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Children learn to pray the way they learn to talk: by hearing it every day from the people who love them. A newborn will not understand the words, but they will grow up knowing the sound of their parents’ voices raised to God. By the time they are two or three, many children can say the short prayers themselves.
You don’t need a perfect routine. You need a few short prayers, said at the same times each day. Here are traditional prayers for each part of the day, from across the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican traditions.
Tips for praying with little ones
- Keep it short. One to three minutes is plenty for a toddler.
- Attach prayer to habits you already have: waking, eating, bath and bed.
- Use your body. Show them how to make the sign of the cross, fold their hands, bow, or kiss an icon.
- Pray aloud over your baby, even before they can join in.
- Let them see you pray on your own as well.
- Expect wiggles. A toddler who runs off halfway through is still learning that prayer is normal.
Morning prayers
Begin the day with the sign of the cross, then one short prayer.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer is the first prayer for every Christian, and the one Christ himself taught.
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
In your tradition: a morning prayer
CatholicThe Morning Offering is a classic: “O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day.” For toddlers, shorten it to “Jesus, I give you my day.”
OrthodoxThe Trisagion is said at the start of nearly every Orthodox prayer: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.” It is said three times, with the sign of the cross, and toddlers learn it quickly.
AnglicanA line from the Prayer Book’s morning collect works well with small children: “O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; defend us in the same with thy mighty power.”
Mealtime prayers
Mealtime grace is often the first prayer a toddler can say alone. Pick one and say it at every meal.
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
That is the traditional Catholic grace, and it is widely used by Anglicans too. Orthodox families often sing or say the Lord’s Prayer before meals, followed by “Christ our God, bless the food and drink of thy servants, for thou art holy, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.”
After the meal, a simple “Thank you, God, for our food” teaches gratitude.
Bedtime prayers
Bedtime is the heart of family prayer for young children. A good routine might be:
- Light a candle or turn on a small lamp by an icon or crucifix.
- Make the sign of the cross together.
- Say the Lord’s Prayer.
- Pray for each family member by name (“God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy…”).
- Say a prayer to the guardian angel.
- Bless your child and say goodnight.
The traditional prayer to the guardian angel is beloved by Catholics and many Anglicans:
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here; ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Orthodox families pray: “O Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me all the sins I have committed this day, and deliver me from the wiles of the enemy.” Shorter forms work well for toddlers: “Holy Guardian Angel, pray to God for me.”
A lovely bedtime verse from the Prayer Book tradition is the Song of Simeon (the Nunc Dimittis), said at the end of the day:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. — Luke 2:29
Prayers to Mary and the saints
Catholic and Orthodox families, and many Anglicans, also ask the prayers of the Mother of God and the saints.
- Hail Mary (Catholic): “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
- Rejoice, O Theotokos (Orthodox): “O Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.”
- Your child’s patron saint: “Saint N., pray for us.” Children love having “their” saint.
Blessing your child
One of the most beautiful things a parent can do is bless their child each night. Trace a small cross on your baby’s forehead with your thumb and say:
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Or the fuller blessing from Numbers 6:24–26, which God gave to Aaron to bless his people:
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. — Numbers 6:24–26
Many families use holy water for this blessing. It becomes a moment your children will remember all their lives, and one they will probably hand on to their own children.
Helpful books for the prayer shelf
A few good books make family prayer easier. Look for:
- A children’s prayer book from your tradition, with simple illustrations
- A children’s Bible suited to your child’s age (board books for babies, story Bibles for preschoolers)
- A small icon or crucifix for the prayer corner
- Your tradition’s prayer book for the parents: the Book of Common Prayer, an Orthodox prayer book, or a Catholic manual of prayers
Start tonight
Don’t wait until you have the perfect routine. Tonight, make the sign of the cross over your child and say the Lord’s Prayer together. Tomorrow, do it again. Over time these few minutes become the foundation of your family’s life with God.
For more on making your home a domestic church, see preparing your hearts for parenthood and our guide to planning your baby’s baptism.
