If it is a part of your religion, explain that God always listens and answers prayers, but not always as expected. It can be confusing for a child if they pray for something but they can’t immediately see the results.
The Lord’s Prayer for Christians goes, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. ” This prayer will likely be different between different religions and denominations.
For example, have them start their prayers with “I thank God for…” or “I pray for…” so they can build sentences like, “I thank God for my family and home” or “I pray for a good day tomorrow. ”
This can also be a great way to show your child how to stand or sit during prayer, especially if your faith requires special movements for prayer.
For example, if they like animals, you can include pictures of dogs and cats or family pets. You can also include pictures of your family, friends, and classmates so they can pray for them every day as well.
This is a great way to teach children to be aware of different cultures, religions, and world news. Remember to keep your research simple and age-appropriate. If there’s a conflict going on in that area, tell them generally about it, and let them ask questions. For example, you could say, “That country is having a war and a lot of families are being separated. Why don’t we pray for those families to be reunited?”
Remind them that they don’t have to share their prayer out loud if they don’t want to. Sometimes, they might want to have a private conversation with God about why they felt hurt. You can also talk to them about how they can forgive people just like God forgives them when they do something hurtful.
For instance, you might have Monday be “teachers,” and include people like school teachers, coaches, pastors, and other instructors. Then, they can choose someone from that list, and say a prayer for their health and happiness.
For instance, you might say, “Your friend Alex was sick and missed school today. Do you want to pray for Alex to get better so she can come back to school?” If you want to pray for a family member, try saying something like, “Uncle Joe is coming to visit for Thanksgiving. We can pray that he has a safe trip and enjoys his time with us. ”
