Family-Friendly Holy Week Activities and Crafts
Helping Kids Engage with the Passion of Christ Through Creativity and Love
Holy Week is the most sacred and powerful time in the Christian calendar. As we journey with Jesus through His final days—Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection—we’re invited to experience the depths of His love and sacrifice. But how do we share these profound mysteries with our children in a way that is both age-appropriate and meaningful?
The answer? Hands-on, heart-centered activities that bring the Holy Week story to life. When families come together to pray, craft, cook, and create, it not only helps children understand the beauty of this sacred week—it also creates lasting memories rooted in faith.
Here’s a guide to family-friendly Holy Week activities and crafts for each day, designed to be simple, engaging, and spiritually rich.
Palm Sunday: Welcoming Jesus with Joy
Scripture Focus: Matthew 21:1–11
Theme: Praise, Procession, and Preparation
Craft: DIY Palm Branches
If you can’t get real palms, make your own! Use green construction paper or even green-painted handprints glued onto sticks. Let kids wave them around shouting “Hosanna!”
Activity: Family Palm Procession
Reenact Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Have one child play Jesus (on a hobby horse or just walking), while others lay down jackets and homemade palms.
Reflection:
Talk about what it means to welcome Jesus into your heart. Ask: “How can we prepare our hearts for Him this week?”
Holy Monday to Wednesday: Quiet Reflection and Gentle Acts
Theme: Love in the Little Things
These quieter days are great for simple acts of kindness and prayer as you prepare for the Triduum.
Activity: “Jesus Jar” of Kind Deeds
Set out a jar. Every time a family member does a secret act of love—like helping with dishes, praying for someone, or sharing—drop in a little heart-shaped note. Read them all on Easter Sunday!
Activity: Story Time with Bible Picture Books
Choose age-appropriate Bible stories about Jesus’ ministry. Talk about His miracles, teachings, and love.
Craft: Crown of Thorns
Create a small wreath from grapevine or brown paper and poke toothpicks into it. Every time a child does something kind or prays, they can remove a “thorn,” preparing for the joy of Easter.
Holy Thursday: A Meal of Love and Service
Scripture Focus: John 13:1–17, Luke 22:7–20
Theme: Eucharist, Service, and Friendship
Activity: Simple Holy Thursday Supper
Host a quiet dinner with flatbread, grapes, cheese, and juice or wine. Light candles and read the story of the Last Supper. Let kids help set the table and serve one another.
Activity: Family Foot Washing
Yes—it’s a little awkward at first, but it’s a powerful symbol of humility and love. Have parents and kids take turns gently washing each other’s feet.
Craft: “Jesus’ Command” Banner
On a long strip of paper, write John 13:34: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Let the kids decorate it and hang it up as a visual reminder of Holy Week’s heart.
Good Friday: Remembering Jesus’ Sacrifice
Scripture Focus: John 18–19
Theme: Cross, Suffering, and Redemption
Activity: Darkness and Silence
Turn off lights and unplug devices at 3 p.m. (the traditional time of Jesus’ death). Light a candle, read part of the Passion story, and spend a few moments in silence or soft music.
Craft: Make a Wooden Cross
Gather twigs, glue, twine, or popsicle sticks and build a cross. Let children decorate it simply with a small purple cloth or crown of thorns.
Activity: Living Room Passion Play
Older children can help act out parts of the Passion story—Jesus carrying the cross, Veronica wiping His face, the crowd shouting “Crucify Him.” This active retelling helps them grasp the emotion of the day.
Holy Saturday: Waiting and Watching
Theme: Silence, Waiting, and Hope
Activity: Prayer Vigil at Home
Set up a simple “tomb” scene using a shoebox and a rock. Let children place a toy figure of Jesus (or wrapped cloth) inside, symbolizing His burial. Talk about waiting in hope.
Craft: Resurrection Garden
Use a pot or shallow pan to build a mini garden with moss, soil, and stones. Add a small tomb (like a cup turned on its side) and seal it with a pebble. On Easter morning, roll the stone away!
Reflection:
Talk about what it means to wait. What are we hoping for? Why do we sometimes have to be patient in faith?
Easter Sunday: He Is Risen!
Theme: Joy, New Life, and Celebration
Scripture Focus: Matthew 28:1–10
Craft: Resurrection Eggs
Use plastic eggs to retell the Easter story. Fill each egg with a small object (e.g., a cross, a nail, a piece of cloth, a stone, etc.) and let kids open one by one as you tell the story.
Activity: “Alleluia!” Scavenger Hunt
Before Holy Week, hide the word “Alleluia” somewhere in the house and tell the kids you won’t say it all week. On Easter morning, let them find it and shout it out with joy!
Food Fun: Empty Tomb Rolls
Wrap a marshmallow in crescent roll dough and bake—when it comes out, the marshmallow has melted, leaving the “tomb” empty!
Holy Week Is a Family Pilgrimage
Holy Week isn’t just for grown-ups—it’s for the whole Church, kids included. Through crafts, stories, food, and prayer, families can journey together through Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection in ways that are both sacred and accessible.
You don’t need to be perfect or Pinterest-worthy. What matters is that you create space for wonder, questions, and love. Holy Week is a story of suffering and glory, pain and peace—and children, with their beautiful hearts, can grasp more than we often realize.
So gather around. Light a candle. Open a Bible. Pull out the scissors and glue. And walk with Jesus—together.
What are your favorite Holy Week traditions with your kids? Got any fun crafts or special meals? Share your ideas in the comments! Let’s inspire one another to make Holy Week a meaningful family celebration.