Lent  

• Write a special family prayer together that you say at dinner all throughout Lent. 

• Begin a Lenten "Way of the Cross" as a family using this wonderful printable from "Finer Femininity." Hang your "Way of the Cross" somewhere your family will see it and be able to add to it each day of Lent. We use painter's tape and hang a page-protector sheet next to it so we can easily switch the pages for the readings and items we add each day of Lent. 

• Decorate your home for Lent. Helping your family visually see the changing of liturgical seasons is a powerful way to help your family journey together through Lent, Holy Week and Triduum. My family makes a purple paper chain to hang on our mantle to remind us that Jesus broke the chains of death with his resurrection on Easter.    

• Paint a decade of the rosary on your window using homemade window paint made with washable paint mixed with dish soap, and use a heart window cling to move along the beads to keep your place.

• If you don't want to paint your windows, you can make homemade "window-clings" using this easy recipe from McCormick. 

• Set up a "Family Prayer Corner." Designate an area in your home where family members can go to pray. Here are some suggestions of things to include: Bible, prayer cards, rosary, daily devotionals, children’s Bible story books, paper and pencils, religious icon and/or candle.

• Sign up for daily Lent reflections from Dynamic Catholic’s Best Lent Ever program.These are great for adults and older children to watch and discuss together as a family.

• Make a family and/or individual Lent promise. For example your family could give up television and electronics from 7 pm until morning every night (My family did this one year when I was a kid). During the time you would normally watch television or be on other electronics, play board games, read books and talk with one another. Here is a handy dandy Lenten promise printable handout from "Faith and Fabric Design" you can use to help you come up with a promise.

• Loyola Press has a variety of Lenten Activities for kids you can check out.

• The United States Council of Catholic Bishops has great information on the Corporal Works of Mercy you can introduce your children to.

• Make a family “Works of Mercy Tree.” Loyola Press use to have a digital handout with directions for this activity but no longer do. I Modified this activity for toddlers as follows: Cut strips of paper, discuss ways your child/children can be nice or kind to family members and/or friends, and write their responses on the slips of paper. Make the slips of paper into circles using tape, and let your child slip them on the branches of the tree.              

• Participate in the Catholic Relief Service's (CRS) "Rice Bowl" collection, and donate your spare change throughout Lent to this great organization.

• Use the CRS activities, lessons, videos, and other resources together as a family.

• As a family, participate in the Sacrifice Beans Activity from “Catholic Icing.” This is a great way for your children to learn about making sacrifices.

• Attend the sacrament of Reconciliation together as a family. What a great gift to offer Jesus during this time—the gift of unburdening your sins and receiving forgiveness. 

• Pick one day a week and fast from snacking between meals as a family. There are so many people in this world who are hungry. During these days pray for those who go without food and thank God for the blessing of the food that you are blessed to have. 

• Decorate a cross with purple ribbon to hang on your door, and keep it on your door for the entire Lenten season. Add a white flower to the cross on Easter, and then leave it on your door for the entire Easter season.

• Traveling crucifix: Pass a crucifix around with friends and/or family and take turns praying with it in your house as a family all through Lent. 

Lenten Lessons Game: 

In this game, encourage discussion about making good and bad choices, and talk about how the actions or choices we make can add nails to Jesus' cross or help ease His suffering. Simply print the Lenten Lessons Game on card-stock paper, laminate, and play. 

Listen to the read-aloud verison of "Christian Sees the Way of the Cross" and pray the "Stations of the Cross" together as a family. 

If you enjoy the read-aloud version of "Christian Sees the Way of the Cross," you can purchase the print version here (sold on Amazon).