Beyond the Bunny: 5 More Items to Boost your Easter Baskets
It's that time of year where we head to the store for Easter candy, small toys and plastic eggs and pull out the sentimental Easter basket your child has had since they were born. Then you start thinking of all the Easters and how they have grown...it's ok moms, grab that tissue. And don't forget that stringy, spreads like Christmas tinsel...bright green Easter grass.
Now I love all the bunnies, chicks and chocolate and eggs ( wait do you remember those homemade peanut butter eggs the size of your hand)? Our church would sell them around Easter and the proceeds would go toward the children's ministry. Ok squirrel moment over. Well all these seasonal ways to celebrate like easter egg hunts and games and crafts are all fun and very traditional in my family today. But what if we take a moment before that momentous Easter morning full of goodies and stop to remind ourselves of the real meaning of Easter. How can we go beyond the bunny for our kids or grandkids so they know the who and why around Easter?
Well, here are 5 easy ways to keep Jesus in focus while celebrating Easter. These tips are really great if your kids are now at that age where they are having questions and understanding more, but also as a way to get them asking things like why did Jesus die on the cross and what is sin?
1. Read Christ focused Easter books
No holiday, especially Christmas, is complete without reading a seasonal book. Even though you think you are doing the good mom thing and reading to your kid, it's so much more than that. I know my son Malachi remembers a book we used to read to him around spring about a bunny and rainbow and as you flipped the book it would add a color ribbon as you turned the page. It was called What Makes a Rainbow by Betty Ann Schwartz. The crafter in me was even fascinated by how they made the book with the ribbons. He is now 8 and always want to read that book this time of year. All this being said, they will remember the small things they you may just think of as another story time moment.
2. Learn Scripture Together
As we just talked about above, our children's brains are like sponges and absorb so much. So start planting the seed now while they are young. Here are some easy Bible verses for Easter and you can even do a craft or fun activity to keep their interest
John 3:16
Matthew 28:6
John 11:25
3. Easter Baskets
This is an opportunity to not just fill their baskets with candy and toys but also fill their baskets with items that will draw their hearts closter to God. Here are some ideas:
1. A Bible- There are bibles that are made for your child no matter what their age
2. A Devotional- You can also find these that are age appropriate even for pre-schoolers
3. Bible Story Books- You can find some really good ones at Dollar Tree. Some even come with CDs for listening in your car.
4. Bible themed coloring books- These are my favorite because to this day I love coloring and of course you need to include a new pack of crayons.
5. Easter eggs- Put strips of paper in a few of the Easter eggs that tell the story of Easter. Then have them put them in order of how it happened from His rejection by people to His resurrection.
I hope this have given you more ways to celebrate Easter and giving your child the greatest gift of all... knowledge of who Jesus is and how he saved us from our sins. This may even spark some questions with your child about asking Jesus in their heart. Now that would be an Easter to remember, Mom!