The information below has been taken from LiveLent.net

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent. In biblical times, people covered their heads with ashes, or wore sackcloth (a type of rough cloth) as a sign of being sorry for the things they had done wrong.

Traditionally, on Ash Wednesday Christians had a cross shape marked in ashes on their foreheads. This still happens at Ash Wednesday services in some churches. Sometimes the ashes are made by burning Palm Sunday palm crosses from the previous year. Being marked with a cross in ash is a sign of wanting to turn away from wrong things. It is also a reminder that every life ends. As the minister marks each person on the forehead, they say: ‘Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’

Ash Wednesday Activities for Kids:
Saying sorry

Ash Wednesday is a day of penitence (being sorry for wrong things and trying to put them right). Write the word ‘Sorry’ in felt-tip pen on pieces of paper and put them in a bowl of water. As you watch the words dissolve, ask God to forgive you for anything you have done wrong.

After this, you might like to use this prayer:

Dear God,
We are sorry for the wrong things we have done.
We are sorry if we have hurt others.
We ask you to forgive us and help us change.
Amen.