I love snuggling with a book and talking about the day, but I especially love bedtime prayers.
Like I've said before, Sweet Pea is only two, but she's a little sponge...constantly learning (as are most little ones). This is the perfect time to be teaching her about prayer.
When I was a child I recited "Now I Lay Me..." Now, I know that a lot of parents teach their children to pray by rote...and she does know some rote prayers. But we use bedtime to teach her conversation with God.
We start off working our way through praising God for His blessings. This is usually where she chimes in: "Mommy, and Daddy, and Sister, and My book, and the moon, and...and...and..." We let her list off to her hearts content. It really is a beautiful picture to see your two year old, hands clasped, eyes closed, telling God about all she loves in this world.
From this point we usually take over and pray for requests, ask for His will in our lives, etc. and then close with a hearty two year old "amen."
What I love about teaching her prayer this way is the authentic growth and understanding of prayer emerging. We started praying with her the very day we brought her home from the hospital. Now, she has enough understanding of being thankful to express to God herself what she is thankful for. Tonight she extended that for the first time and prayed for her back, which she hurt today.
I love seeing her understand the simple purpose of prayer: communication with the Father. She is learning to be grateful and learning where to leave her concerns. Love it.
How so you teach your children to pray?
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