5 Christ-Centered Easter Activities for Kids (That Actually Stick)

Easter has this sneaky way of arriving before you feel ready for it. One minute it’s February, and you’re still finding Valentine’s candy in the couch cushions, and the next minute someone mentions it’s THIS WEEK, and you haven’t thought about a single thing. And honestly? That’s most of us. Life is full and busy, and that is so okay.

But the older I get, the more I’ve come to believe something about holidays like this one. It’s not the size of the basket, the Pinterest-worthy tablescape, or even how many activities you pull off. It’s the touchpoint. It’s the thing you do year after year that orients your family’s hearts back to the reason you’re celebrating in the first place, and it doesn’t have to be big or fancy or perfectly executed to matter.

It just has to be intentional. A little bit of purpose mixed in with all the fun things (the egg hunts, the candy, the new spring outfits) is genuinely enough. Because what kids remember isn’t the production. They remember the ritual. They remember that every Easter you stopped to tell them the story.

Every Easter morning in our house, before the baskets come out and before anyone has found a single plastic egg, my kids ask for the same thing. Mom, are we making Resurrection Rolls? Even the teenagers. And every time one of them asks, I feel it right in the chest, because it’s such a small thing and it means everything. That’s over a decade of doing one simple thing, and it stuck.

These are the five Christ-centered Easter activities our family has loved. Some take ten minutes, some take a few evenings leading up to Easter, and all of them are simple enough that you can do them in a normal, real, busy life. Pick one. Do it this year. Do it again next year. Just a tiny tweak to make Easter a little more meaningful.

[Link: Full Resurrection Rolls Recipe]

1. Resurrection Rolls

“He has risen! He is not here.” — Mark 16:6

This is the one my kids have been requesting since they were in preschool, and it works so well because it’s hands-on and delicious, and the moment you open that roll and it’s hollow inside, every kid in the room gets it. The marshmallow represents Jesus; you wrap it up like a tomb, it bakes, and when you open it—He is not there. The tomb is empty.

I have the full recipe and directions in this post—you only need a few ingredients, and most are probably already in your kitchen. [Link: Full Resurrection Rolls Recipe] They make a perfect Easter morning breakfast, after-school snack, or addition to your holiday table. Add the ingredients to your weekly meal planner so you don’t forget!

Easter conversation starter: While you make these together, talk about how Jesus died on the cross, was placed in a tomb, and three days later the tomb was empty. His death and resurrection mean eternal life for us when we trust in Him. Read John 19-20 together if you want to go deeper.

2. Cross Canvas Craft

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

My older kids loved this one, and the reason it works for all ages is the painter’s tape — it does the hard part for you. Kids paint freely, the tape holds the cross shape, and when you peel it back at the end there’s this beautiful moment of reveal. We hung ours in the kids’ bedrooms for years.

What you need

Painter’s tape, craft paint in your child’s chosen colors, sponge brushes (one per color), canvases, wax paper to protect your counter, paper plates for paint.

Help your child press the painter’s tape firmly onto the canvas in a cross shape and press it down well so paint doesn’t bleed underneath. Let them pick their colors, squirt onto paper plates, and go. One coat, let it dry, then add a second coat and any extra decorating they want. When fully dry, peel the tape slowly to reveal the cross.

Pro tip: seal sponge brushes in a Ziploc bag in the fridge between coats to keep them fresh. We hung the finished canvases with Command strips.

Easter conversation starter: While you paint, talk about why Jesus died on the cross. Read Romans 5:8 together and talk about what it means that He did this for all of us — you, your kids, every person. What is sin? What does Jesus’ death mean for us?

3. Resurrection Eggs

We have done this one for over a decade, and it never gets old, not even for the older kids, who I think secretly love it just as much as they did when they were little. Resurrection eggs are a set of 12 numbered plastic eggs, each holding a small prop that tells a different part of the Easter story, walking your family all the way from Palm Sunday to the empty tomb.

The way we do it: starting in the days leading up to Easter, we open one egg each night as part of our bedtime routine and read through the accompanying booklet together. My kids always want to go back and open the previous eggs first to review, so it builds the story beautifully, and by Easter morning, they have walked through the entire week of Jesus’ final days. It is one of those traditions I genuinely treasure.

You can find the Resurrection Eggs kit here (affiliate link — this is the one we use and love, and have used for years), or follow this DIY tutorial to make your own.

Easter conversation starter: Each egg prompts its own moment of discussion, and the props do the talking for you. Just open them together, read the story, and let your kids ask questions. There are no wrong answers, and some of the best conversations we have ever had as a family have happened over a little plastic egg at bedtime.

4. Glow-in-the-Dark Easter Egg Hunt

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12

Because kids also just need to run around and have fun, and this version of the classic egg hunt is genuinely one of the most exciting things we have ever done. You don’t even have to wait for full dark outside. Find a closet or a room you can black out and let them loose. You can make it a scavenger hunt, set up color challenges, or give a prize for the most found.

I have all the directions, tips, and supply details in the full post right here. [Link: Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt]

Easter conversation starter: Jesus is the light of the world, and just like these eggs glow in the dark, His light reaches into every dark place. He is a light to your path, and you never have to find your way alone.

5. Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” — James 1:17

Here is the thing about Easter baskets — I love them, and we do them. Just like God loves to give us good gifts, we get to reflect that same joy when we give good gifts to our kids. Easter is the celebration of the greatest gift ever given, so filling a basket with things that delight your children? Well, for us, it fits right in.

And if you want to be a little more intentional about what goes inside, I have 40+ non-candy Easter basket ideas that are still exciting and feel special for kids of all ages. Think books, little gifts, things that spark creativity, and yes, you can absolutely still tuck in the chocolate because every good and perfect gift includes chocolate in my opinion.

[Link: 40+ Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas]

Easter conversation starter: As you put together your child’s basket, talk about how much you love giving them good things, and how God feels the same way about us, only so much more. The greatest gift He ever gave us is what we celebrate on Easter morning. That is what all of this is for.

The point was never the fancy part

You don’t have to do all five of these. You really don’t even have to do two. Pick the one that sounds most like your family and do it, imperfectly, in a kitchen that isn’t clean, with someone probably arguing in the background. The magic isn’t in the execution. It’s in the showing up to tell the story, year after year, until it becomes the thing your kids carry with them long after they’ve left your house.

A hollow crescent roll on an Easter morning. A little plastic egg opened at bedtime. A painted canvas hanging in a bedroom for years. These are tiny things. And they are also, somehow, everything.

We do all the other fun Easter things too (the baskets, the egg hunt, way too much candy), and we also do these. Those two things don’t compete with each other. They’re better together, because the fun stuff is even more joyful when your heart already knows what you’re celebrating.

Wishing you the happiest, most meaningful Easter. He is risen, and that is the whole beautiful part.

I’d love to know which of these your family loves most. Drop it in the comments below!

You might also like

• Easter Dinner Meal Ideas for Your Family Table: Simple, delicious Easter dinner ideas that make your holiday meal feel special without spending all day in the kitchen. Because the table is part of the celebration, too.
• Resurrection Rolls Recipe: The Easter tradition our family has made for over a decade, and the one my kids ask for before they ask for anything else. Simple ingredients, meaningful story, and so good fresh out of the oven.
• Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt: The most fun your kids will have this Easter season. Full directions, supply list, and tips for pulling off a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt that they will talk about for years.
• 40+ Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas for Kids of All Ages: Skip the sugar overload and fill those baskets with things your kids will actually use and love. Ideas for toddlers, big kids, and teens included.