Charlotte Mason's twentieth principle says,
“We allow no separation to grow up between the intellectual and 'spiritual' life of children, but teach them that the Divine Spirit has constant access to their spirits, and is their Continual Helper in all the interests, duties and joys of life.”
Her emphasis on giving our children the freedom to develop a relationship with God is one of my favorite aspects of a Charlotte Mason education.
In modern spiritual formation for children, we tend to clutter our Sunday School lessons with gimmicky games and productions.
These can be fun (Easter eggs with gospel themes, full-scale productions of the Passion of the Christ), but they aren't essential to your child's spiritual formation.
Too many extras can also alienate your children from developing their relationship with God.
In the Good Gospel, we keep things simple with beautiful short stories about the life of Jesus, meaningful moments of prayer, gorgeous Gospel-centered art, and straight scripture.
These simple Charlotte Mason Bible lessons give your children a glimpse at the goodness of God without distracting them with non-essentials.
And our new 40 Day Lent Reading Plan combines these lessons with short scripture summaries that relate to the Gospel, culminating with a memorable celebration of the Passover.
Lent is a historic fast that starts on Ash Wednesday and culminates with the Resurrection celebration. You don't have to be part of a liturgical church to celebrate it, any Christian who loves highlighting the goodness of God can participate. The children's book, Make Room is a great way to explain it to young children (this is the first reading in our free 40-day guide)
In our
40 Day Lent Reading Plan we also include hymns, poetry, art, and prayers to create a meaningful season of Lent with your family.
Charlotte Mason recognized that introducing our children to God when they are young is perfect timing, and the season of Lent creates an atmosphere of attunement to God that will infuse your home with peace.
"The Indwelling of Christ is a thought particularly fit for the children, because their large faith does not stumble at the mystery, their imagination leaps readily to the marvel, that the King Himself should inhabit a little child's heart."
Charlotte Mason
Our free Lent reading plan features gospel-centered books and resources such as:
This 40-day plan follows a simple weekly rhythm: four days per week with The Good Gospel, a weekly hymn, art, or poetry day, a weekly memory verse review, and a weekly video from The Bible Project.
At the heart of this journey is The Good Gospel, a beautiful invitation to immerse young hearts in the story of Jesus. With 4-5 lessons per week, this resource naturally aligns with the Lent season, allowing families to complete it by Easter week.
Designed to be non-denominational, The Good Gospel focuses on the life of Jesus and the truth that God loves us and desires a relationship with us. Whether your family follows a liturgical tradition or not, this guide provides a meaningful way for young children to grow in their understanding of salvation and deepen their prayer life.
With 26 lessons, The Good Gospel includes Bible verses, crafts, stories, declarations, and fine art to help children engage with the life of Christ in a Sunday School or home setting. Each week also includes a printable with a Bible verse, a declaration, and a coloring picture, plus a traceable Bible verse for older children—perfect for reinforcing the lesson throughout the week.
We also include all 26 verses set to soothing music. These are perfect for helping your child memorize the verses.
What are your favorite traditions for the season of Lent?
