Are kids allowed to pray for skittles? How about praying for mosquitoes to go away? What exactly constitutes prayer for children?
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Steph Thurling and Sarah Holmstrom—two passionate moms, ministry leaders, and the authors of the book Raising Prayerful Kids.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get kids comfortable with prayer (or how to jump in now if you didn’t start when they were small), you’ll find inspiration, creative ideas, and plenty of reassurance from Sarah and Steph.
So grab your gardening gloves (metaphorically speaking), and let’s dig into a conversation about cultivating a life of prayer in your home!
✨ Top Takeaways:
- Start Small & Lower Expectations: You don’t have to jump straight to profound prayers—invite your kids into the habit in simple, age-appropriate ways.
- Model & Invite: Kids are watching—let them see you pray, invite them often, and celebrate the little moments when something ‘clicks.’
- It’s Never Too Late: Whether your child is a preschooler, a teen, or even an adult, it’s always the right time to start bringing prayer into your family’s rhythm.
- Lean Into Community: Find a couple of friends or a small group to pray for your kids and encourage each other. It makes all the difference.
📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:
- Raising Prayerful Kids BOOK: Steph & Sarah’s book has 21 creative activities for families—games, listening prayers, simple routines for every age and attention span. It’s as real as it gets.
- Month-long Prayer calendar
- Made To Pray, a 12-day, hands-on guide to better prayer
Subscribe on your favorite listening platform for practical tips, real parent interviews, and encouragement as we become faith gardeners together!
📝SUMMARY
Prayer can sometimes feel like a daunting practice to introduce to our children, especially in today’s busy world. How do we help our kids connect with God in meaningful, authentic ways—even when they’d rather be goofing off, asking for candy, or just don’t seem interested? On a recent episode of Little Shoots Deep Roots, host Christie Thomas sat down with Steph Thurling and Sarah Holmstrom, two moms and ministry leaders whose practical, grace-filled approach will encourage families at any stage of their faith journey. Let’s dive into their wisdom and real-life experiences, and discover ways to help our families grow “deep roots” of faith, one little habit at a time.
Starting Small: The Power of Invitation and Modeling
Both Steph and Sarah admit that their families’ prayer habits didn’t start with dramatic spiritual moments. Like all parents, they encountered plenty of opposition, apathy, and even prayers for—yes—Skittles! But this is where their encouragement begins: starting small and not giving up.
Sarah likens teaching prayer to teaching a child to help with dishes: “I think it maybe took me with one of my kids ten years for him to actually throw away his plate or his napkin and put his plate in the dishwasher.” Faith has a similar learning curve. Like any good habit, prayer matures slowly with gentle persistence.
The magic ingredient? Modeling. Steph and Sarah’s kids watched them pray through joyful, stressful, and ordinary moments. Whether it was driving past an ambulance or facing a bad mood, prayer became the family’s instinctive response.
When Struggles Come: It’s Not Always Smooth
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by your child’s lack of interest or outright resistance to prayer, you’re not alone. Both guests shared candid stories: fiery children insisting they’d rather “go to the other place,” and seasons when no one felt particularly tuned in. Even as ministry-minded parents, both Steph and Sarah still struggle with distraction and feeling the “enemy” tugging them away from prayer.
Steph offered this wisdom: “Faith is not a linear thing.” There are seasons when family prayer comes more naturally, and times when it feels like everyone has drifted out of rhythm. The key is to gently bring prayer back to the center, without guilt or pressure.
Encouragement for Parents: You Haven’t Missed the Boat
A heartfelt word for parents who feel like it’s “too late” to foster these habits: it’s not! Sarah shared moving stories of friends who began praying with teens and even adult children, whether that meant a simple blessing before school or a daily text message. Kids of all ages (and adults too) appreciate being prayed for—even when they don’t always reciprocate right away.
Steph urges parents to “lower your expectations and start small.” That could mean offering short prayers of gratitude, praying over your kids at bedtime, or inviting them to join—even if they prefer to stay silent and listen. Echoing Sarah, she says, “You’re not going to do any damage by praying with your kids.” Every attempt is a seed sown.
Practical Tools: Making Prayer Accessible and Fun
Want fresh ideas? In their book Raising Prayerful Kids, Steph and Sarah share 21 different prayer activities, from silly games and fill-in-the-blank prompts to contemplative practices like Lectio Divina. They recommend using creativity—think prayer dice, gratitude games, or breath prayers when a child is overwhelmed. As kids mature, families can experiment with listening prayers and deeper discussion, meeting children at their developmental stage.
Sarah’s family recently sat around the fire for a few quiet moments, inviting God to speak. Some kids shared words or insights; others simply enjoyed the silence. All were invited to listen for God’s love and presence.
Building a Faithful Community
None of us are meant to do this alone. Both guests emphasized that their parenting and faith journeys were strengthened by community—friend groups, small groups, and fellow parents who shared ideas, asked questions, and prayed together for each other’s kids.
If you’re feeling isolated or discouraged, reach out. Share your struggles, joys, and resources with like-minded friends. Let’s remind each other: the Holy Spirit can work with even our most imperfect attempts.
Final Thoughts
If you’re hoping to nurture a prayer habit in your family, take heart. Keep it simple, keep inviting your children to join, and keep modeling an honest, ongoing conversation with God. The fruit may take time to appear, but as Steph and Sarah powerfully remind us: “Prayer is the only gift we can give our kids that lasts forever.”
📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:
- Raising Prayerful Kids BOOK: check out Steph and Sarah’s book for inspiration and motivation in this journey
- Month-long Prayer calendar
- Made To Pray, a 12-day, hands-on guide to better prayer
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