With it being both Lent for Christians and a difficult time for everyone in our country/world, it seems like it is an especially good time to focus on the suffering of Jesus through the Stations of the Cross. And with churches across the country closed and children home, it seems like now is the best time to be praying the Stations as a family. So I wanted to share some of my favorite Stations of the Cross resources for praying with the kiddos or at home that we’ve used through the years.
At the moment many churches are livestreaming the Stations of the Cross or you can find them online and on TV. However, sometimes with kids you might find it just easier to say them yourselves as a family. It’s easier for kids to focus when it’s Mom or Dad reading to them instead of listening to the TV and it gives them a chance to get actively involved in the process.
If you haven’t done it before, it can be a little intimidating praying the Stations of the Cross with your children on your own. We never did it as a family so I felt a little overwhelmed in the beginning. I find it helps to set expectations low–for little ones I just ask that they sit with us and work on whatever coloring project I have. While it might seem like they aren’t paying attention, I’ve found that coloring during our prayers helps keep children stay still and calm and focused. As they get older or we do it more, they tend to naturally participate more. And when they are reading we assign different stations to different kiddos to read and lead.
Stations of the Cross Books
Our favorite books are Stations of the Cross for Children and The Way of the Cross for Children. In Stations of the Cross for Children there is a prayer “Dear Jesus” for each station with no leader/response so you could even just read it aloud to the children or have them read it. The Way of the Cross for Children, on the other hand, has the traditional call and response for each station, including the hymn “At the Cross her station keeping”/Stabat Mater, so that you can lead the family praying together.
Coloring Booklet
St. Anne’s Helper has some great resources including this printable coloring book for the stations with high quality coloring images. Some years we’ve printed it out and the kids work on it each week while we pray. I let them decide how they want to move through the pages coloring them.
Click here for the printable Stations of the Cross coloring book
Coloring Pages & Devotional
I love the coloring pages from St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church! We use many of theirs throughout the year. For the Stations of the Cross, they have a coloring page for each station and then if you scroll down to the bottom, they have their coloring pages available in a booklet with devotionals. We’ve used both in the past. Sometimes we print just one coloring page to really focus on, other times I’ve given them the entire booklet and let them decide how they want to color it. Usually the kiddos color on each page while we are praying that station and then just add to each page every time we pray the Stations of the Cross.
Click here to visit their awesome coloring pages and booklets
Grotto Stations
These grotto stations from Drawn 2B Creative are more than a craft; they also give you your own set of stations to continue to pray at. You can have the kids color and make them ahead of time or, like our family, make them while praying and then use them again the next week.
Click here for the grotto stations
Candle Stations
This year we are making these beautiful votive candle stations from Just Another Day in Paradise. Not only does she have a link to the votive holders she used but also the printable pages for each candle available for free.
Click here for candle Stations of the Cross
Framed Stations
Finally here are some cute stations from Young Catholic Mums that you can make with popsicle stick frames that can be hung on the wall low for the kids.
Click here for the framed Stations of the Cross
I understand feeling like how can we add yet another thing to our stressful lives right now. But coming together as a family, meditating on Christ’s suffering, and learning how to pray are all more important than any curriculum, virtual schooling, or learning packet.