prayers for children

The scriptures remind us that children have a special place in God's heart. Jesus made a point of embracing them and blessing them (Mark 10:13-16), and the blble instructs us to impress upon children the ways of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).
This section of the website provides examples of short prayers which can be used with babies, children and young adults. Many of these prayers are also suitable for children to read or say outloud, and can be used in school, church or at home with mum and dad.

Short thanksgiving prayer for children

Father in heaven,

Thank you for family - watch over my loved ones
Thank you for play - help me to be happy and free
Thank you for my school - teach me to listen and learn
Thank you for food and rest - you give us lovely food and peaceful sleep

Thank you for all these wonderful things,

Amen.

School prayers

This section of living-prayers.com has a series of prayers for school assemblies and prayers for the classroom, such as this one:-

A classroom prayer

Dear God

Thank you for our school. We pray it would be a safe place of learning, fun and friendship. Please watch over all our teachers, children and families.

Help us to learn new things, to explore the world together and to play and be happy.

Help us to have love for each other, to have forgiveness at our heart, and to build kindness into every day.

Amen.

• read more prayers for starting class - with three short prayers for primary or elementary and preschool aged children to say.

Short Closing Prayer

We thank you God for...

Every prayer we have prayed
Every song we have sung
All the things we have learned
All the laughter and fun

Thank you for all the joy you bring
And our wonderful times together
May we walk with you as each new day begins
This moment and forever

Amen.

• read more closing prayers for class - this page contains two prayers which thank God for the good times at school and ask for his care and protection until the next time together.

Also click here for prayers for the end of the school year.

Prayers for young people

• prayer for youth - this page has two prayers for young people - a prayer of dedication to God, to "see your vision for the world and follow you" and a second prayer suitable for a youth leader or pastor to pray for their youth group.

• students prayer - featuring a short prayer for a student away at university or college, and a film with the prayer set to music with photo slides of student life.

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God-you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration-what a creation!"

(Psalm 139:13-14, The Message)

Cheeky Monkey TV

Cheeky Monkey TV is a great way of helping children learn about prayer. In this episode, Cheeky Monkey is asked "How do you pray to God?" and has an unusual gift! The video finishes with a short prayer of friendship for children to say:-

Prayers for Babies

Few things are more remarkable than the development and growth of another human being. Living-prayers.com has a series of pages that can cover your baby in prayer from the little boy or girls early development through to giving birth. There is a page with a prayer for a mother to pray for her unborn child, and this page also has a short prayer for an ill baby. If you are organising or attending a baby shower, there is page in this section with a covering prayer of protection to pray over the mum-to-be, and a short prayer suitable for writing in a card or message.

As the due date approaches, there is also a page with two short prayers for the pregnancy - one of blessing on the pregnant mother, and another specific one for when she gives birth. Finally, when the little one has arrived, this page contains two modern blessings to help in a service or for writing down in a baby blessing card. For many couples, conceiving can be a difficult journey. This page offers two prayers for fertility with an ancient Irish blessing and quotes from the bible about conceiving children.

"Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts."

(Psalm 145:4, MSG)