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Lent is a wonderful time to reflect, simplify, and focus on the pillars of the season – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving or service. In order to make the season more meaningful for your family, we have lots of resources to help. In this post, you’ll find all of our Lent activities for kids and families.
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Lent Activities for Kids and Families
Whether you’re looking for Stations of the Cross activities, a way to plan what to give up for Lent, or a printable for Lent, we have great Lent activities for all ages. I hope that you find this resource one that will help you have a more meaningful Lenten observance this year.
Mardi Gras Activities
While Mardi Gras definitely isn’t part of Lent, it is associated with Lent as one last hurrah before a season of simplicity and prayer. People often have pancakes and sweets like King Cakes or paczki.
- How to Make a Super Easy King Cake in Around 20 Minutes (with cooking time!)
- Fat Tuesday: How to Make Authentic Polish Paczki
Super Easy King Cake Directions for Mardi Gras
What to Give Up for Lent and What to Add for Lent
Sometimes it can be difficult to decide what to give up or add for Lent. This can be not only difficult for kids, but for adults as well.
With the Planning for Lent pages, you can focus on the three areas of Lent – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving or service. There are pages with extra help and ideas, as well as more open boxes.
Another great option for a Lent activity is to use the Lent Ideas Paper Chain Printable, where you can try something new this year and work on a different thing each day.
- Planning for Lent: Free Printable Lent Ideas Planning Pages
- 50+ Lent Ideas Paper Chain Printable: Things to Add and Things to Give Up During Lent
Free Printable of Lent Activities to Add or Give Up as a Family or Individually
A couple of Lent Printables for Catholic families specifically:
- 40 Lenten Ideas for Catholic Families Free Printable
- 10 Lent and Holy Week Activities for Catholic Families Printable
40 Activities for Lent Printable
Lenten Printables for Kids
Using various printables about this liturgical season can be a great option for Lent activities for kids.
- Lent Activity Page Free Printable
- On the Road to Easter: Lent Word Search Printable
- Lent Crossword Puzzle Printable for Kids and Teens
Free Lent Activity Page Printable for Kids
Stations of the Cross for Kids
The Way of the Cross, also known as the Stations of the Cross, are a way to pray and meditate on Christ’s sacrifice for us. It is divided into fourteen stations from the time He was condemned to his burial. This devotion has been long encouraged by the church, and is especially useful during Lent and Good Friday. – Catholic News Agency
The Stations of the Cross, or the Way of the Cross, is a moving and meaningful way to reflect on the end of Jesus’ life. Because it is, obviously, a weighty topic, it can be easy to want to avoid talking about it with children. We have printables and resources to help make Stations of the Cross approachable and meaningful for children.
- Printable Stations of the Cross for Children (Booklet and Reflections)
- Stations of the Cross Coloring Pages Set – Full Page Coloring Pages for 15 Stations (with Versions in English and Spanish)
- Draw and Write Stations of the Cross Activity: Printable Stations of the Cross for Kids
- 14 Stations of the Cross List – Free Simple Lenten Reflection Printable
- Stations of the Cross Word Search Free Printable Set
- Illustrated Stations of the Cross Single Page List for Kids (and Adults)
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Hands-on Lent Activities for Kids
While many other things mentioned above are wonderful activities for Lent that can be hands-on, here are some more:
- Host a Pretzel Play Date: 10 Pretzel Activities During Lent – These aren’t just for children who are still at “play date” ages. You’ll find pretzel activities that can be used at all ages that are perfect for Lent.
Heard of the Jesse Tree for Advent? Here is a Jesus Tree for Lent:
Holy Week for Kids
During Holy Week is when Lent ends (in the evening on Holy Thursday) and the Easter Triduum begins. Holy Week is also a wonderful time to keep doing activities as a family to more fully appreciate this time.
- Holy Week for Kids: 10 Holy Week Activities Free Printable – There is both a Catholic version and a non-Catholic version of this printable.
10 Holy Week Activities for Families
More Lenten Resources for Kids and Families
You can find even more Lenten resources on my Lent for Kids and Families Pinterest Board.
Subscribe to the Real Life at Home Weekly Newsletter and receive a Stations of the Cross mini booklet as a free gift:
Stations of the Cross Mini Booklet for Kids
Subscribe to the Real Life at Home weekly newsletter and receive the Stations of the Cross Mini Booklet as a free gift.
See All of the Posts and Printables about Lent from Real Life at Home
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So many great ideas! I especially love the paper chain printable. Thanks!