How to pray
How to pray with your kids, at bedtime and every day
· 4 min read
How to teach your kids to pray, a simple pattern they can remember, bedtime prayers, praying a blessing over them, and ideas for every age.
To pray with your kids, keep it short, do it every day, and give them a simple pattern they can remember, like thank You, sorry, and please. Let them hear you pray, and give them room to pray in their own words. Children learn to pray the same way they learn to talk, by listening and then trying.
How do you teach your kids to pray?
Teaching your kids to pray starts with praying with them every day. Keep prayers short, use a simple pattern like thank You, sorry, and please, and let them hear how you talk to God. Then invite them to pray one sentence of their own. Bedtime and meals are easy places to start. What matters most is that prayer becomes a normal part of your family’s day.
What does the Bible say about teaching children to pray?
The Bible calls parents to weave God’s words into ordinary life. “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 6:7, ESV). Even Jesus’ disciples had to ask, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1, ESV), and He answered with the Lord’s Prayer.
When children bring prayers to Jesus, He welcomes them: “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them” (Mark 10:14, ESV).
What simple pattern can kids use to pray?
A simple prayer pattern for kids has three words:
- Thank You. “Thank You, God, for my friends and for my dog.”
- Sorry. “I’m sorry I was mean to my brother today.”
- Please. “Please help Grandma feel better.”
It’s a child-sized version of the ACTS prayer method. As kids grow, add praise for who God is, “You are kind and strong.” Older kids can pray the Lord’s Prayer line by line and add their own words after each line.
How do you pray with your kids at bedtime?
Bedtime prayers work best as a short, steady routine:
- Ask about the day. What was good? What was hard?
- Pray together. You pray a sentence, they pray a sentence.
- Pray for one person. A friend, a grandparent, someone who is sick.
- End with a verse. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8, ESV).
How do you pray over your kids?
Praying over your kids means praying for them out loud, often with a hand on their head or shoulder, so they hear what you ask God for them. The blessing God gave Israel’s priests is a beautiful one to pray: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26, ESV). Say their name in it.
How do you pray with kids of different ages?
Praying with kids changes as they grow:
- Toddlers: short phrases you say together, like “Thank You, Jesus, for Mommy.”
- Young kids: thank You, sorry, please, and praying for people by name.
- Older kids: a short list of people they pray for, and the Lord’s Prayer.
- Teens: their own time with God, and praying for their friends. See prayer app for teens.
How can you show your kids that God answers prayer?
Showing your kids how God answers prayer builds their faith. When Israel crossed the Jordan, God told them to set up stones so that “when your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’” they could tell what God had done (Joshua 4:6-7, ESV). Keep a family record of answered prayers and read it together.
How can The Pray App help you pray with your kids?
The Pray App can hold your family’s prayer list. Make a prayer card for each person your kids want to pray for, like a grandparent or a friend from school. At bedtime, tap Start praying on Today and go through the cards together, one at a time. Let your child read the prayer or the verse aloud, then pray in their own words.
When God answers, tap Answered and write how, together. The prayer moves to Stones of Remembrance in Journey, your family’s own stones to look back on.
Answered prayers become Stones of Remembrance you can read with your kids.
For using the app as a family, see prayer app for kids, and for praying for them on your own, see how to pray for your children.
The Pray App is free on the App Store, with no ads. See how to mark a prayer answered.
Questions people ask
How do I teach my child to pray?
Pray with them every day, keep it short, and give them a simple pattern like thank You, sorry, and please. Let them hear you pray, and let them pray one sentence of their own.
What is a good bedtime prayer for kids?
For example, "Thank You, God, for today. I'm sorry for the wrong things I did. Please help Grandma feel better, and help me sleep. In Jesus' name, amen." Psalm 4:8 is a good verse to end with.
At what age should kids start praying?
Any age. Toddlers can say "Thank You, Jesus" with you. As kids grow, they can pray for people by name, then pray longer prayers and write their own.
Related guides
- The ACTS prayer method, a simple guide with examplesThe ACTS prayer method explained, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, with a short example of each and Scripture to pray.
- Advent prayers for each week, for you and your familyAdvent prayers for each week of Advent 2026, Scripture to read from God's promises to Christ's return, and simple ways for a family to pray toward Christmas.
- Bible verses about prayer to encourage you to prayBible verses about prayer, grouped by theme, on why to pray, how to pray, praying with faith, and God hearing our prayers, with short notes.
- How often should I pray for something?How often should I pray for something? What Jesus taught about persistent prayer, which requests to pray daily, weekly, or monthly, and how to avoid burnout.