Teaching Kids the Meaning and Importance of Lent (with Free Activity Guide!)

Ash Wednesday and Lent aren’t just traditions for adults—they hold deep meaning that even children can begin to understand. These practices give kids a framework for recognizing both the brokenness of the world and the incredible hope we have in Christ. By inviting children into the Lenten journey, we help them see that faith isn’t just about rules or rituals, but about a loving God who meets us in our struggles and leads us to new life.

In this article, we’ll explore how Lent and Ash Wednesday can be meaningful for children, offering practical ways to invite them into the rhythms of repentance, reflection, and ultimately, celebration of the resurrection. Plus, we’ll show you how to use a FREE Lent Guide for Kids to make this season accessible, engaging, and spiritually enriching for your whole family.

What is Lent? How to explain Lent to kids

If you've ever heard of Lent but weren’t quite sure how to explain it to your kids, you're not alone! It’s one of those seasons in the church calendar that can feel a little mysterious—even for adults. But at its core, Lent is a beautiful opportunity to slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts for Easter.

So, how do we explain it to kids in a way that makes sense?

Think of Lent like a spiritual countdown to Easter—a time when we remember why Jesus came, what He did for us, and how much we need Him. Just like kids anticipate Christmas with Advent calendars, Lent is a season of waiting and preparing, but instead of counting down to presents, we’re preparing our hearts for the greatest gift of all: Jesus’ resurrection!

It’s also a time of learning to trust God more. Sometimes people give up things for Lent (like sweets or screen time) to help them focus on prayer or gratitude. Other times, families choose to add something—like reading a Bible story together or doing kind acts for others.

No matter how you observe Lent, the goal is the same: to help kids (and adults!) understand that while this world is broken, Jesus has come to make things right. Lent is about recognizing our need for God and celebrating the incredible hope we have in Christ.

And the best part? You don’t have to figure it out alone! Our FREE Lent Guide for Kids is here to help you make this season simple, meaningful, and engaging for the whole family.

👉 Download the FREE Lent Guide for Kids HERE.

Should we teach kids about Lent if we aren't Catholic?

Those who grew up in a liturgical church such as Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and certain Protestant denominations are familiar with the yearly rhythm of Ash Wednesday—a day when we allow ashes to be placed on our foreheads in the sign of the cross, marking our mortality and ultimately proclaiming with these symbols and our bodies that Jesus is our only hope.

Ash Wednesday may seem like a very serious and somber day, and it is. Perhaps it may even seem too serious for children. But the Bible never shies away from the reality of the human condition—something that children are keenly aware of, too, even from a young age. They may not be able to intellectualize it, but the youngest among us know experientially that all is not right with this world. A favorite pet dies. A classmate gets sick. Parents divorce. As much as we’d like to shelter our children from the harsh realities of the world, we know that we cannot.

Instead of being another reminder of human sin, frailty, and despair, however, Ash Wednesday and Lent serve as catalysts to discuss the deep and true hope we hold as Christians: that because Jesus came to Earth and was crucified for our sins, and because he rose from the dead, we believe that he will one day make all things right and will wipe away all our tears. This is good news for our children too!

Use Lent as an invitation to engage kids with truth

Lent is a 40-day period of waiting—a hallmark of the Christian faith. We live in what many have termed the “already-but-not-yet” reality of our redemption. Jesus has paid it all, but not all things are yet made new and right.

The season of Lent is an open door, asking us to consider our flawed and sinful human condition, while at the same time reflecting on our redemption. Like many things in the Christian faith, there is paradox here. As Tim Keller famously said, “We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

This Lenten season, invite your children into the wonders of Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, and continued work in their lives. Download the FREE Lent Guide for Kids HERE. 

How to use this Lent guide for kids

This is your guide. And it’s just that—a guide. Use it as best works for you and your family. Each day’s lessons have been created so that you can make the time short and sweet because we know many of you have small children and busy schedules, but there is enough content for longer reflection and in-depth study if you so choose.

Each day’s lesson is comprised of:

• Scripture verse
• Prayer
• Activity/Action

 
The structure is set up so that your children can encounter biblical truth and bring it from head knowledge into heart knowledge. The lessons and activities were created to be suitable for a range of ages so that the whole family can participate. You could even use this Lent guide in a Sunday School class or other church-related children’s time.

Many families find it works best to create a rhythm for a devotional like this around a mealtime. That could be during breakfast before everyone is out the door to school and work, or if mornings are too hectic, perhaps dinnertime will work better for your family. Having a structured guide like this that can be completed in as little as 10 minutes each day will help you incorporate the habit into your family’s life.

After following along with the guide for a few days or a week, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised at how your kids begin to look forward to this devotional time.

A main focus of Lent is the habits we form and the practice of reforming them. This is a welcome to start afresh, knowing that the Holy Spirit will be with you and your kids, just as Jesus promised he would be as you seek to learn more about Jesus leading up to Easter.

We pray this season of Lent would be transformative for your whole family and that leaning into the truths of Scripture during this season would allow this Easter to be a particularly special and meaningful one.

Download the FREE Lent Guide for Kids HERE.  

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Tutye 

Veronica Olson Neffinger is a Content Editor for Salem Web Network. When she is not writing or editing articles, you can find her listening to baseball games, enjoying the outdoors, reading, or engaged in some form of home or garden care. She lives in Richmond, VA with her husband and two young sons. 

Originally published February 25, 2025.