5 Simple Ways to Teach Your Kids to Pray

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

- Ephesians 6:18

Teaching our children to pray is one of the most impactful ways we can help them build a lifelong connection with God. Prayer is such a miraculous gift—God invites us to talk to Him whenever and wherever! As Christian parents, it’s so important to nurture this practice in our children, helping them experience the power of prayer in their daily lives. 

There are many ways God blesses us through the practice of praying with the family! We want to help you appreciate and experience all that praying to God can be. We will explain why Christian family daily prayer is such an important value in our family and then get practical with some of the ways you can make daily family prayer time a consistent priority in your home.

Why Is Prayer Important?

In today’s busy world, we might sometimes feel like prayer takes up time we could be using to get things done. But prayer is not only essential—it’s the most powerful “work” we can do. The Bible calls us to pray consistently. In Ephesians 6:18, we’re reminded, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” This verse invites us to turn to God with everything, trusting Him in every area of our lives.

Throughout Scripture, we find many forms of prayer:

• Worship: Praising God for who He is
• Petition: Asking for needs for ourselves and others
• Thanksgiving: Giving thanks for God’s blessings
• Lament: Bringing our worries and troubles to God
• Supplication: Passionately begging God to act
• Contrition: Confession and repentance to God
• For Spiritual Warfare: Putting on the armor of God

Prayer is so significant that Jesus Himself taught us how to pray in Matthew 6, where He models how to seek God’s will, rely on His provision, and ask for His guidance. When we follow this outline, we find ourselves praying for God’s will to be done, His kingdom to come, and our needs to be met.

When we pray with our kids, we show them how to turn to God in all situations. We don’t have to have all the answers, but we can come to God together, trusting Him with our lives. And, as we show our kids the importance of prayer, we help them grow a faith they can carry with them throughout their lives.

So, where do we start? Here are five ways to begin making prayer a meaningful part of your family’s life.

1. Pick a Regular Time to Pray Together

A consistent family prayer time helps kids develop the habit of talking to God daily. Think about what works best for your family’s schedule—mealtime, bedtime, or another moment when everyone’s together. For our family, we pray before meals and at bedtime. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection but making time for prayer a regular part of your family’s rhythm.

2. Keep It Simple

Kids don’t need long, elaborate words to pray. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:7-8 to pray simply, without “babbling.” Show your kids that prayer is just talking to God about what’s on their hearts. Our family loves to keep a small prayer book at the table. You could also help them memorize simple, age-appropriate prayers or even use Bible verses as prayers.

3. Make It Personal

Prayer is a conversation with God, and it’s an opportunity for our kids to be open and honest with Him. Encourage your kids to pray about their day—what they’re excited about, what they’re worried about, and what they’re grateful for. When we pray together as a family, we often ask our children if there’s anything specific they want to bring to God. This can help them see that prayer is not just a ritual—it’s a chance to bring their real thoughts, feelings, and needs to God.

Remind them that prayer isn’t just for asking things; it’s also a time to say thank you to God, to share what we’re sorry for, and to praise Him for who He is.

4. Pray Together as a Family

When we gather to pray, we’re teaching our kids by example. Making time to pray regularly with your kids shows them that you believe prayer is important. Praying in front of your kids and asking them to pray out loud is another way you are teaching them how to pray. This practice of praying together invites them into the process and creates space for them to ask questions and receive your guidance. 

5. Encourage One-on-One and Personal Prayer

In addition to family prayer time, consider setting aside time for one-on-one prayers with each child. This can be a special time for your child to share more personal things and gives you a chance to pray with them individually. For example, I like to pray one-on-one with my kids before bed, which allows us to talk about their day and pray about anything on their hearts.

Also, encourage your children to have their own personal prayer time. Let them know they don’t have to wait for family prayer time to talk to God; they can pray to Him anytime. Whenever my husband and I notice one of our kids feeling anxious or upset, we gently remind them that they can take their feelings to God in prayer.

Personal Story

Our family wasn’t always consistent with prayer, but we wanted to make it a more intentional part of our day. After adding a family prayer book to our table and asking our kids what they’d like to pray for each evening, we noticed one of our daughters became more curious about prayer. She started asking questions like, “Why do we pray?” and “How do we pray?”

This opened the door for us to talk with her about what a gift prayer is. Not long after, she told us she’d been praying by herself at night. It was such a joy to see her beginning to develop a personal prayer habit, all because we made prayer a priority in our family.

Key Points

• Prayer is a powerful gift from God. Let’s make the most of it by teaching our kids the value of prayer.
• Family prayer time can be part of your daily routine. Find a consistent time that works for your family, whether it’s before meals, at bedtime, or another part of your day.
• Help your kids see prayer as a personal conversation with God. Encourage them to share their thoughts, needs, and thanks with Him.
• Pray as a family, one-on-one, and individually. These different settings help your kids develop a well-rounded understanding of prayer and its importance in their own lives.

Prayer is such a beautiful way to nurture faith, build closeness, and give our kids a tool they can carry with them through life. Let’s keep pointing our families toward Jesus through the simple, powerful practice of prayer.