Embracing Lent With the Saints: A Kid-Friendly Guide
Lent is a special time in the Church—a season of prayer, fasting, and reflection as we prepare our hearts for Easter. But teaching little ones about Lent can sometimes feel tricky. How do you make these spiritual practices meaningful, exciting, and age-appropriate? One fun way is to embrace Lent with the saints!
Saints are wonderful examples of faith, kindness, and perseverance. They remind us how to live like Jesus in our everyday lives. And the best part? Kids love learning their stories through pictures, crafts, and cozy moments—like snuggling under a Saintly Snuggles blanket!
1. Meet the Saints for Kids
Introducing saints to children doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with saints who lived lives that are easy to understand:
- St. Anthony of Padua – He loved helping others and sharing stories about Jesus.
- St. Francis of Assisi – Known for his care for animals and nature.
- St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) – Taught us to love everyone, especially the poor.
Each saint’s story can be a conversation starter. Ask your child: “How do you think St. Anthony would help someone today?” or “What can we do this week to show kindness like St. Francis?”
2. Fun Lent Activities With Saints
Turn Lent into an adventure:
- Saint Stories at Bedtime – Pick one saint each week and read a short story about them. Let your kids snuggle under a Saintly Snuggles blanket featuring that saint to make the story extra special.
- Saint-Inspired Acts of Kindness – Make a “Saint Challenge” jar. Each day, draw a simple action inspired by a saint: give a compliment, share a toy, or pray for someone.
- Arts & Crafts – Draw your own version of a saint or make a small saint-themed craft. Pin these creations to your fridge or create a Lent saint board.
- 3. Prayer and Reflection
Even little ones can pray in ways they understand. Short, simple prayers are perfect. For example:
“Dear St. [Name], help me to be kind today.”
Encourage children to place a picture of their favorite saint in a quiet corner, creating a small prayer space at home. A blanket with that saint’s image can make this space feel warm, safe, and inviting.
4. Making It Stick
Kids remember experiences, not just words. Lent is about practicing goodness daily, and saints help make it concrete. By reading stories, doing activities, and cozying up with a saint-inspired blanket, your child can connect faith to daily life in a joyful way.
You don’t need to do everything at once. Even one saint a week can inspire small moments of prayer, kindness, and reflection. Over time, your child will naturally start to associate Lent with love, service, and hope.
Final Thoughts
Embracing Lent with the saints is a beautiful way to make this season meaningful for children. By combining stories, actions, and cozy moments with your little ones, you’re planting seeds of faith that can grow for a lifetime. And who knows? This might become a cherished family tradition every Lent!