With the observance of Ash Wednesday tomorrow, Lent begins. From my perspective in the early childhood classroom, it’s a great time to teach children how much Jesus loved us. Even the very young child can grasp something of the great sacrifice Jesus made for us in dying on the cross.

My students always treat the stories of the last days of Jesus’ life very somberly. People often ask how I talk about all this with kindergarteners without frightening them or being too graphic.

We begin by discussing what a sacrifice is and what temptation is. We talk about how Jesus went into the desert to pray, and how that was a sacrifice because he went without food or water for 40 days. We then talk about what it feels like to be “tempted” to do wrong, and how the devil tempted Jesus. I tie this in with the virtues of courage and perseverance. We talk about what we can sacrifice to help others.

As Holy Week approaches, we talk about the last week of Jesus’ life and all he did to show us he loved us. At this point I tell my children that not everyone liked the things that Jesus taught, and one day they decided to put Jesus to death on the cross. My children have always been very respectful and attentive to this explanation. I also tell them that because Jesus was willing to die on the cross, the sins that we commit are forgiven. It has been my experience that this develops a reverence for Holy Week and for Jesus’ death for us.

I have made it a practice not to celebrate the resurrection until the children return to school after Easter. I will discuss that in my next blog, “Celebrating Easter.”

Editor’s Note: For ideas about teaching the Easter message to children, please visit our Children’s Easter Products page and Free Resources page.