The best prayers for children to say

Prayers to teach your children

Prayer is a powerful thing, and it’s something that can be enjoyed and practised at any age. For young people growing up and following in the faith, simple prayers can be a wonderful way to learn more about God, practice gratitude, reflect on their days and show thanks. If you have children who are interested in prayer, we share some simple prayers that are perfect for young minds.

Thank You, God – Author Unknown

Short and sweet, this prayer is the perfect introduction to daily prayer and allows you and your child to show your appreciation to God with only a few, memorable lines. It’s also a prayer that can be said at any time of day, so can be brought into your daily routine with ease.

Thank you for the world so sweet,

Thank you for the food we eat,

Thank you for the birds that sing,

Thank you, God, for everything.

Amen.

Father, We Thank Thee – Rebecca Weston

This prayer written by Rebecca Weston in 1890 is a wonderful one to share with your child at bedtime. Not only does it offer thanks to God, but also highlights some important traits and teaches the importance of kindness.

Father, we thank thee for the night,
And for the pleasant morning light;
For rest and food and loving care,
And all that makes the day so fair.
Help us to do the things we should,
To be to others kind and good.
In all we do, in work or play,
To grow more loving every day.

Amen.

Good Morning, Jesus – Author Unknown

This prayer is not only a wonderful way to start the day but can also help babies and toddlers to learn about the various body parts (you could even come up with some actions for each line!)

Jesus, you are good and wise
I will praise you when I rise.
Jesus, hear this prayer I send
Bless my family and my friends.
Jesus, help my eyes to see
All the good you send to me.
Jesus, help my ears to hear
Calls for help from far and near.
Jesus, help my feet to go
In the way that You will show.
Jesus, help my hands to do
All things loving, kind, and true.
Jesus, guard me through this day
In all I do and all I say.

Amen.

Dear Jesus – Author Unknown

At the end of a wonderful day that’s been spent with friends and family, it can be nice to highlight this in your nightly prayer. The below allows you to do so in a simple format and can be easily adapted or expanded.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for this day,

Thank you for my family and the good friends we got to see today,

Help us have a good night’s rest and a happy day tomorrow,

In Jesus’ name, we pray,

Amen.

The Yummy Prayer – Author Unknown

Prayers don’t need to be a formal affair, as the Yummy Prayer shows. A fun rhyme that will make you and your family smile before dinnertime, why not incorporate this into your daily routine?

For all food yummy
That fills my tummy,
Thank you, God!

Amen.

Your own prayers

Of course, you can also encourage your children to come up with their own prayers. This can be a brilliant way for them to express their creativity and also feel more connected to their prayers as they share stories and updates about their lives.

You can come up with daily prayers together that include the names of beloved friends and family members or even talk to them about how prayer can be used to deal with challenging situations and simply to talk to God about anything they may be struggling with. For example, they may have heard about the conflict in Ukraine from the news or online and wish to pray for those in Ukraine.

READ MORE: How to talk to children about Ukraine

As a children’s charity led by our Christian faith, we understand the power of prayer and the joy it can bring in day-to-day life. Start using daily prayers with your child, and see what a difference it makes. Sign up to our email updates to pray with us and discover how you can change the lives of children around the world.