"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
As a child the first prayer I learned was "Now I lay me down to sleep, my soul I pray to keep."
As I got older, my parents taught me longer prayers. One example is: "God is Great, God is Good, Let us thank him for this food." I can remember praying this as a little boy all of the time. The point is because I learned, however elementary it may have been, to pray as a child and growing up, I continue to pray as an adult.
When we go to church, there is typically the greeter at the door asking if you want your children to go to the children's section for Sunday School or Worship. In these separated classes, the teachers often times teach your children the basics of the Bible, God, Jesus, and morals. But is that enough for your child? Are you praying with your child the rest of the week, or letting them take part in your prayer times, in an effort to teach your children to pray?
Many homes have both parents working and unfortunately, parents sometimes don't have the time to help their children develop in prayer.
From my experience and research I believe the best way to engage your children in prayer is:
Include them in your prayers. Children imitate the people they are around the most. By including them in the prayer process of your own, they will begin to do the same.
Teach them what prayer is and the reason we pray. By teaching your children about why something happens, they retain it longer. Remember your first prayer.
Have your children write or draw their prayers and keep in in a journal. When your children's prayer is answered have them go back to that journal and write or draw the answer. This teaches your child gratitude and helps them further understand the power of prayer.
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