Not a Chore, but a Joyous Habit
Let’s be honest: sometimes, getting your kids to pray feels a lot like convincing them to eat their vegetables—met with groans and the occasional “do I have to?” We want prayer to be more like dessert than broccoli.
Imagine if your kids actually looked forward to it as the highlight of their day.
What if they got excited to pray, not just to ask for the latest toy or for their sibling to “finally stop being annoying,” but to talk with God like a friend, and to pray for others too? That’s the dream, right? And it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.
Here’s how to turn prayer from a spiritual chore into a joy-filled ritual that becomes a natural part of your kids’ daily lives—something they’ll actually enjoy and embrace.
Make Prayer a “Treat”
The first key to helping your kids see prayer as something fun rather than another item on the to-do list is simple: make it feel like a treat. Just like you would with anything you want your kids to love—whether it’s reading, doing chores (hey, a mom can dream), or learning new things—you have to bring some excitement into it.
Think of it this way: if you introduce prayer with the same enthusiasm you’d use for ice cream night, your kids will start associating it with joy. You can say things like, “Guess what time it is? Prayer time! Woohoo!” Okay, maybe don’t shout it like a game show host every time, but you get the point.
Kids thrive on energy and excitement. If you make prayer a joyous moment, they’ll feel it too. Start small—maybe bedtime prayers where they get to thank God for their favorite part of the day or morning prayers where you thank God for sunshine, bacon, and good dreams. Keep it light, fun, and positive.
It’s Not Just About “Gimme, Gimme”
Most kids, especially younger ones, tend to pray for what they want (and sometimes demand it like a fast-food order). “God, please make me get a new bike” or “God, help me not have to do homework tomorrow.” (And let’s be honest—sometimes as adults our prayers can have this vibe, too). But prayer is so much more than a wish list.
Help your kids see prayer as a chance to talk with God like they would with a friend. Let them know it’s okay to tell God about their day, their worries and even their struggles. But also encourage them to pray for others—family members, friends, and even people they don’t know or for famous people or leaders.
You can make this a game! “Okay, let’s see how many people we can think of to pray for today.” Or “Let’s pray for someone who needs extra love today—maybe someone at school, or someone we saw on the news.” This shifts the focus from self-centered requests to empathy and caring for others, making prayer feel more like an opportunity for connection with God and others rather than just asking for things.
Rituals Make It Stick
Kids love rituals. They thrive on routine. That’s why establishing a consistent prayer routine is key. Whether it’s praying at meals, bedtime, or before heading out the door in the morning, making prayer a regular part of the day helps cement it as a habit.
You can get creative here, too. Maybe you have a “prayer jar” where everyone writes down prayer requests and pulls one out each night. Or how about a “gratitude prayer,” where every family member thanks God for three things before dinner starts? Kids love predictability, and these rituals can make prayer something to look forward to.
Another fun approach? Teach your kids traditional prayers to memorize. There’s something comforting about prayers that have been said by generations of believers before us. Start with something simple like the Lord’s Prayer or a bedtime prayer.
Memorizing prayers helps kids have something to lean on when they don’t know what to say to God on their own. And bonus—kids can feel accomplished showing off what they’ve memorized!
Make It a Habit Throughout the Day
One of the best things you can do to help your kids embrace prayer is to make it a natural part of their entire day, not just something they check off a list before bed. Let prayer happen at different times, not just in the formal “hands-folded, eyes-closed” way.
It could be a quick “thank you, God” when you see a beautiful sunset or a “help me, God” whispered before a big test. Prayer doesn’t have to be long or perfectly phrased. Help your kids see that they can talk to God any time, about anything, and in any way that feels right.
Maybe start with morning prayers at breakfast, then a quick prayer as you’re buckling up in the car. Encourage them to say a silent prayer before school starts or when they feel nervous. The more prayer becomes a regular, ongoing conversation with God, the less it feels like a daunting task and more like second nature.
Keep It Real, Keep It Fun
Finally, remember that prayer doesn’t have to be stiff and formal—it’s a conversation with a loving God who already knows and cares about everything your kids are going through. Don’t feel like you have to correct every “wrong” prayer or make it super serious.
Let your kids’ personalities shine through. If they want to thank God for their dog’s fluffy tail or pray for a unicorn, go with it. God loves hearing from them, no matter what they say. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus tells us to let the little children come unhindered to him—let us keep that verse at the forefront of our minds!
Prayer doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
By making it exciting, engaging and a regular part of your family’s life, you’ll be helping your kids build a lifelong habit of staying connected to God in the most joyous way possible. When prayer becomes a treat rather than a task, everyone in the family wins.
