Teach Them to Pray

One of the sweetest things any parent can experience is listening to their child pray. My children are adults now and it still warms my heart when I hear them simply pray for God to bless a meal we are sharing. In that same respect, one of the most fulfilling things a parent can experience is in teaching their child to pray.

Usually, parents begin teaching their preschool children to pray before meals and at bedtime which is a great place to start. This usually involves guiding them to thank God for specific people and blessings He has placed in their lives. The rounds include mentioning each family member by name, the family pet, a favorite toy, the baby sitter, or a friend next door. I especially like to hear what children come up with when they begin to freelance it. You never know what might be said when they openly express to God what is on their hearts.

Once a child starts elementary school, I think it is a good idea to begin teaching them a short, easy to remember, prayer guide. The guide I recommend comes from Pete Lord’s 29:59 prayer journal. It is called 29:59 because you can pray through the daily guides in about thirty-minutes but he did not want people to get legalistic about praying exactly thirty-minutes so he took one second off. This guide is easily adaptable to elementary and youth age children. Though your child will not be able to pray for thirty-minutes until they get older, they can gain an understanding about the important elements of prayer.


Here is a condensed 29:59 guide for children:

1. Let your child trace his hand on a sheet of art paper.
2. Tell your child that he can use his fingers to remember how to pray.
3. Over the thumb, write "Praise".
4. Tell your child to start her prayer by praising God in words or song.
5. Over the first finger, write "Thanksgiving".
6. Tell your child that next she can thank God for something He has done or provided.
7. Over the second finger, write "Confession".
8. Tell your child that, in prayer, it's good to tell God the things she has done wrong.
9. Over the third finger, write "Intercession".
10. Tell your child that he can close his prayer by asking God to help others who need Him.
11. Over the fourth finger, write "Petition".
12. Tell your child that next she should ask God for the things she needs, including asking for forgiveness for the things she confessed.
13. Across the palm of the hand, write “Listen”.
14. Tell your child that prayer is more than just talking to God, it also includes listening to what He has to say.
15. Put the picture up where it can be seen and remembered. When your child has it memorized, she will have the steps in prayer with her all the time.

If you are a parent and have not yet begun the process of teaching your child to pray, I hope this guide will help you get started. It is not too late even if you child is already out of elementary school. The investment made in teaching a child to pray will pay great benefits in their adult life later on.

David