I recently had a conversation with a friend about how it can be hard to plan Easter activities with kids. In a season saturated with cute bunnies, colorful eggs, and sugar, it can be a challenge to get to the heart of the resurrection of Christ with kids. And with spring break behind us and summer on the horizon, Easter feels like it sneaks up on us every year!

My family has developed Holy Week traditions to prepare our hearts for Resurrection Sunday. Here are some of the things we love to do:

Resurrection Eggs

I grew up with Resurrection Eggs and love sharing this tradition with my son. Each morning, we open a plastic egg and take out the small, meaningful object. Then we read the accompanying devotional and scripture.

If plastic eggs aren’t your thing, a great alternative to this is building your own in a small box using the book Benjamin’s Box as your guide.

As a kid, I built my own Benjamin’s Box. I showed it to a friend, who loved the box and asked to go through it together on several occasions. You never know what kind of conversations your kids can share with their friends when you provide tools like this.

Go on a Devotional Walk

We love to take a devotional walk during Holy Week. You might be able to find a church or nature path that offers guided prayer or reflection on scripture. In the Phoenix area, I know of two great places we can do this:

Canaan in the Desert, which is a prayer garden in Phoenix founded by German Evangelical nuns. The garden offers a path decorated with artistic representations of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.

Prayer Hill at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria. This is an easy hike up a hill that offers several prayer prompts along the way. We enjoy stopping to read scripture at the cross at the top and in the empty tomb on the way down.

Host a Messianic Seder

You may know that in the last few days before his death, Jesus and his disciples were observing Passover. The traditional seder meal is a celebration of God’s saving work during the Exodus, but it also points to the Messiah. Experience this for yourself and see how closely the story of Passover and Easter are intertwined.

Here is a guide for the Messianic seder meal. And this resource can help you prepare for the Messianic Passover.

Plan Acts of Service for Maundy Thursday

One of the most touching accounts from Holy Week is Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. This display of humble servanthood is an example for us to follow.

On Thursday (or any time during Holy Week), read John 13 and talk about what it means to serve others. Do something together to show service–maybe wash each other’s feet, serve at a food bank, or challenge each person to surprise another family member with an act of kindness.

Attend Good Friday Service

Not every church offers a Good Friday service, but it’s easy to find one that does. A Friday evening reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice is a great way to set the mood for Resurrection Sunday.

What does your family do on Holy Week? Share your traditions below!