In our house, we have short attention spans, high energy and very young minds. So for Lent, I try to find, few small, simple ways to incorporate Lent into our week without it being overwhelming for me or the little ones. It’s beneficial for me to have a sense of accomplishment that at least my kids are doing something even if it still feels like close to nothing.
So if your household is anything like mine, here are some suggestions for this liturgical season:
Set up a Simple Lenten Display
Use items you already have around the house such as a crucifix/cross, candles, a vase with stones or some type of vase filler, sticks and nails. Set it up in a prominent place where your kids will see it as they go about their play. Mine is on our kitchen counter. All it needs to be is a simple reminder to you and your family what this liturgical season is all about.
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Sign Up for Holy Heroes Adventures
A free digital collection of daily videos, prayers and activities for kids. All you have to do is sign up here and the daily links will be delivered right to your email. My kids enjoy watching the videos while I’m working on the computer and there are some great printouts for them to color.
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Say the Stations of the Cross on Fridays
It’s really challenging to take my kids to the Stations of the Cross at church and so we have been trying to pray them at home around 3 o’clock on Fridays. Tape pictures of the stations up along the walls of your home (my pictures are cut out from a stations booklet I received in the mail). Walk from one to the next with your kids, announcing the station as you approach each picture. Genuflect and say the simple traditional prayer”We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” That’s about as long as my kids will stay at each station but if you are able to do all the prayers, go for it!There are online resources for station meditation print-outs or a free iPhone app like Laudate.
Display a Lenten Calendar
Counting down to Easter can be great fun and crossing off each day as you get closer can be motivating for you and your kids to keep up your Lenten penances. You can write in different prayers or sacrifices to complete each day. My mom actually sent us one in the mail that has some really simple one-liners to do each day such as reading a scripture verse or thanking God for your blessings. There are plenty of online options such as this free printable.
5 ideas to incorporate your kids into LentClick To Tweet
Say the Chaplet
I have been trying to say the chaplet aloud in the afternoon. I hand the kids rosaries so they can “pray” along which usually means they spend the time flinging the rosaries around their fingers and heads but at least they are getting hands-on with a Catholic devotion. Sometimes my three-year-old will actually say a decade with me since she is starting to remember how the prayers go. Even if they don’t pray with you yet, they can listen to you saying the words and it will create a moment of peace in your chaotic day.
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Amazon has all sorts of great Lenten resources for kids. Affiliate links included below which means if you click through or purchase something through my links. I’ll receive a small compensation at no cost to you. see full disclosure here
For more ideas check out my Lent Board on Pinterest.
Ash Wednesday and Lent are just around the corner. Get ready!
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8