HomePointe Foundations

Family Prayer Ages: 5-7 yrs

Best Use

Start when your child is five and continue to encourage this as they grow

older. If you are already having a family devotion, you can incorporate

prayer into what you are already doing.

Nutritional Value

“Family Prayer” is a way that your child can learn from an early age that

they can talk to God. Prayer is important because it helps us know God,

reminds us that God is with us, reminds us God can help us, and helps us

to share our hard times with God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “And never

stop praying.” We can help our kids learn to live this way through two

approaches.

First,encourage a consistent time each day. Doing this helps us establish a

routine and remember things that are important.

Second, look for prayer opportunities. Take time to teach your kids not

only about prayer, but also that God is our strength and source of power

and encouragement in this life. When we turn to God throughout our day,

we demonstrate for our kids in a very powerful way that He is with us 24/7

and always available. Teach your child that we can talk to God anytime and

anyplace.

Advance Preparation

Watch the DVD “Family Prayer”

Serve It Up

Follow the steps on the reverse side to serve this up in your home.

1. Be consistent: Pick a time of day that will allow you to be consistent.

Some suggestions are first thing in the morning, at breakfast, after dinner,

or as a part of your bedtime routine.

2. Have Fun: Use activities such as art and games to help teach your child

the keys to prayer. Make a bookmark or some other at project to help learn

the keys to prayer.

3. Put a picture on the fridge of someone your family can pray for each day.

Change it every week. These are just a few suggestions.

4. Teach basic keys to prayer: Use PAST to help teach your child the key

parts to prayer.

P– Praise (tell God some reasons you love Him)

A –Apologize (tell God when you sin and that you are sorry)

S –Seek (ask God for things we need and that other people need)

T– Thank (thank God for answered prayers, things He has done in our

lives and for the blessings we have received)

5. Keep it simple: Remember to start simple and let their prayer life grow.

You can use simple sentences to help them learn.

God I praise you that you are_______________

God, I am sorry for _______________

God, would you please____________________

Thank you God for _________________

6. Look for opportunities: Every day look for ways to teach your child that

they can pray anywhere at any time. Take time engage your kids in

conversations that matter! Established now, you will be able to carry this

into the teenage years.

Remember Be Intentional: Parent with the end in

sight!

Going Further Resources

(Recommended Books available at Lifeway or other local bookstore; you

can also view these resources at www.christianbook.com)

Teaching your Child How to Pray (by Rick Osborne) has great practical

suggestions on how to teach prayer to your kids in a way they can

understand.