He loves us. Let’s tell Him, we love Him too!
To Do: To celebrate, let’s make crosses out of glue & paper to hang on our window!
[Cut paper crosses & glue pretty magazine pictures of flowers to them to make colorful; hang in the window.]
Day 10: Easter Sunday, April 16
To Read: “He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead, just as He said would happen.” Matthew 28:6
Happy Easter! I am so glad Jesus is alive, aren’t you? Today, let’s play a game. I will say, “He is Risen!” and you say, “He is Risen, Indeed!” That is fun! Let’s tell Jesus we are so glad He is alive. And we are excited to celebrate Him today!
To Do: To celebrate, let’s read the Easter Story in our Bible!