It can be confusing to know how to talk to young children about Jesus' death, but with the right approach, you can help them understand His incredible love and sacrifice. This page offers age-appropriate songs, memory verses, Bible stories, activities, and crafts to guide preschoolers in learning about the significance of Jesus’ death. These resources make it easier to teach the message of love, hope, and salvation in a way that is simple and meaningful for children.
Scripture: Matthew 27
Read and Share Toddler Bible: pg 176
The Beginner's Bible: pg 446
My First Hands-On Bible: pg 344
Through the Bible in Felt: pg 225-227
Although not a children's Bible, The Jesus Book: The Ultimate Who, What, When, Where, and Why Book by Stephen Elkins makes the Bible accessible to kids. What really drew me to it is the simplicity of the stories, with the author breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand explanations. I also love the inclusion of maps and timelines, which pair perfectly with school history lessons. Read more...
The following pages help a child better understand the death and resurrection of Christ.
Update: This book is no longer in print and is available in Kindle edition only.
Geared toward elementary-aged children, Buck Denver Asks: What's in the Bible? Volume Ten - Jesus is the Good News! explains the Easter story better than I have ever seen. Through catchy songs, humorous sketches, and clear Bible stories, Buck and his friends explain the importance of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection, showing how Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises. This volume emphasizes the gospel message in a way that's accessible and enjoyable for children, helping them grasp the good news of Jesus with joy and clarity.
Adventures in Odyssey: Daring Deeds, Sinister Schemes
Also geared toward elementary-aged children, the episode "The Imagination Station, Part 1 and 2" takes a character named Digger back in time to Jesus' death and resurrection. He is immersed into the historical happenings and even becomes a voice in the crowd. Being in the situation, Digger forgets the outcome of the events and fights to protect Jesus from an unfair fate. He joins the disciples and followers of Jesus as they fear for Jesus' life. In the end, Digger sees through the Easter story the sacrifice and love Jesus has for each one of us. These two episodes were profound in my younger life.
Help children experience the true meaning of Easter through hands-on learning with our Resurrection Eggs. This engaging activity walks kids through Jesus' last days, from the triumphal entry to the empty tomb, using scripture-filled eggs and meaningful symbols. This simple activity captivates young hearts with the powerful story of our Savior.
Shorten the verses as appropriate for the child's developmental level.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:10 (NIV)
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 Corinthians 15:3b (NIV)
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
John 15:13 (NIV)
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Matthew 20:28 (NIV)
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Tune: Silent Night
John 3:16, John 3:16
For God so loved
The world that He gave
His only begot-ten Son that whosoever
Believeth in Him- should not-perish
But have everlasting- life-
John 3:16, John 3:16
Here's a hill (make a fist)
Here's a cross (make cross with index fingers)
Where Jesus died (point up)
For you and me (point to others, point to self)
Here's a garden (hold left hand flat)
Here's a tomb (put right fist on left hand)
It's empty now (quickly open fist)
For you and me (point to others, point to self)
Are you ready to embark on an incredible journey of faith and discovery with your child or students? Look no further! Our Old and New Testament Curriculum Bundle is the perfect companion for home, preschool, or church Sunday School or mid-week meeting Bible learning. It's time to immerse your little ones in the enriching world of biblical stories and truth.
For Family or License Use: Using the template, cut around the cross. Tape the back of the cross onto a white piece of paper. Using a sponge, stamp paint all around the cross, covering the entire page. Gently lift the cross off the paper and let the paint dry. Cut out the inside of the heart shape and tape the back of the heart on top of the cross. Add a few dots of red paint inside the heart. Lay a piece of string in the paint dots and drag it around to fill the heart shape. Carefully remove the heart and let the artwork dry.
Place a stack of coins in front of the child and ask, "How much do you think Jesus is worth?" Share that in Matthew 26:14-16, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, which was about four months' wages, or 120 days of work. Let the child count out 30 coins. Then ask, "Do you think Jesus' life was worth more or less than 30 coins? Why?" Discuss the true value of Jesus’ life and what it means.
Make a simple snack where a marshmallow (representing Jesus) is placed in dough (the tomb) and baked. When opened, the marshmallow is gone, symbolizing Jesus’ empty tomb.
I have always been awed by the symbolism of the caterpillar turning into a butterfly and Jesus being in the tomb and rising again. Use this example to explain Jesus' resurrection to your child. This example can also be used to explain life without Christ and then having a new life once a person has accepted Jesus as their personal Savior.
CATERPILLAR TO BUTTERFLY Activities
For Family or License Use: Print the Three Crosses worksheet. Decorate with tissue paper, paint, or watercolors.
For Family or License Use: Print the Jesus in the Tomb worksheet. Color the tomb and rock. Cut out the rock and glue on top of the tomb opening. Discuss how Jesus loved us enough to die but that this is not the end of the story.
Is ABCJesusLovesMe the right fit for your preschool, daycare, or church? All your questions can be answered during a private remote meeting.
Please note that remote sessions are exclusively for institutions and are not available to individual families.
Interactive Bible Story
Discover ideas from the age-appropriate, Interactive Bible scripts available in the Old and New Testament Curriculum, 2 Year Interactive Bible Stories, 3 Year Interactive Bible Stories, and 4 Year Interactive Bible Stories
Explain that the story of Jesus' death is very sad. But we don't have to stay sad because the best part is coming. Explain that Jesus died for our sins; for the bad choices that we make. Even though some curricula and books contain images of Jesus on the cross, I discourage showing preschoolers these images.
Discover 10 Tips to Guide Children Through Grief
We have all sinned (Romans 3:23), deserve the consequences for our sin (Romans 6:23), and need a Savior (Matthew 1:21). God loved us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to rescue us from our sins and to pay the penalty of death we all deserve. Romans 5:8 states, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Read more...
