Our "True meaning of Easter" night

During Christmas time, we have a night where we have a birthday party for Jesus and spend the whole evening talking about the true meaning of Christmas. We do the same for Easter. Even though we talk about the stories throughout the holidays, I think it is important that we have a night devoted to talking about the meaning behind Christmas and Easter so that they can grow up knowing what it they are all about.

One thing I have discovered as the mother of young children is that the story of Christmas is easy to get kids interested in- pretty star, cute animals in a barn, sweet little baby. 

Easter??? Little different. Even if your kiddo understands death, which most 3-year-olds don't- trying to explain rising from the dead is dang near impossible. But, we do the best we can!

We started with sticker scenes. I explained the Easter story in the most simple, yet straight forward words I could. Then, they made their sticker scenes.

Delaney's is on the left, Jameson's, the right

I wasn't sure if Jameson was picking up on everything, but then he told me that he wanted Jesus out of the "cave" because that is where Jesus went. I was pretty satisfied with that!

Next, we made Resurrection Rolls. These are tasty little treats you can use to explain Easter.

Resurrection rolls

*I wish I could give credit to where I got this idea from, but I honestly don't remember!*

1 pkg of crescent rolls

8 marshmallows

3 T butter

2 T sugar

2 T cinnamon

(you may had to add more of the bottom three ingredients depending on how good your kiddos are at the roll in butter and cake in cinnamon/sugar thing).

• Separate the crescent rolls into the individual triangles. You will start with explaining the marshmallows. Explain that, pure and white, the marshmallows are like Jesus- pure and without sin.
• Next, roll the marshmallow in the butter, and then the cinnamon and sugar- explain that this is like how they anointed Jesus with oils and herbs.
• Wrap the marshmallow in a crescent roll, careful to close it off as well as possible. Explain that this is like how they placed Jesus in the tomb.
• Place the rolls on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until lightly brown, around 8-10 minutes. 
• Let cool. Before you break the rolls open, remind the kiddos that there was a marshmallow inside when you made them.
• When the rolls are broken open, the marshmallows are gone! Explain that this is like how, when the women went to the tomb, Jesus was gone.

Getting started

Putting the rolls together.

Delaney enjoyed making the rolls eating the marshmallows.

I wish we could have gotten a shot of when he first opened the roll. He was so amazed! 

He told us that the marshmallow was gone just like Jesus was from the tomb. Then, he told us that Jesus is fluffy like a marshmallow. Oh well, I'll consider it a half success... :)