| Word Prayers
Purpose
Words are one way that we express ourselves. Allowing children to speak to God can be freeing and very important.
Babies
As you pray out loud for your infant they delight in your voice and are soothed by the holiness of what you are saying.
Say a prayer aloud and watch your babies reaction. If they seem to like
on word say it over and over and allow them time to enjoy it.
Toddlers
The above may be used with these additional ideas.
- Teach your child a simple prayer to be said at meal time or bedtime. Children love repetition so say it often.
- Encourage your child to say prayers out loud
even if they make no sense. Remember not to correct what your child
prays. It is their prayer, not yours.
- Play a prayer game and take turns saying
words that remind you of God. Don’t try and make sentences but simply
say words such as “flowers, goodness, happiness, Jesus.”
Elementary
Do the exercises above and add the following:
- Have them draw a prayer with pictures and symbols and then using that as an outline allow them to pray with words.
- Let
them decorate the front of a journal and encourage them to write
prayers and thoughts in it each time you meet or daily. They can either
keep it private or share it with you.
- Have them write a prayer and copy one for you to keep. Each of you pray that prayer each day for a week or longer.
- Find poetry and scripture and read it out loud using it as a prayer.
- Read a written prayer and have them draw or play with clay while you read it.
- Give
them a stack of cards with lots of different words included and
encourage them to sort through and make a prayer from the cards. Those
boxes of magnets work well also.
- Encourage members of their family and their friends to write prayers and make a prayer book from them.
- Have
them make a list of what they need from God and as they say each item
out loud, say a response such as “God hears your prayers” or “God cares
about your prayers.” For children who feel rotten about themselves,
have them list the things that they feel makes them so bad and respond
with, “God loves you even when you_______.”
Early Teens
Do the above and add the following
- Have them cut words from magazines and piece them together into a prayer.
- Have them make journals to keep and write in daily.
- Have them bring a
contemporary song that they like and feel helps find closeness with
God. Play it and share this prayer with them.
- Have them write and the illustrate a prayer they like.
- Give them books of prayers and poetry and have them find one that speaks to their soul and then pray it aloud.
Extras for Word Prayers
Word
prayers are good to help children express what they feel, however
strong emotions, confusion and fear are often hard to put into words.
Don’t push a child to find words if they just can’t.
Also, word prayers are very personal and so a child may or may not want
to share them with you. The important part is that they get “it” out
and it is simply a blessing to you if they share it.
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