• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Little Shoots, Deep Roots

Little Shoots, Deep Roots

Simplified Family Faith with Christie Thomas

  • Home
  • About
  • FREE
  • Books
  • Bible Studies
    • Lent/Easter for Families
    • Christmas/Advent for Families
    • Group license for Churches
  • Blog
    • Kids Faith tools
    • Moms Faith tools
    • Christian Parenting
    • Christian Picture Books
  • HopeGrown Faith

Quick ideas for praying with squirmy kids

By Christie Thomas 3 Comments

Save this for later!

447 shares
  • Facebook40
  • Email

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. See my full disclosures, Terms of Use, and privacy policies on my "privacy" page. I never recommend a product I don't love.

how to pray with active kids

My husband and I have 3 boys. Sometimes our house is a little bit crazy. I know, right? You would never have guessed. ?

When it comes to prayer time, we have STRUGGLED to get them to sit still for just 5 seconds, never mind to pour out their hearts to God. Prayer time has a tendency to look more like insanity than pious praying.

We have had to get REAL creative when it comes to praying!

If you enjoyed this video, make sure you subscribe on Youtube or Like my Facebook page so you’ll get notifications when new videos are up! Each one contains short, sweet, hope-filled ideas for spiritually parenting our kids.

Did you know that the Bible doesn’t say we have to pray sitting still, with our hands folded and our eyes closed?

My favorite prayer hacks

One of my favorite ways to pray is to do it while standing up, laying down, or even pretending to be animals.

We also like to use a talking stick. The purpose behind the talking stick is that whoever has the stick says a quick prayer, then passes it on to someone else.

Of course, since sticks are swords and lightsabers, I usually use a different object, like a pair of rolled up socks.

Yes, sometimes this becomes more of a game of hot potato, but more often it actually becomes deep and meaningful. This is a great way to pray with a group of kids, and can be done with any items you have on hand!

One thing I really want my boys to learn is that they can pray anywhere, not just with their mama. 

I really believe that one of the best ways to solidify abstract concepts like prayer is to use stories.  Why lecture a child about prayer when a story will stick in their head for a lifetime?

The other day I read Peter’s Perfect Prayer Place with my boys, which is an incredibly cute and fun way to show kids that they can pray anywhere. Peter tries to pray in the kitchen cupboards (prompting a discussion in our house about whether or not we could fit in the bathroom cupboards).

After he realizes the kitchen might be a smelly, noisy place to pray, he tries several others, including outside and in his bed. Nothing seems ideal, until he realizes that he doesn’t need ONE place to pray.

The authors write this excellent reminder:

God can see and hear you, son, No matter where you pray!

You can talk to Him from anywhere, at any time of day.

Peter’s Perfect Prayer Place

My favourite part of this book (aside from the excellent rhythm and rhyme and adorable illustrations!) is the sticker chart at the end, designed to help kids know what to pray for, and keep track of answers to prayer.

I would recommend this book for ages 2-6 because of its fantastic rhymes and the fun follow-up activities. Older kids might learn from it too, but the main character is clearly a preschooler so they might feel “too mature” for the book.

You can find this book, “Peter’s Perfect Prayer Place” on Amazon or maybe even at your local library!

If you like the stories I’ve recommended, you’ll love the 3 stories that I have written especially to engage your child’s imagination and ignite their faith. You can download them for free RIGHT HERE:


Save this for later!

447 shares
  • Facebook40
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Christie Thomas

I am a mom of three boys, former Children’s Ministry Director, and author. I believe that every Christian mom can confidently nurture deep faith roots in her kids through little habits that add up over time. Learn more about how I can help you here. 

What are you looking for?

What others are reading...

One mom's humorous take on what it is like to raise 3 sons

9 Amazing Reasons to be a Mom of 3 Boys

Teach your child to pray with a prayer pattern

A simple way to help kids pray (+ free printables!)

bedtime ritual

Teach Your Child Her Worth Using This Bedtime Ritual

A prayer for raising godly children with anxiety | Bible verses to help kids with anxiety | Childhood anxiety and Christian parenting | #Christianparenting #familydiscipleship #Bibleverse #prayer

How To Use This One Verse To Help Your Anxious Child

Create a Christ-centered advent tradition!

18 Christian Advent Ideas

Footer

About

The Little Shoots, Deep Roots community is all about leading our kids to a deeper Christian faith through little faith habits, without feeling like you have to know it all or do it all. We’re about making family faith fun and simple so that your kids love it, and you can feel confident that you're nurturing deep faith roots in your family.

More About Our Community

My Newsletter

Are you ready to start your own little family faith habits? Join our community of over 4000 moms and get my free printable, Start Little: 5 Quick Wins To Deepen Your Family's Faith (and how to actually make them stick). 

Copyright © 2023 · Christie Thomas · Site Design By Visible Web Design

447 shares
  • 40