4 Meaningful Prayer Ideas for Kids
Every day is a great day to pray. There’s a World Day of Prayer in March. The United States sets aside National Day of Prayer on the first Thursday of May. In fact, any day of the week is the perfect time to highlight the privilege and practice of prayer for the kids in your ministry. Check out these 4 easy prayer ideas to celebrate the joy of talking with their friend God. Consider adding one to your lesson this week!
Prayer Idea #1 : Conversation Cube
You’ll Need:
- square tissue box (It’s important that this is a square—not rectangle—box.)
- solid-colored paper
- markers
Easy Prep:
Wrap the tissue box in solid-colored paper. On each of the sides, write one of these prayer prompts:
- Amazing God, you are…
- Lord, I’m so glad you made this part of creation…
- Heavenly Father, I need…
- Loving God, thanks for these people in my life…
- God, my friend __________ needs help.
- Lord, I want to hear from you.
Lead the Activity:
Gather kids in a circle. Take turns rolling the cube and letting the person who rolled pray, guided by the prompt. When someone rolls the last one, let everyone take time to listen to God for 30 seconds. (To reinforce Scripture about prayer, play this downloadable music video based on Philippians 4:6!)
Prayer Idea #2: Prayer Chain
Use this activity to help kids explore the way prayer links us to God.
You’ll Need:
Easy Prep:
Use construction paper to cut paper slips (for a paper chain). Cut two paper hearts, too.
Lead the Activity:
Read aloud Psalm 145:18.
On each paper, kids can write a prayer request, praise, name of a friend who needs prayer, or a word that describes God. You may even want to color code the paper slips depending on the type of prayer. Then work together to make a long paper chain as you speak these prayers aloud.
When the chain is finished, add a paper heart to one end and have every child write his or her name on it. Add a heart to the other end and write the word, “God.”
Prayer Idea #3: Hear My Heart
This object lesson reminds kids that God hears every word we pray.
You’ll Need:
- 12-inch length of yarn
- metal spoon
- access to a table
Lead the Activity:
Tap the spoon lightly on the edge of the table and have kids describe the sound.
Now, wrap the yarn around the neck of the spoon, so the spoon hangs from the middle of the yarn. Let kids take turns trying this: Hold one end of the yarn in each hand, with the spoon hanging down. Press the ends of the yarn against the outside of your ear, just under your cheekbones. Stand near a table and lean forward so the spoon knocks against the table edge.
Compare the sounds with the yarn pressed against your jawbone and without it. Point out that the sound waves travel along the yarn through our bones—straight to our middle ear! Talk about how our prayer may feel like just words, but they go straight to the heart of our heavenly Father.
Prayer Idea #4: Pray Every Day
Use this craft to help older kids create a daily prayer prompt.
You’ll Need:
Lead the Activity:
Print May calendar pages, and give one copy to every child. Lead kids in using colored pens to write the names of different friends and family members in each day of the calendar. Include days to pray for your country and community leaders, church leaders, and schools, too! Kids can write out Philippians 4:6 at the tops of their calendars. Gather together and pray over the prayer calendars, thanking God for hearing us every day and asking for God’s blessing over the time we spend in prayer.
Need more ideas? Be sure to read this article for extra prayer-focused fun! Click here to find a great resource that kids and families can explore together. Or for 4-week lesson pack on prayer for elementary kids, check out this KidMin Quick Pick.
