How to Talk to Kids About Easter: A Parent's Guide to Faith-Based Conversations

How to Talk to Kids About Easter: A Parent's Guide to Faith-Based Conversations

Easter baskets and chocolate bunnies might grab a child’s attention, but for Christian families, the heart of this season is deeper. Explaining Jesus’ resurrection and the story of Holy Week to young kids requires a mix of simplicity, creativity, and trusted resources. At Yippee, we’ve curated shows and educational programs that help parents turn this sacred story into something tangible, and even fun, for little listeners.

Why Easter is Important (And How to Start the Conversation)

Easter isn’t just a single day, it’s the culmination of God’s promise. For kids, concepts like sacrifice and resurrection can feel abstract, which is why framing the story around love and new life works wonders. Start with questions like:

• “Did you know Easter is about more than egg hunts?”
• “Let’s talk about why Jesus is called our ‘best friend forever.’”

The episode Hey Meisha: What is Easter? helps simplify this beautifully, giving kids an easy-to-understand and fun way to learn about Easter.

Breaking Down Holy Week: How Parents Can Share the Story with Kids

Holy Week is the finale to Lent, a 40-day season of reflection, prayer, and preparation for Easter. For families, it’s a chance to walk with Jesus through His final days on Earth. Here’s how to explain this journey to children, using simple language and engaging resources like Hey-0 Stories of The Bible: The Story of Easter for Kids.

Lent & Holy Week: What’s the Connection?

Lent (starting on Ash Wednesday) is like a spiritual "spring cleaning" for the heart. Families might give up treats, pray together, or help others, practices that mirror Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness. Holy Week is the final stretch of this journey, focusing on Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.

Breaking Down Holy Week for Kids

Palm Sunday: 

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, and people wave palm branches shouting, “Hosanna!” Explain: “It’s like a parade for a king! But Jesus wasn’t a regular king, He came to save us.” Looking for an interactive activity relating to Palm Sunday? Some parents and their kids craft palm-leaf crosses at home. You'll sometimes see kids doing this as a vacation Bible school craft.

Hey-O, Stories of the Bible does a great job showing the triumphal entry in an animated way. Check out their full easter episode here.

Maundy Thursday: 

At the Last Supper, Jesus shares bread and wine (the first Communion) and washes His disciples’ feet. Simplify: “Jesus showed us how to love by serving others, even doing ‘yucky’ jobs like washing feet!” Bible Builds: Jesus Washes Their Feet uses LEGO® bricks to make this lesson tangible. There's also a Daily Devo episode that discusses Maundy Thursday in a way that's easy for kids to understand.

Good Friday: 

On Good Friday, we remember that Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. If you're reading the Easter story in the Bible together, you might read Mark 15 starting with verse 16 and ending around verse 41.

When explaining to kids, you might say something like, “Good Friday is the day we remember something very important that happened to Jesus. Even though it was a sad day, it’s called good because it led to something amazing, Jesus rising from the dead and making a way for us to be close to God forever.”  Some families light candles or pray quietly at 3 PM (the hour some believe He died).

Show your kids this episode of the Daily Devo show that talks about Good Friday.

Holy Saturday: 

Jesus’ body rests in the tomb, but His spirit is at work. Compare it to planting a seed: “Even though we can’t see it, something amazing is growing!”

If you're reading the Easter story in the Bible together, you might read Mark 15 starting with verse 42 and ending with verse 47.

Easter Sunday: The Best Surprise!

The tomb is empty, Jesus is alive! Celebrate with joy! When speaking to kids about it, you might say, “It’s like the biggest ‘hide-and-seek’ win ever! Death couldn’t keep Jesus hidden!” Ms. Amy’s Easter episode pairs this truth with springtime crafts and songs that will make the day feel extra special for your kids.

If you're reading the Easter story in the Bible together, you might read all of Mark 16, John 20, or Matthew 28 together as a family. We also have episodes of Daily Devo that break down each of the Easter story chapters:

• John's Easter Story
• Matthew's Easter Story
• Mark's Easter Story

These are great suggestions to show your kids on Easter and provide a visual way to discuss the gospels that might be easier for them to follow along with than a book, depending on their age.

Yippee also has a collection of Easter music that's perfect for worshiping together. You can view that Easter music playlist here.

For a more fun & interactive way of celebrating our risen savior, show your kids the "He Is Risen!" episode of Superbook and discuss it as a family afterwards.

How to Make It Stick

1. Watch Together: The Story of Easter for Kids ties Holy Week’s events into one engaging narrative, from palm branches to the empty tomb.
2. Hands-On Activities:
   • Resurrection Eggs: Fill plastic eggs with symbols (e.g., a cross, cloth “stone”) to retell the story .
   • Foot Washing: Use a basin and towels to act out Jesus’ humble act of service.
3. Ask Questions: “Why do you think Jesus forgave the people who hurt Him?” or “How can we show love like He did?”

Why Holy Week is Important

Holy Week isn’t just history, it’s a reminder that God's love for us is stronger than sin & death. By linking Lent’s preparation to Holy Week’s events, kids learn that Easter’s joy grows from intentional faith in Jesus.

For more ideas, explore Yippee’s Happy Easter collection, where faith-based shows blend storytelling with biblical truth, vetted by Christian parents and pastors for authenticity.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14 ESV). With gentle lessons and playful wonder, Holy Week becomes a story they’ll carry forever.

3 Ways to Make Easter Tangible for Kids

1. Interactive Storytelling

Ms. Amy’s Holy Sprouts episode turns the Easter story into an interactive experience. Kids learn relevant sign language, color resurrection-themed pictures, and sing about spring’s renewal, all while connecting to the Gospel.

2. Symbols They Can See

• Resurrection Eggs: Fill plastic eggs with items like a cross (toothpicks) or cloth “stone” to retell the story.
• Foot-Washing Activity: Reenact Jesus’ humble act using a basin and towels, as shown in Bible Builds.

3. Answer Tough Questions Simply

When kids ask, “Why did Jesus die?” we suggest a response that points to the gospel. You might quote a Bible verse like 1 Peter 3:18 that says, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." 

We suggest using language that's easier for them to understand while communicating that core concept. For example, you might say, 'Christ chose to take on the punishment for our sins so we could always be close to God. But death didn’t win, He came back to life!' There's a Daily Devotional on Sharing About God that offers more child-friendly language and teaches kids how to talk about God as well.

Want to go more in-depth on this topic? Check out our parent's guide on how to talk to your kids about faith (for every age).

Yippee’s Easter Collection: Faith Meets Fun

We’ve curated Easter-themed episodes that balance biblical stories with joy. From quick Lego builds to sing-alongs, every show is vetted by Christian parents and our network pastor to ensure it aligns with Scripture.

Why parents trust Yippee:

• No ads, no anxiety: Content is safe and focused on Christ.
• Learning through play: Shows like Bible Builds teach service while kids construct with blocks.
• Flexible for busy families: 1-minute recaps (Easter in a Jiffy) or 15-minute deep dives fit any schedule.

Conclusion: Keep It Simple, Keep It Joyful

Easter’s message, that love defeated death through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, is the greatest hope we can share. By blending Yippee’s shows with hands-on activities, you’re not just telling a story; you’re building a foundation of faith that grows with your child.

Ready to explore more? Stream our Happy Easter collection and let the joy of resurrection fill your home this season.

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Yippee TV is a family-friendly Christian streaming service dedicated to providing safe, wholesome, and entertaining content for families. With a wide variety of shows, movies, and original series, Yippee TV aims to deliver positive, educational, and fun programming that parents can trust. With a focus on values-based content like VeggieTales, Superbook, Danny Go! and Bibleman, Yippee TV gives kids an enriching experience that saves parents time previously spent filtering content and finding the right shows.