Good Friday for under 5s

20 February 2026

How can we share what happened on Good Friday with our youngest children?

We know that one of the things parents are sometimes worried about is when is it appropriate to tell their child about Jesus’ death. They need to know about it, otherwise the story of the Bible doesn’t make sense, but it is a hard story and can be upsetting.

So here are some pointers to help you decide what to tell your small person about Good Friday.

1 Remember that you are the expert in your own child

Every child is different. Some are sensitive, some are curious. They may have recently experienced death and be fearful of it or fascinated by it. You know them best so can choose what you share with them and how you do that.

This is where the surfing the waves Key Tool helps.

  • Notice what your child is interested in
  • Be aware of their emotions, experiences and personality
  • Let their questions guide how much you share

You don’t need to rush or do it the same as other people. Follow your child’s pace and respond to what they are ready for.

2 Choose a way to share the story

There are many good ways to share the Good Friday story in an age-appropriate way and frame for our children what happened and why it matters. You could use Bible storybooks, videos or interactive activities. Check the content before you show it to your child, to make sure you are happy with the theology and that it’s a good fit for their age and personality.

You could use:

Do let us know recommendations of other ways to share the Easter story that have worked well for you.

3 Be led by their questions

The death of Jesus was brutal, and children don’t need to know all the details. It may be enough to say, ‘Jesus died and it was very sad.’ If they hear more details, perhaps in church, about Jesus being whipped or wearing a crown of thorns, check in to see how they are feeling. If they ask questions that you are not sure how to answer, you can try this simple four step model. Even if you don’t know the answers, creating windows into how you understand Jesus’ death and resurrection is very powerful for our children as it helps them understand that it’s not just a story but something that really happened that is important and impacts your life and theirs.

4 Make it part of the big picture

It is worth remembering that the story of Good Friday is not a complete story. It only makes sense when we hear the story of Easter Sunday too. So do tell them together! Make sure your little person is aware that Jesus didn’t stay dead and that his death was a very important part of God’s story.

Consider exploring the story not just at Easter time but at other points in the year as part of the bigger story of the Bible. You might want to use a Bible storybook such as The Garden, The Curtain and The Cross, or view it on YouTube here. Crossroads Kids have an Easter video for under 2s that sets Jesus’s death in its proper context. You can get more ideas on how to tell the whole story from this podcast episode.

5 Explain death as a part of life

Good Friday and Easter help children understand something important: death is not the end. Sharing the story gives an opportunity to demystify death and give children a framework to process death when they encounter it in big or small ways.

When we talk about death children may feel confused, worried or curious. Give them space to process, you might ask ‘How does that make you feel?’ or reflect back ‘It does feel sad when someone dies.’ You can reassure them that God understands their feelings and Jesus’ story brings hope. Because of the death of Jesus, Christians know that one day, when they too die, they will be raised to a new life in heaven forever.

You may have other opportunities to talk about death in everyday life, whether that’s passing a funeral procession or the death of a pet, friend or relative. These all help children build a healthy, hope-filled understanding of death.

 

Remember, you don’t need to have perfect answers and theological explanations. You’re simply helping your child begin to understand:

  • who Jesus is
  • what he has done
  • and how much he loves them

And that’s something they can keep discovering for the rest of their life.

 

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Acknowledgements

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay