How to Teach Kids to Pray (Prayer Cube Activity)

Teaching kids to pray can feel intimidating for many parents. If you’ve ever wondered how to teach kids to pray, you’re definitely not alone! Many moms want to help their children learn to talk to God but aren’t sure where to start.

Over the years, as a Mom of seven and now a Mimi to seventeen precious grandkids, I’ve learned that some of the sweetest prayers come from the simplest moments. Yes the Holy Spirit moves even from the mouths of babes.

Children don’t need fancy words or long prayers. They just need to know that talking to God is natural and welcome anytime.

How to Teach Kids to Pray With Simple Prayers

Here are some simple ways to help children begin praying with confidence. Remember that the most important thing you can do for your kiddos is to encourage them in their relationship with the Lord. Let them know that God Hears Kids When They Pray too!

Why Kids Sometimes Struggle With Prayer

Many children struggle with prayer simply because they don’t know what to say.

They hear adults praying with long sentences or special words and begin to think prayer has to sound a certain way. Some kids feel shy praying out loud, while others worry they might say the wrong thing.

But prayer is not about saying the perfect words. Prayer is simply talking to God. When children understand that prayer is a conversation with the One who created them and loves them, it becomes much easier and more natural.

Keep Prayers Short and Simple

One of the best ways to teach kids to pray is by keeping prayers short.

Children don’t need long or complicated prayers. In fact, simple prayers are often the most sincere.

A child might pray something like:

• “Thank you God for today.”
• “Please help my friend who is sick.”
• “Thank you for my family.”

These small prayers are beautiful to God. Short prayers help children feel comfortable and confident as they begin learning to talk to Him. They don’t have to worry about finding the “right words” and start feeling confident about their own prayer life.

Make Prayer Part of Everyday Life

Prayer doesn’t have to happen only during church or family devotions. It can be part of everyday moments.

You can pray with your children:

• before meals
• at bedtime
• before school
• when someone needs help
• when something wonderful happens
• Anytime and anywhere

For example, if your child feels nervous before a test, you might pause and pray together for peace and confidence. If you see a beautiful sunset, you might thank God together for His creation.

These little prayers throughout the day help children see that God is always near and ready to listen.

Prayer Helps Build a Child’s Spiritual Life

Prayer plays an important role in a child’s spiritual life. As children grow, daily prayer helps them understand the importance of prayer and how God is involved in their daily lives. It helps them to increase their faith!

Start With Gratitude

One of the easiest ways to help kids begin praying is by encouraging gratitude. Ask your child to name a few things they are thankful for from their day. It might be something simple like a fun game at recess, time with a friend, or their favorite snack.

Gratitude helps kids notice God’s blessings in everyday life. It can give them an easy place to begin when they aren’t sure what to pray about.

You might ask questions like:

• What made you happy today?
• What are you thankful for today?
• Who can we thank God for today?

These simple questions can lead naturally into prayer.

Use Prayer Prompts to Help Kids Get Started

Sometimes children need a little guidance when learning how to pray. Prayer prompts can make prayer feel easier and more fun.

Prayer prompts simply give kids ideas for what to pray about. For example, children can pray about:

• something they are thankful for
• someone who needs help
• something they are worried about
• something that made them happy
• someone they love

These prompts help children understand that prayer can be about lots of different conversations with God. Over time, children become more comfortable and begin praying naturally on their own.

A Fun Prayer Activity for Kids: Prayer Cubes

One simple activity that many families enjoy is using prayer cubes.

A prayer cube is a small cube with prayer prompts on each side. Children roll the cube like a game dice, and whatever side lands facing up becomes the focus of their prayer.

Sometimes kids want to pray but simply don’t know what to say. A prayer cube gives them simple prompts so prayer feels easy and natural, and fun!

I created a Kids Prayer Cube printable that children can cut, fold, and roll during prayer time. It’s a fun hands-on way to help kids learn what to pray about and grow more confident talking to God.

Watch short video below to see how it works!

For example, the cube might include prompts such as:

• Thank God
• Pray for someone
• Ask God for help
• Praise God
• Pray for your family
• Pray for friends

Rolling the cube makes prayer interactive and fun for kids. It also helps them learn different ways to talk to God.

Encourage Kids to Pray in Their Own Words

Encourage children to pray in their own words. Prayer is meant to be a real conversation with God, not something that needs to sound perfect. When kids learn that prayer is simply talking to God about their everyday life, then a child’s prayer life begins to grow naturally.

The most important thing to remember when teaching kids to pray is that prayer doesn’t need to be perfect. Kids don’t need impressive words or long prayers. What matters most is helping them understand that God listens and cares.

When kids learn that they can talk to God honestly about anything—whether they feel thankful, excited, worried, or sad, they begin building a real relationship with Him.

As parents, our role is simply to guide them and show them by example that prayer is a normal and beautiful part of everyday life.

Teach Kids the Lord’s Prayer

Many Christian parents like to start with the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus gave this model prayer to help us understand how to pray.

The Lord’s Prayer (The Model Prayer for Christians)

“Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”
Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

Even if young children don’t fully understand every word yet, hearing the prayer helps them become familiar with the pattern of thanking God, asking for daily bread, and seeking God’s kingdom. It’s a great way to sow into their spiritual life.

More Faith Centered Activities

• FUN M&M Easter Poem for Kids w/Scriptures (Printable)
• Fun Pumpkin Prayer Printable Activity for Kids (Free)
• Fun Printable Christmas Nativity Crafts for Kids
• Fun Groundhog Day Activities for Kids

Teaching Kids to Pray Is an Important Part of Faith

Helping children learn how to pray is one of the most meaningful and important things we can do as parents and grandparents…aside from their salvation.

Those small prayers whispered at bedtime or spoken around the dinner table become the beginning of a lifelong relationship with God.

You don’t need to have perfect prayers or perfect words. Just start where you are and invite your children to talk to God with you.

Little by little, they will learn that prayer is simply a conversation with the One who loves them most and He is always listening.

I pray these simple prayer tips help guide you as you encourage your kids and grandkids to grow in the Lord and learn how to talk to Him in prayer.

God Bless!