Easter story for preschooler?

[Spainintherain]

I want to tell my daughter why we celebrate Easter in our faith but she doesn't know people die (that I'm aware of). She is an anxious child so we haven't broached the subject with her. How would you explain the story of Easter with a child this age? Thank you

Easter is taken from the Pagan Goddess of Spring. They celebrate new life and birth. Some people also believe that a man came back to life after he was crucified by Roman soldiers.

They're a child. You don't need to tell them about death. Stick with lambs, painted eggs and allow them a bit of light while they are so little.

Personally I think it's really positive to have a healthy relationship with death. Death and life are connected, you can't have one without the other. Unlike PP I don't think death is darkness or the opposite of light. Children's Bibles are great. But I think a butterfly is a good (ancient) metaphor for this. The caterpillar "dies" but when s/he breaks out of the "tomb" s/he is transformed into a beautiful butterfly.

Why would you want to tell this gruesome 12+ story to a little one?

It's truly horrible.

@speakout

Why would you want to tell this gruesome 12+ story to a little one?

It's truly horrible.

Why wouldn't you? Public humiliation, whipping, thorns on your head, hauling Wood, being nailed upon a cross and to top it off, your father forsakes you. Classic horror.

Which faith is this? I’m Christian (Protestant if that matters) and from an early age we tell young children about Jesus - that includes his birth, life and sacrifice for us and ultimately, his resurrection. The death part is never told without the ending, which is life after all. Each week the children learn a new story from the Bible and the lessons tend to be planned to include the Christmas story in December, and Jesus’ final days on Earth at Easter.

It’s not about death, it’s about new life and resurrection. And what that means for us - eternal life through His sacrifice.

EileenGC

Death is very much part of Easter.
Yes the resurrection, the fluffy bits, but a stark reminder of the sacrifice.

Having a happy ending doesn;t make the horror any less horrific.
My kids had visiting clergy several times a year- most years at Easter some of the little ones would have to be led out in tears- descriptions of nails, blood, pain- and it's all your fault- this was all done for you- just to twist the knife.
Truly horrible.

Adults should be ashamed peddling this filth.

Death has no place in my Easter.

You don't say how old your daughter is. I've used the Jesus Story Book Bible with KS2 children in assemblies as it has simple language and attractive drawings. When we had a tragic death in school I went in and told all the classes. What I knew, but had forgotten, was that children and different ages understand and react to death differently. Younger children can be remarkably matter of fact. It is the teenagers who have 'killed' thousands online in video games that get hysterical at funerals when they see their beloved grandad in the box.

I say it’s a time to remember how much Jesus loves us... my son is 4.5