The Stations of the Cross help us walk with Jesus on the way to Calvary. With kids, the goal is not to explain every historical detail. It is to help them see how much Jesus loves us.

What the Stations are

Traditionally there are fourteen stations marking moments from Jesus’ condemnation to His burial. Many churches display images along the walls of the church. On Fridays of Lent—and especially on Good Friday—families and parishes pray them together.

Praying the Stations of the Cross means going to each station and praying about what happened at that stage of his Passion. Praying the Stations of the Cross is great for kids because children are able to physically move around, keeping their attention.

Keeping it child-friendly

Shorten the prayers. At each station, name what happened in one sentence, pause, and pray: “We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world,” or a simpler: “Jesus, we love You.” The idea is to teach children reverence while going through the stations.

What to emphasize

• Jesus chose to love us to the end
• We can help carry others’ burdens, like Simon of Cyrene
• Compassion matters—think of Veronica and Mary
• Sorrow is real, and hope still comes at Easter

At church or at home

If you pray at church, arrive a little early and let children look at the images. At home, you can use simple pictures or even fourteen handwritten numbers, moving from place to place in a room. End with a moment of silence and a thank-you to Jesus.

Walk slowly. Love is the lesson at every station.

After you pray

Ask one question: “Which station stayed with you?” Listen. Then remind them that the Cross is not the end of the story—Easter morning is coming.