The Purpose of Lent

The purpose of Lent is to remind ourselves of our need for Jesus Christ. We use this 40 day period to prepare ourselves for the resurrection of Christ. The traditional ways of doing this is through prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. The point of practicing these things is not to “check the boxes.” Rather, it is to discipline ourselves, have a true inner conversion of heart, and ultimately follow Christ's will more faithfully. What what does Lent look like for kids? Parents can teach children the practices of Lent in a variety of ways, but here are some ideas.

Prayer: Use Scripture

If we’re aiming to imitate God, it’s helpful to look at how he lived his life as one of us on earth. Kids can learn his self-sacrificial ways by learning about his passion. This can be learned in a physical way by using the “Play and Pray Stations of the Cross Set” which uses Beautiful wood pieces to make Christ’s journey to Golgatha come alive. Another option for learning about Christ’s passion is to pick up a copy of “A Pocket Guide to the Stations of the Cross,” which is illustrated beautifully with full-color photographs of scenes constructed with Lego blocks, a method that’s sure to catch to attention of young readers. Most importantly Christ’s Passion can be found in the Bible in these locations:

  • Matthew 26:15-27:66
  • Mark 14:12-15:47
  • Luke 22:7-23:56
  • John 13:1-19:42.

Almsgiving: Serve Others

Since kids don’t have an income, donating money is difficult, but giving time and items is well within reach. Help your children give no-longer-used clothes and toys to a local thrift store. Have your kids help out their grandparents with small chores. You could also get your kids to make cookies for neighbors or for members of your church.

Fasting: Practice Self Control

The practice of giving up legitimate pleasures helps to train us to have the resolve to deny ourselves when temptations come our way. During Lent, kids can limit their time on electronic devices or give up treats until Easter. With this extra time on their hands, it’s important for the kids to fill their days in a fun and productive way. Reading about Saints can be a fun way for kids to spend their time. You Were Born to be a Saint by Kortnee Senn is a colorful book that encourages children to become more Christlike.

Be like Jesus and be With Jesus

Our ultimate goal is to spend eternity with Jesus. We can accomplish this by working on our relationship with him right now. Our hearts are converted through prayer and through the reception of God’s grace through the sacraments. We want to be prepared for the second coming of Christ and we can start this preparation at a very young age.