I have a friend and co-worker who has two wonderful little girls. We were talking about Easter when she told me her girls are always taken aback by the topic of Jesus' crucifixion-when pictures of Jesus' beaten body appear, her girls start to worry.
The crucifixion is an important part of Easter. So how can we effectively share what happened to help kids comprehend the significance without overloading them? Here are five ways to talk to your kids about Jesus' crucifixion.
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1. Age Appropriate. Here's a simple tip to start with-don't focus on what younger kids can't understand. For younger age levels, focus on the result of Jesus' death rather than the details of it.
2. Watch Your Words. Lisa Strnad wrote an article about talking with kids about Jesus' crucifixion. In it she says, "Using language that they understand, start talking to your kids about what happened to Jesus on Good Friday. Keep in mind that too much graphic detail isn't necessary to convey His act of love and sacrifice."
3. Explain Sin. Discussions onJesus' death on the cross should coincide with sin. Laura Kuehn posted an article on Cornerstones for Parents on the subject. She says, "Without an understanding of sin, our children can't appreciate the significance of what Jesus did for us on Good Friday and Easter. You can explain that the word sin simply means all the things we do wrong (including big and little things)." Follow up by reminding them that Jesus was perfect.
4. Welcome Questions. You may have heard about Easter your whole life and can recall the events with your eyes closed. But your audience may have never heard what Easter is all about. Go slowly and be ready to answer questions…any questions. Questions only kids can come up with. And don't be afraid to explain that you don't know an answer. Just make sure to follow up the next week!
5. Show Why. Here's a quick but powerful activity Buzz editor Ali Thompson suggested about explaining to kids why Jesus died on the cross. Give kids sticky notepads and ask them to write down things they have done wrong and stick the notes on themselves. As they stick, you should quickly come by, take their papers and stick them on you. This leads the way to a discussion on how Jesus took on our sins.

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Make sure to check out some of my previous blogs:  5 Amazing Easter Crafts, 5 Ways to Boost Your Easter Egg Hunt, and 5 Easter Snacks for Your Ministry.
And for a great discussion on how to talk to your kids about the Bible's tougher parts, check out Lauren Hunter's The Bible Uncensored.