Building Anticipation for Pascha in Kids
So, I want Pascha to be the biggest, best day of the year for my kids. I want it to be more exciting and important that any other event the rest of the year. I think it’s important to direct kids’ attention to Pascha and build anticipation in them for the event of the year.
But how can we build anticipation for Pascha?
Well, how do you build anticipation for a wedding or a huge event you are hosting? You prepare! You choose a location, pick out special clothes, cook great food, etc.
We are trying to approach Pascha in the same way. I’ve rounded up all my favorite ideas to help build anticipation for Pascha in our home and family and I’m sharing them below.
The more you prepare and do things that remind you what time of year it is, the more anticipation will build. But why do we want anticipation to build? Well, because it orientates us toward what is important.
Non of the ideas will actually change what Pascha is or Its importance, but they may change your child’s perception of it. And that could make all the difference.
You’ll notice a blend of spiritually directed ideas and rather, well, unspiritual ones. Part of building anticipation is showing kids how their everyday life can still be directed towards the Church.
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There are so many fantastic ways to build anticipation. Let’s just dive right in.
Attend every service possible – this probably goes without saying, but I just wanted to make sure! In our home, we try to make sure the entire family attends at least one service a day for Holy Week and those who are able attend more.
Get a Car Wash, vacuum out the car…clean it thoroughly…and have the kids help! Similar to getting your car spiffed up for an important date, cleaning the car for Pascha uses yet another seemingly mundane thing (a car) to help emphasize the importance of this season of the Church.
Get something special for your kids and wrap it up (just like Christmas or a birthday). This year our daughter is getting an Orthodox book and our son is getting a sensor for at home.
Dye Eggs Red
Get Fresh Flowers to beautify the Church or your home
Read Orthodox Picture books that bring the Passion week to life. Need inspiration? Here are some ideas for a range of ages – Catherine’s Pascha, The Miracle of the Red Egg, The Three Day Pascha, Pascha at the Duck Pond, Holy Week and Pascha
Make sure everyone has a special outfit to wear. Make sure it is completely ready to go. Hang it in a special spot in the closet so they can see it! The clothes really don’t have to new – my son has a hand-me-down shirt he has been saving for months to wear to Pascha and a Goodwill shirt that he is saving for Agape Vespers. He keeps asking if it’s time to wear them yet!
Girl time – Get a haircut, get your nails done or pick out a new polish, get new hair stuff, go home and watch youtube videos are cute hairdos and practice the new style that you’d like to wear for Pascha.
Boy time – Get his hair trimmed professionally (especially if you usually do it at home), if he is serving – check with the priest and make sure his robe is cleaned ahead of time, consider buying at least one new thing for your son to wear – maybe new shoes or a new shirt.
Go Pascha basket shopping – let each of the kids think of something they really want added to the basket. Then, take them shopping and let them pick it out.
Prep food for a Pascha feast. Plan ahead and make something for Pascha that the kids love and that they can help cook or bake.
Play the hymns of the Church a day or two ahead of whatever service is next. Even Youtube has videos of wonderful Orthodox hymns being sung. This can help (especially young) kids to recognize the songs that are sung in Church.
Consider taking a few days off of school. I know, it’s a controversial idea. But hear me out. To me, Pascha is so important, it needs to trump even school. Personally, we homeschool, so we plan to take off pretty much all of Holy Week. Because I build their schedule, I have the flexibility to take vacation days when it suits us the most.
I want my kids to understand how important Pascha truly is. Since they know how much I value their education (and freak out if they don’t get their homework done), then they know it’s a big deal to take off the week. Even if my kids went to brick and mortar schools, I would still take them out of school for at least Thursday and Friday. That’s totally a personal decision and you have to make the call for your family though.
Do Pysanki
Ok, I just want to add that we aren’t doing all of these ideas in our home this year. Too much is just too much! But I’ve made a plan to carefully incorporate as much as I can this year without overdoing it. I’ll give you a quick rundown of our plan for the week so you have a real life example.
Every day – no school, attend Church, read Pascha books/Bible
Monday – Get my daughter sandals, pick out new nail polish, take my son’s robe to the cleaners, shop for Pascha baskets, wrap presents and set them out so the kids can see them
Tuesday – Get my son a haircut, wash the car and clean it out, Youtube girl hairdos and practice on my daughter
Wednesday – Dye eggs, have the kids pick out some flowers at the local flower shop
Thursday – Make sure all of the family outfits are ready to go
Friday – Grocery Shop for Pascha
Saturday – Prep food for Pascha, assemble Pascha basket
Sunday – afternoon – Have the kids open their Pascha gifts
If you do something everyday to prepare for Pascha, then you save yourself from the crazy mad last minute scramble to get ready and more importantly, you can instill a deep anticipation and respect for the Holy Days of this Season.
Have a joyous Holy Week and Pascha!
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