Kinder Bueno and the Empty Tomb: Making Easter come alive for our kids

I was maybe 9 or 10 years old —possibly even 12 — when I discovered two glorious boxes of Kinder Bueno chocolate eggs in our fridge. You know the kind: sweet, creamy, and each one with a toy surprise inside.

My brain short-circuited.

Zero willpower.

I ate an entire box before I even knew what I was doing.

What I didn’t know?

Mum had bought them to bring to church for all the kids to enjoy during the Easter egg hunt later that day.

Oops.

Sorry, Mommy!

And yet… even now, that memory is golden. Not just because of the chocolate (though yes, it was divine), but because Easter in our home always felt like something special. It meant something. It mattered.

Now that I’m a parent, I find myself wondering:

How do we help Easter come alive for our children?

How do we go beyond the candy and the crafts, and give them something eternal — something true?

Because the empty tomb isn’t just a story.

It’s the story.

The one that changes everything.

If we celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born—

then how much more should we celebrate Easter,

because this is why He was born.

Easter is the reason for the season of Christmas.

And Easter Sunday is the happiest Mass and the most important feast of our entire Church year.

It’s the heart of our faith — the day that love conquered death, and heaven opened wide for us all.

And the beauty is: it doesn’t take grandeur.

It doesn’t need Pinterest-perfect plans.

It just needs love. Intention. Reverence. Joy.

Beginning the day with joyful greetings, and going to Mass together as a family — to worship, to listen, to celebrate the Risen Christ — is the most important part of it all.

Because before anything else, we come to the table of the Lord.

Then come the quiet, lovely things:

A whispered prayer at breakfast.

A candle lit at dinner.

A children’s Bible read aloud — like The Jesus Storybook Bible, which has been our family favourite since Ronyka was three years old.

A simple reflection. A chick sticker. A song of praise.

All of it adds up to something our children carry forever.

This year, I prepared a short read-aloud prayer-story for my little ones aged 7 and 1. Something gentle, meaningful, and easy to read together as a family. And because sharing is caring, I’m more than happy for you to use it with your kids too, if you’re looking for a simple way to help them sit with the wonder of Easter:

A Little Easter Prayer-Story 

(for reading aloud with children)

Jesus died on the cross —

but that wasn’t the end.

They placed Him in a tomb,

and everyone was so, so sad.

But early one morning,

when the sky was still sleepy,

the stone was rolled away...

and Jesus was gone!

Because He was alive!

Really, truly, forever alive!

And that changed everything.

It’s why He came at Christmas —

to rescue us,

to bring us back to God,

to show us how much we are loved.

So today, we say:

Happy Easter, Jesus!

Thank You for loving us,

for saving us,

for never giving up on us.

Help us follow You,

and fill our hearts with Easter joy.

Because You are alive —

and Your love never, ever ends.

Amen. Alleluia!

---

We get to build these moments.

We get to shape the memories.

We get to remind our children that this season isn’t about perfection — it’s about resurrection.

So here’s to making Easter come alive — in our homes, in our children’s hearts, and in the stories they’ll one day tell.

May they remember the joy.

But even more, may they remember the Risen Jesus — the reason, the hope, the forever.