Tried and True Tips for Praying with Children

Colleen Mallette reveals three mom-tested strategies for praying with young children.

Prayer is difficult to explain and accomplish with squirming, young children. Mass can be an hour of tension trying to get little ones to sit still and be quiet, so much so that you have trouble listening or paying attention yourself. And trying to get through a whole Rosary with children can be frustrating. As a mother of adult children, I’d like to share three tips for praying with your children that worked for us when they were young. 

Encourage Personal Prayer at Bedtime  

When our oldest was very little, I made up a short little prayer for us to say together every night while tucking him into bed. It was personal and pertinent to him, easy to remember, and taught him the key components of prayer: Awe, Thanksgiving, and Intercession. It went like this:  

“Thank you, Lord Jesus, for another fun day. Thank you for my health, my faith, and my family, especially Daddy, Mommy, [insert names of other loved ones]. Please help with [intention]. Amen.” 

By filling in the important people in his life by himself, and thinking about his and others’ needs, we could adapt the prayer daily. The beginning was habitual, but the ending changed daily. When we were expecting his youngest sibling (we didn’t know the gender) it became such a habit to add “Baby Mallette” at the end of the prayer that even after his sister was born we kept saying that instinctively for weeks instead of her name! I truly feel this little prayer was foundational to teaching our children to pray to God every night as a routine, in their own words, and with heartfelt gratitude. 

Subscribe to MagnifiKid  

A subscription to MagnifiKid  is such a worthwhile, valuable investment. As they advertise, it is “A colorful, age-appropriate Sunday missalette and prayer guide for your children.” It is only $.75/copy ($39/year), and a yearly subscription makes a great gift from grandparents trying to encourage Mass attendance. We received the magazine for many years. I would put our copy in the coatroom next to our church envelopes so that as we were walking out the door for Mass I could just grab the one for that Sunday. Then from ages 4-12 the children would have this cute magazine to look through, follow the readings and read their explanations of the Mass.

The MagnifiKid magazine also includes fun activities, so I always made sure to carry a pen or pencil in my purse. It kept the children quiet and preoccupied but with something that applied to the Mass. Often, at the end of Mass we would give the little magazine to a family sitting in front of us so they could take it home and decide for themselves if they wanted to subscribe.  

Express Thankfulness at Family Dinner Time  

This isn’t technically a prayer, but it can be viewed as a form of prayer. During our family sit-down dinners (which were daily while the children were little, but as they aged and got busy we tried to accomplish at least four times/week) we would often go around the table and share something we were thankful for that day. It could be something nice someone did for them, an accomplishment or good grade on a paper or test, or a friend who sat with them at lunch.

By doing this exercise, it encouraged them to think through their day with a grateful lens. It is a good habit to teach them at any age, with the hopes that it carries on into adulthood, much like I do nightly with my Gratitude Journal. It often became their opportunity to share with their dad something from their school day that he might not otherwise hear about. By thinking of things they were thankful for, our children learned to look for the blessings God gives us, even the tiny little things! 

I hope these tips help you pray with your young children or grandchildren. Prayer ought to be such an essential part of every day, no matter what our age. Our loving Father wants to have a relationship with each of us, and talking with Him is the best way to make that grow. Let me know if you have used these tips or plan to! 

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Colleen Mallette
Images: