Celebrating the Ascension with Kids

The Ascension of Our Lord is a joyful feast that takes place 40 days after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the day when Jesus ascended into heaven. This important event marks the completion of Jesus' mission on earth and his return to the Father. With a little creativity, you can make the Feast of the Ascension a meaningful and memorable celebration. In some countries, like the United States, the observance of the Ascension has been moved to the following Sunday to allow more people to participate. No matter which day you celebrate, there are plenty of ways to mark the occasion with your little ones.

Ascension day crafts and activities with kids

Go to Mass

Make sure to attend Mass on Ascension Thursday (or the following Sunday, if that's when it's observed in your area). Encourage your kids to listen closely to the readings and homily, which will focus on the significance of Jesus' Ascension.

Make Fun Crafts Together

One idea is to create an Ascension Day tableau. Use craft supplies to make a scene depicting Jesus ascending, with the disciples watching from below.

For a hands-on project, try making an Ascension Day telescope. Use a paper towel tube, stickers, and other decorations to create a "telescope" that the kids can use to "look up" to heaven, just as the disciples did when Jesus ascended.

A fun activity is to create a "disappearing Jesus" craft.
For this craft you will need :
*A small image of Jesus to color and cut out
*A paper or plastic cup
*Glue/tape
*String
*Cotton balls
*And paint or construction paper for a blue sky.
Instructions:
-Draw or color in a picture of Jesus and cut it out
-Tape or glue the image to a string.
-Poke a hole in the bottom of the cup and thread the string through with the bottom of the cup as the top.
-Tie the string around a cotton ball so it won't fall back through the hole and so it is easy to grab.
-Paint or paste blue paper to make the cup blue like the sky.
-Glue pieces of cotton balls around to be like clouds.
now, when the string is pulled up, Jesus will ascend up into the clouds and be hidden from sight (in the overturned cup).

Read The Bible

Read the account of the Ascension from the Bible (Acts 1:1-11) and discuss it as a family. Talk about what the disciples must have felt as they watched Jesus ascend to heaven.

Have A Special Picnic

Have a picnic outside, perhaps on a hill or somewhere slightly higher up to commemorate Jesus' ascension and remember how the disciples stood on a hill outside looking up. Include special treats that are symbolic of the feast - cookies in the shape of clouds, cotton candy, fluffy rice, or angel food cake for the angels who appeared.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, the Ascension is a wonderful opportunity to share the story of Jesus' return to the Father and the promise of his eventual second coming. By incorporating fun, faith-filled activities, you can help your children appreciate the significance of this holy day.