Ash Wednesday Activities for Children

The holiday most notably recognized in the Christian faith that is after Quinquagesima Sunday is called Ash Wednesday. Quinquagesima Sunday pin-points the start of the fifty days before Easter which leads into Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is exactly forty days, excluding Sundays, before Easter. It is also the start of religious fasting (limiting food to one day) and a period of abstinence from all meat and animal byproducts on Fridays, all for the repentance of sins.

The period of fifty days before Easter is one of the strongest, most devoted few months of the Christian faith. It is the time of year to recognize the sufferings that Jesus went through while on earth to give all Christians alike the forgiveness of sins. Hence, this is the perfect time of year to teach children about Jesus and what the sacrifice of his life meant to Christians. Here are ten examples of what you can teach your children on Ash Wednesday:

1. Collage: Ash Wednesday is about a rebirth and a new beginning for the Christian faith. It is fun and exciting for children to make a collage of "new births" during the last year. Picture collages are very exciting, especially with all the family photos from the Christmas season. Simply take a large poster board or small booklet (with ten or so blank pages) to make a collage. Then, along with your child/children cut photos or draw pictures of things that have been a gift of new birth this year. For instance, some great ideas may be a new baby in the family, a bunny that has been seen outside in the back yard, a new school teacher and so on. After completed, have the child/children explain what all the things mean to him/her and why he/she is thankful.