Teaching Children to Make Meaningful Lent Promises

Traditionally, an old habit is given up or a new habit is added during the Lent season as a way to prepare for the coming of Jesus. These Lent promises are intended to improve our relationship with God by either giving up something that takes our focus off of our commitment to him or adding something that helps us carry out our spiritual mission in this world. Teaching your children to make and keep Lent promises is an important task for any parent.

Share Lent Promises on Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a day of sorrow and repentance that marks the first day of Lent. Ash Wednesday falls seven Wednesdays before Easter, usually between February 3 and March 5. Many families and churches make Ash Wednesday more meaningful for children by organizing crafts and activities that help children understand the meaning of the Lenten season that they are beginning. Ash Wednesday is also typically a day that Lent promises are shared with one another.

Help Your Family Make Meaningful Lent Promises

Remind your kids that if they make a promise like giving up pickles when they don't really like pickles in the first place, then their promise is not very meaningful and will not have much of an impact. Promising to not play with any toys at all is a huge promise that is not a good Lent promise because it will probably be broken. Giving up their weekly ice cream and donating the money to a charity that helps feed hungry children is a good Lent promise. Giving up Saturday morning cartoons to help the elderly neighbor next door work in the yard is another one.

Make a Calendar to Record Lenten Promises

Break out your family's collection of art supplies and have your children draw and decorate a calendar that marks the 40 days of Lent. You may want to print up a blank calendar on your computer to give your children a template to start with. Have your children write their promise prominently on their calendar. Give them a sticker for each day that they keep their Lenten promise.

Make a Giving Jar

As an alternative to the calendar, you can give your children a coin for each day that they keep their Lenten promises. They can then save their coins in a jar that they have decorated with their Lenten promise. On Easter Sunday, your children can choose to give the money they saved their church or to a charity of their choice.