teaching to pray

Jaime - posted on 11/07/2012

If the children see you pray and you pray with your children they will pick it up. My middle boy started folding his arms and closing his eyes when he was about 20 months. Plus they pick it up in nursery at church as well. Good luck!

Rebecca - posted on 08/03/2012

my Husband and I always start from day one my inlaws disagreed at first they thought a month old baby should not have to fold her arms but now she is not a year old and folds her arms quietly on her own (she even applauds after prayer is over, she is proud of herself :D )

Karen - posted on 06/24/2012

I agree that it's never too early. From day 1 have family prayer with them there. They love to be included and fold their arms. My 23 month old prayed tonight 'Hev Father, Thank you nice day, had a nice day, nice day Neck's (Jeanette's) house, nice day Granny house, Amen.' I'm pretty pleased that she's getting the hang of it. I think that she's picked up on the fact that her brothers start all their prayers with 'Thank you for this new day/ nice day.' but they're only young too! When we got married our Bishop conselled us to have family prayer and FHE etc from the start so when children came it was already a habit that they would pick up and it seems to have worked. Maybe a little FHE lesson from the nursery manual on prayer and then try the oldest repeating simple phrases after you and before long they'll be praying like Enos!!

Saralee - posted on 06/21/2012

I showed my daughter since day one. At her first birthday during her party, she expected to pray before eating her cake, so we did. At 3 she is able to stand up and pray in front of her peers all on her own, with out being fed, and is understood.

Every child is different. Teach them and led them.

I don't think it is ever to early to start.

Lisa - posted on 12/30/2011

The best way to teach a little one to pray on their own is to reinforce the following formula:
1. Dear Heavenly father
2. Thank you for ...
3. Please bless us that ...
4. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
when my kids were little, we would talk before the prayer and they would decide what they were thankfull for and what blessings should be asked for. When they seemed ready, I would let them pray, first with whispered help and eventually without.

Until they can speak fairly well, the best thing to do is reinforce proper behavior during prayer. Arms folded, etc. and saying Amen.

Heather - posted on 02/12/2011

My 3 year old knows to fold her arms and say "amen" during prayers, but I haven't quit been able to get her to say any of her own. Aside from "amen" she won't say anything I aske her to.

Promise - posted on 01/27/2011

Hello there! I have a 5 year old, 4 year old and a one year old. I dont think it is ever too early! My little one year old knows to fold her arms during prayers ....and my 5 year old started saying his own bedtime prayers when he was about 18 months old...although some of it was in his own little language...I am sure Heavenly Father loved it and understood perfectly! :)

Marcella - posted on 10/20/2010

Well i have a 2 year old and we show him how to fold his arms and we whisper into his ear what to say so he gets the idea now on how to pray we also do this with our 4 year old, hope that helps