PARENTS > GENERAL RESOURCES > TEACHING YOUR CHILD TO PRAY

Creative Prayers

Praying With Art

Our friend Sybil MacBeth teaches an approach to prayer through drawing, coloring and/or painting.  It’s easy and simple to introduce and you don’t have to have any artistic skill!  She has books and DVDs for adults and kids.  Praying in Color, Kids’ Edition is great for families with children ages 4-11.  Praying in color alongside your child is a great way to bond with them!

The Five Finger Prayer

This is a simple prayer that some have attributed to Pope Francis.  While that's quite doubtful, it's a great way for kids to pray nonetheless.  Watch the video at the right to learn how to teach them!

Writing to God

Rachel Hackenberg encourages us to pray by writing letters to God.  One of her books is a kid's edition that offers 35 different approaches to written conversation with God.

Imaginative Prayer

St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit order, was a big proponent of what became known as Ignatian contemplation.  In this form of imaginative prayer, we can imagine ourselves in Bible stories.  It's a great way for children to pray! As a Jesuit, this is one of the ways that Pope Francis prays and teaches others to pray.

We enjoy The Ball of Red String because it's a simple-to-use book that leads children in a guided meditation to their "heart homes" where they find Jesus  and get to talk to him about whatever it is that they want or need to talk about.