Lent Activities for Children and Families

CALENDAR

1. 40-day Lenten Calendar:

• http://www.reallifeathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/40LenActivitiesCath_Full.pdf
• https://www.catholicicing.com/printable-lenten-calendar-for-children/
• https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/40-crosses-2023-english.pdf

2. 40 Ideas for 40 Days:

• Lots of great ideas here: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/resources/40-ideas-for-40-days/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The+Mass+and+a+Lent+Preview%3A+Catholic+Faith+Formation+Newsletter&utm_campaign=cff-jan22-6709
• Make a Lenten paper chain. Cut purple construction paper into 40 strips.  On each strip, write a prayer intention.  Staple the strips into circles and create a chain.  Each day of Lent, remove a strip from the chain and center your prayer on the intention contained therein.
• Make a calendar Booklet: https://thekidsbulletin.com/2014/03/02/lenten-calendar-for-children/

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

1. (For adults) What are the Stations of the Cross?: Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf2Vk7E8LwA
2. (For families) Watch the Stations of the Cross: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY2hcqxh7IA&t=233s
3. Attend Stations of the Cross at SMM at least once during Lent. The schedule can be found in the Bulletin or church website.
4. Print out the Stations of the Cross and make them into standing, 3-D Displays: https://www.catholicicing.com/printable-stations-of-the-cross-craft-for-kids/
5. Play Stations of the Cross Board Game: https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21APFws4U7OXApbJo&cid=47D78E23512A8BBE&id=47D78E23512A8BBE%219659&parId=47D78E23512A8BBE%219436&o=OneUp
6. Make a Stations of the Cross booklet: http://rschurchlady.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

1. Set aside time every day for Family Prayer. You may choose to make a Lenten Prayer or Prayer Corner.  Put out a Bible, a picture of Jesus’ Passion and/or the Last Supper, and some other decoration that reminds you of Lent (maybe a crown of thorns, palm branches, or wheat).  Pray around the Lenten Prayer Table.
2. Make rosaries. There are many tutorials, this is an easy one: https://www.reallifeathome.com/rosary-craft-for-kids/.  Once you make the rosaries, pray the rosary!  Learn how here: https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary.
3. Go to Reconciliation as a family at least once during Lent. The schedule can be found in the Bulletin or church website.
4. Work on a Family Lenten Candles Activity:  https://thelittlesandme.com/lenten-candles-family-activity/?epik=dj0yJnU9WHVPZ0JQVGdiQWFab25VbDFWS3hKVFVsbWFmaDZXRnUmcD0wJm49WU1ITUE0dGpyZHNORGNyQ0g2aWRNUSZ0PUFBQUFBR0FaY2Rr
5. Crown of Thorns: Make a crown of thorns out of clay {or play dough} and toothpicks (or small pieces of dry spaghetti). Every time someone in the family does a good deed, take out one of the thorns. Try to remove all the thorns before the end of Lent.
6. Jelly Bean Jar: Start a jelly bean jar. Choose certain actions you’ll do as a family every day during Lent. Whenever someone does one of these things, put a jelly bean in the jar. Collect as many jelly beans as possible before Easter!
7. Set up an almsgiving box– you simply set out a box, and take 1 thing from your own pantry every day of Lent. At the end of Lent, take the box to a food pantry.

HOLY WEEK

1. Attend Stations of the Cross, Holy Thursday mass and/or Holy Friday services.
2. Fold your Palm into a Cross: https://teachingcatholickids.com/how-to-fold-a-palm-cross/
3. Make your own Resurrection Eggs: https://www.catholicicing.com/catholic-resurrection-eggs/
4. Make Hot Cross Buns: https://www.thekitchn.com/heres-why-we-eat-hot-cross-buns-at-easter-holiday-traditions-at-the-kitchn-217463
5. Make an Easter Story Wreath: http://www.weelittlemiracles.com/2012/04/make-easter-story-wreath-free.html
6. Attend Easter Sunday Mass or the Easter Vigil! Check the bulletin and church website for mass times.