Discussing with Your Children about Good Friday - the Death of Jesus – on April 10

One of the important hats that I wear is being a children’s author of faith-based books. My book It’s Not About You Mr. Easter Bunny – A Love Letter About the True Meaning of Easter tells not only the history of how “Easter” originated with bunnies and baby chicks, but of course also about the most important event in Christianity – the death and resurrection of Jesus. To augment your discussions or if you have not yet purchased my book, today’s blog addresses talking with your children about the day designated as “Good Friday”- the death of Jesus on the cross.

Writer Erin Mohrin said it well in her online article entitled Good Friday and Children: Making the Cross Real to Your Kids:

It is important to me that our children feel the contrast between Good Friday and (Resurrection) Sunday, because without the darkness, the light won’t shine as bright. God’s great love for us went on full display at the Cross. Experience that love with your children this year.

The death of Jesus on the cross is indeed a very sad occurrence but the focus should not be just on His physical death, but also the meaning of it. The cross represents pain and joy – the pain that Jesus felt when He was crucified and the joy we experience because Jesus died for our sins. It shows His overwhelming love for us and the extent to which He went to make sure that we would have everlasting life with Him in heaven.

There are many activities that children can do. The links below provide conversation starters with your children as well as an art activity. Please spend some time with your children to help them understand what Jesus did for us.

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Have Interesting Dinner Conversations With Your Children

Dinner is one of the most important times during the day that you can spend talking with your children and learning more about them. But, if your children are like mine, they usually have one or two word responses to questions. How was your day? “Fine.” Did you do anything interesting at school? “Not really.” And, I have to ask everyone to put away their cell phones so that we can actually focus on talking. Every once in a while, however, I observe someone sneaking a peak at a cell phone under the table.

What can parents do to encourage stimulating discussions with their children during dinner time? Many experts agree that making dinner a regular ritual is important. Children need order and regularity in their lives, so parents should plan to have regular dinners with them most days of the week. Another recommendation is to ensure that all devices are turned off. Everyone at the table should be focused on listening and talking to and with each other. No cell phones, tablets, computers, or televisions should be on or at the dinner table.

Experts also recommend to plan ahead so that you have good questions and conversation starters, and not to ask the same questions each night. Change it up a bit. Make it fun. Ask questions about a grandparent’s heritage or the funniest thing that happened that day or the grossest thing they have ever eaten or what is their favorite song and why. The questions are unlimited. It takes your commitment as a parent to think and plan for these conversations during dinners with your children and see them as special opportunities for everyone to learn about each other.