Family Challenge: Intentional Prayer Moments

Creating a Prayer Jar

Many parents want to help their kids grow in their relationship with Jesus and learn to pray more intentionally, but they aren’t always sure how to help. Maybe your child feels shy, distracted, or says the same short prayers every time. Perhaps you feel unsure how to help them go deeper. There’s good news for you! Prayer doesn’t have to be long or polished to be meaningful.

For kids, prayer often starts by learning that God cares about what they care about—their worries, their excitement, their questions, and even their silly thoughts. When we give kids space to pray honestly, we teach them something powerful: God is safe to talk to.

Prayer at home might look like:

  • letting your child pray in their own words
  • sitting quietly together for a few moments
  • saying the same simple prayer night after night

All of it counts. God isn’t looking for perfect prayers—He’s listening for hearts that are learning to trust Him.

You don’t have to fix, correct, or explain everything. Just inviting your child to have a conversation with God is more than enough.

🏡🫙 Try This at Home: Create a Family Prayer Jar

Grab a jar, cup, or small container. Together, write or draw prayers on slips of paper—things you’re thankful for, people you want to pray for, or things you need help with.

Pull one out during dinner time or bedtime, and pray about it together. 

🧸 Tips for Preschool Families: 

  • Draw it out: Let kids draw pictures instead of writing words to describe what they need prayers for.

  • Keep it short: One-sentence prayers (or even just “Thank you, God”) are perfect.

  • Make it routine: Use the prayer jar at the same time each day so it feels familiar.

📚 Tips for Elementary Families: 

  • Let kids write their own prayers: Spelling and grammar don’t matter—honest prayers do.

  • Include thanks + help: Add both gratitude prayers and prayer requests.

  • Look back together: Revisit old prayers and talk about how God showed up.

Don’t forget to model it! Make sure you add your own prayers, too. The best way to teach them what it looks like to pray honestly is to model it!

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