Teachable Moments in the Lenten Season

The season of Lent has already begun. If you and your family are getting a late start on this observance, or if you’ve never actually observed Lent before, it’s not too late to start. For families who profess faith in God, the season of Lent is ripe for teachable moments with our kids!

Typically we choose something to give up or “sacrifice” during these weeks, but if we leave it at mere self-deprivation, we can miss out on some beautiful lessons. The reason we give up something for Lent is so that when we find ourselves desiring that thing, ideally we will turn that thinking and desire specifically toward God instead. But we can take this even further by replacing the time and attention we are sacrificing with something we can actually GIVE to God.

There are different ways we can guide our kids through this practice. First of all, we should keep it small and simple for our really young kids, not making it feel overwhelming, demanding, or legalistic. We should help them find joy in the sacrifice and delight in the giving back to God. And they might do better with a shorter time frame.

We can help our kids brainstorm some ideas for their Lenten experience. Maybe they can give up a favorite treat and instead give that treat or its monetary equivalent to a friend or someone in need. Maybe they can give up watching a particular show they enjoy and instead use that time to serve someone else, even if it’s just another member of the family. Or maybe they can give up wearing a favorite clothing item for a few weeks and instead collect other clothing items, toys, etc. to give away to kids in need. And with each instance, let’s be sure to remind our kids of the WHY, which is to love and serve God in very intentional ways.

There are so many ideas for getting our kids involved in this season. One time my daughter gave up purple for Lent. She was obsessed with the color, but she wouldn’t allow herself to wear it or intentionally do anything with purple, which was hard for her, but it truly made an impact on her heart and mind. So get creative, parents!

No matter what our children come up with, let’s praise their efforts in sacrifice and giving during Lent. Let’s look at the hearts behind their actions and encourage the small steps they are taking in obedience to God. And let’s remember that they are learning by our examples, too!