3 More easy Lent traditions for families with kids

It’s almost time for everyone’s favorite liturgical season! Just kidding, I don’t think Lent is anyone’s favorite. But we know there is value in choosing to sacrifice, knowing we can do hard things in Christ who strengthens us. Maybe we can even look forward to this season, confident that Jesus can give us the strength to stick to our plans, even when it gets hard.

If you’ve got young kids at home, I’ve already told you about the awesome thing my husband came up with last year for Lent. But I love getting more opinions, so I asked a few friends and found three other super easy ideas. Grab a pack of construction paper, a bag of dried beans, or a pack of stamps and envelopes, and you’ll be ready!

And just a note for all the mamas out there who are walking through a tough time right now … I want to remind you that it’s not always the right season of life to add much in the way of sacrifices for Lent. The year that my friend had a newborn in the NICU and three other little kids at home, she didn’t give up anything for Lent. Sometimes life is Lent. Pray about it, talk to your husband or a trusted priest or spiritual adviser, and remember that the whole point of Lent is growing closer to God. What will help you do that? Go there.

Meanwhile, looking for something memorable that takes little prep to do with young kids this Lent? Look no further.

My sister told me that her favorite Lent tradition for little ones is making a paper chain on purple paper for each of the forty days of Lent. They write down the name of one person to pray for on each link in the chain. Then they take turns cutting off a link every day.

What a great, visual, hands-on way for kids to participate in Lent and to pray for loved ones! I’ve never tried this idea, but I think this year might be the year for it.

You might’ve seen this sweet idea on social media! Every time your kids do an act of kindness or a sacrifice for God, they get to put a dried bean in a jar. Filling up the jar is a visible sign of their good deeds this Lent. Then, on Easter morning, the jar is filled with jelly beans instead, as each sacrifice turns into something sweet. (Don't forget to buy the jelly beans!)

Recently I found out about St. Teresa of the Andes, a cloistered nun who reached out to others through a ministry of writing letters. Her “apostolate of letter-writing” was a way to share Christ and encourage others in their spiritual lives.

In this spirit, Pieta Paperie, a Catholic stationery company, offers a Lenten Letters Notepad. The idea is to send a letter of spiritual encouragement to someone every day of Lent. You can also use whatever paper you have, of course, to join in the “Lenten letter writing challenge.” 

Since most kids just love snail mail, get them involved. Even little ones who can’t write can dictate a letter for you to transcribe. Write down their funny ramblings verbatim to get big smiles from the lucky recipient! Letter writing is a simple yet thoughtful way to spread Christ’s love this Lent.