Prayer Box - our new Diocesan prayer resource for children, young people and families.
Calling all grandparents, godparents, parents and carers….this spring we are creating a new resource to help children and young people to pray at home. Would you like to experiment with us? More information will follow in the coming weeks, but there is nothing to stop you having a go straight away. Follow this simple step by step guide and let us know how you get on:
Step 1 – Create! … Your very own Prayer Box
Find an old shoe box (or similar). Invite children to come up with ideas for what kind of things might help them to pray. You could have a few suggestions up your sleeve to get them started, e.g -Candles, chocolate biscuits, holding crosses, pebbles, fairy lights, the Lord’s Prayer… what else can you think of?
How do I start?
Firstly, what's NOT in the box? The Bible! Keep it out – on the bookshelf, the kitchen table or by the bed.
For toddlers: Lift the Flap Bible Stories for Young Children by Andrew J Deyoung & Naomi Joy Krueger
(Surprises behind every flap from Adam and Eve to Easter Day)
For primary-aged children: The Jesus Story Book Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones
(Beautiful illustrations and writing about why the world needs a redeemer)
The Family Time Bible by Dr Mary Manz Simon
(Designed for a busy family, 52 Bible stories, each ending with a section to encourage family conversation and a prayer to make your own
Thoughts to Make your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd Jones
(Bedtime, story time or even as a companion to The Jesus story book Bible)
What’s in the Box…?
An empty box has always invited play and imagination – whether it becomes a den or a treasure box. The Prayer Box is an invitation to families to play and experiment with how they might like to pray and express faith at home. It is non-prescriptive and allows for imagination – One church had 100 wooden spoons, so they are asking, ‘How might you use the prompt of a wooden spoon to pray?
Are you a Grandparent?
• Chocolate biscuits
(Prayer and the association of good biscuits and company)
• A wooden spoon
(For making cakes/biscuits -praying for who might appreciate a treat from us)
• Some seeds to plant
(Praying and waiting)
• Mini Magnifying glass
(Examining creation and thanking God)
Are you new to church?
• A prayer cube – For instance, https://www.pietystall.co.uk/product/childrens-prayer-cube/
(Throw the prayer cube and say the prayer)
• A sponge cross
(Cut one out from a sponge and keep it in the bathroom. Thank God at wash times that He soaks up all our dirt, inside & out)
• Ways to give jar
(Money in a jar, and pray how God wants us to spend it, and on whom)
• The Lord’s Prayer
(See if you can learn it off by heart)
Do I have neuro diverse family members?
• Soft blanket
(Reminds us of God’s love surrounding us)
• Knotted string
(Praying along the knots – choose family members/places in the world/things that you want to say thank you for, as you move your fingers along the string and land on another knot)
• Playdoh
(Mould the playdoh to represent something you want to say thank you for God for from today, then something you need help for/are sad about/want to say sorry for, then shape into a cross to remind you that God loves the whole world)
• A T-SPoon
(Hold the t-spoon and ask if anyone has a Thank you, Sorry or Please prayer)
• Kindness plan
(Plan step by step how as a family you might be kind and generous to someone else, praying God will help you all to do your part)
Do I have Toddlers?
• Photo of family
(Thanking God for everyone, praying for anything they need)
• Bubbles
(Blow out your thank you’s to God, and as you watch the bubbles consider if God is saying anything back to you)
• Adapted nursery rhymes
(Songs in the car as you travel such as Julia Plaut ‘Thank God for Snails’)
• Ping Pong Balls
(At bathtime, push the balls under the water – what do we want washed away from the day? Watch the balls pop up and thank God that He gives us a new start)
Do I have primary-aged Children?
• Family prayer journal
(A notepad to write/draw prayer requests and answers to prayer)
• Candle and family prayer
(Write a family prayer where everyone has a line to say when the candle is lit|)
• World map
(Look at the world map and choose a place to pray about)
• Giving tin
(Collect ideas for how God might like our family to share His love, pick one out of the tin after a few weeks, and as a family pray and act upon one)
Play and pray – Explore what works and what doesn’t work. Something might work for a while, and then you may need to do something else. Every now and then you may need to give your Prayer Box/God Box/Treasure Box a spring clean. You may want to fill it with new Prayers for a season like Christmas or Easter or when you are grieving. Why not share your ideas with another family and find out what they are doing too?
Step 2 – Experiment! … Try out different ways of praying
While we wait for our ‘prayer ideas’ resource to be printed, why not try out some new ways of praying?
Pray on the way to school.
Pray while you’re brushing your teeth.
Pray before breakfast.
Pray on the Sabbath.
Pray in a prayer base.
Pray with hot chocolate.
Ask the children to come up with ideas and then give them a go!
Step 3 – See what sticks! … Create new prayer rhythms.
Discuss with the children what they found helpful and what they would do differently if they did it again. Start to create prayer rhythms that work with family life.
See how benefices in the Diocese have been using the Prayer Box by reading our news story here.
Prayer Resources for Young People (age 11-18)
The Prayer | Thy Kingdom Come – Thy Kingdom Come Prayer resources for young people
Prayer Band Resource – A prayer resource linked to Youthscape’s Prayer Bands
Origins - How to Pray – A prayer course for teenagers from 24:7 Prayer
Young Pilgrims Resources - The Shrine Of Our Lady Of Walsingham – Prayer resources and pilgrimages from the team at Walsingham.
Pray | Scripture Union – Free resources and ideas from Scripture Union
Youth Group Prayer Resources | Pray For Schools – School-based prayer resource for young people
Prayer Resources for Children (age 5-11)
Primary School Children (There is an overlap with the Under 5’s ideas in the next section)
• Memorising some prayers: The Lord’s Prayer, The Grace, Jesus Prayer. Repetitive prayers can help us recognise prayer is about listening as well as speaking;
• Making a prayer den or space that is equipped for talking to God (might include a Bible, some cushions, a battery operated tea-light etc.) – a safe place to go to for reflection and thought;
• A Sabbath prayer that all the family say;
• A ‘TeaSPoon prayer’ – a way of reflecting on the day with God – a Thank You, Sorry and a Please;
• Bubble prayers – Either say a prayer out loud or silently before blowing a stream of bubbles into the air;
• Coloured beads on a pipe cleaner which can represent different things we pray for, or using the Rosary or a prayer rope with knots (holy fidget toys!)
• Lectio for Families is a free daily devotional that helps families to read the Bible and explore faith through conversation and prayer together;
The Prayer Experiment Notebook is a great book with ideas for trying out different ways of praying and seeing if they work.
Praying with the Primary School:
- Prayer Spaces in Schools provides ideas for children, staff and families to explore prayer together. They include prayer walks, themed prayer journeys, such as exploring the story of Narnia, Easter, Christmas and so much more;
- Jumping Fish publications provide packs with simple instructions to help children experience God’s story by creating scenes and space to reflect, such as Experience Christmas, Experience Easter, Experience Harvest;
Praying with the Under 5s
So much of this can be done as the day unfolds, as part of family life – in the supermarket, at bathtime, at bedtime, around the table. Identify those opportune moments, and try to build in some routines that remind us all to talk and listen to God:
- Hold up your hand and trace around each finger thinking of 5 things you want to say ‘thank you’ to God for today;
- Hold up your hand and trace around each finger to pray for 5 special people;
- Keep a cross shaped sponge/flannel in the bathroom as a way of saying sorry (if it is needed), at bathtime. In the same way that a sponge soaks up our dirt, so Jesus soaks up our wrong doing, and when we say sorry to one another and to God, we are washed clean;
- Share a simple grace at meal times - ‘Thank you God for green broccoli and for the farmers who grew it. Amen.’
- Use nursery rhymes to remind us that GOD LOVES US! Pray a blessing before bedtime, e.g. ‘Round and round your little hand, God loves you. One step, two steps, God loves you.’
Chat ideas for starting prayers with God
Chat and Catch is a way to encourage children to connect with God that equips them to talk to Him about anything, anytime, anywhere, and also prepares them to catch what He says back to them.
Notice the times when toddlers are having a ‘Now, Ow, Wow’ moment and help them to turn this to God. (For more information visit The Language of Spirituality leafet produced by the Diocese of Gloucester/Jumping Fish)
- ‘Now’ – there’s a piece of rubbish on the ground. I wonder what God would like us to do with that as this is his beautiful world?
- ‘Ow’ – You're feeling sad inside, let’s talk to God about it, and ask God to help.
- ‘Wow’ – What an amazing ladybird! – Thank you God for your beautiful red and black bugs. You are amazing!’
Sharing Bible stories and sharing what you like about the stories or find difficult about the stories and talking to God about it.
Praying during pregnancy:
The Power of Pregnancy Prayer - Guided prayers whilst pregnant and for those waiting to adopt.
Praying as Grandparents:
Praying as Grandparents: A booklet produced by Martyn and Angela Thompson that provides 31 days of prayers and bible verses for grandparents praying for their Grandchildren.
Sing with your babies by adapting nursery rhymes that bless them and help them to know that they are loved. Try singing "head, shoulders, knees and toes" as we remember that God loves us from the top of our head to the tip of our toes!
Flame Creative Children’s Ministry share creative ideas for praying at home which are age-related and fun. Free downloads provide all you need to support the prayer activity selected.
Pray with other grandparents for your grandchildren. Form a book club using these books: 60 Minute Grandparent and/or Grandparenting for Faith.