How do we get beyond the keep me safe and thank you for my family prayers with our children? How do we teach our children that prayer is more then just a few memorized sentences we say each night before we crawl in to bed or a thank you for the food before a meal.
First we have to model it – they hear our prayers loud and clear, they observe us and listen carefully to each word. Just make a mistake in the words you say when you pray and you know they are listening by their quick giggle or correction after your done praying.
Secondly, we need to teach our kids that prayer is a conversation with God where we can lay down our fears and worries, ask for guidance in our daily lives, take time to be thankful for all his blessings and enjoy just being with God.
Third we need to begin by giving them resources to encourage them in a daily prayer life and iMoms has created a wonderful list of 10 ways to teach your child to pray with 10 prayers that every kid can pray and begin a daily habit of talking to God.
Click here to download and print your own list of 10 Ways to Teach Your Child to Pray
Thank you for sharing this. I was raised praying, but it never went past thanksgiving and requests for immediate family members. I saved this list to share with my grandson.