Bedtime Prayers: Ideas for Parents and Ministry Leaders
One of the great privileges of working in kids' ministry is the opportunity to foster, inspire, and equip parents to teach their children to follow Jesus. Children's ministry leaders help parents put, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," into action (Joshua 24:15)!
Our relationship with God needs to become personal, stretching past the church walls, riding along with us as we commute from place to place, and participating in our daily lives at home, work, and school. One of the best places to start to help children build a true personal relationship with Jesus is during bedtime prayers . Before closing their eyes and drifting off to sleep, kids can talk to God through our Lord Jesus. As church leaders, we can help equip parents to create meaningful bedtime prayers with their children!
Table of Contents
The Importance of Prayer
Prayer is one of the stepping stones in building our faith. It acknowledges three crucial components of faith:
- God exists, and I can communicate with Him.
- I need God and am dependent on Him.
- I can trust and wait on God because He is good and keeps His promises.
However, for children to get to a place where they believe these truths about God, they need practice! Putting bedtime prayers into practice helps kids learn what is true about God and begin to have faith in Him. Today, we will explore practical ways to guide parents to lead their children in prayer and empower them to learn to pray independently.
A Close Intimate Relationship with God
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says,
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road when you lie down, and when you get up."
It's important to encourage parents to teach their kids right from wrong, God's law, and to walk in obedience, but not forget the relationship side. God is not a cold, unreachable dictator who tells us what to do and doesn't have time for us. No, God is our Father: He loves us, He provides for us, and He gives us a law to protect us from sin and the consequences that come from it.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 describes a relationship where we love God the way He loves us, follow the commandments He designed to help us, and talk about God at home so that He becomes a daily part of our lives. An excellent way for parents to help make God the center of their family's life is to make bedtime prayer a daily rhythm.
Takehome Handout: Bedtime Prayer Routine
Send home a handout with key steps to help parents form this habit. Here are a few great steps to include:
- Sit down together before bed and tell your child, "I love you. God loves you."
- Engage your kid with a few questions to help them open up about what's going on in their life. "How was your day? Is there anything that you need help with? How do you feel?"
- Invite God into your conversation by saying, "God cares about you and He is part of your life. You can talk to Him about what is going on, and He will listen. He offers you forgiveness when you make mistakes and gives you a fresh start. God also provides for your needs. Let's pray about the things we talked about and trust it all to God!"
- Lead your child in prayer and invite them to pray too.
- Say "Goodnight!"
Daily prayer helps give kids experiences that grow their faith. Experiences like answers to prayer, learning to wait on God and trust Him, and God's presence providing love, joy, and peace.
Other Resources for Parents to Use at Home
Bedtime Prayers for Different Age Groups
There are several approaches parents can take with prayer, depending on the kid's age. The following are examples of short, meaningful prayers for different age groups you can provide for parents.
Bedtime Prayers for Kids, Ages 0-3
Lead your child in an interactive prayer they can learn to do with you! Using sign language and your child's first words, you can begin to pray together every night before bed. Repeating the same prayer will help your young child learn how to pray!
Example Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you for this day. Thank you for my family. Please help me do what is right, and forgive me for my mistakes. Please give me the things that I need, like food, clothes, etc.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Note: If a child is less than a year old, parents can use baby sign language to help emphasize the prayer. Look up how to sign these key words:
Bedtime Prayers for Kids, Ages 4-6
Pray for your child out loud and invite them to pray next. Using the acronym PRAY, ask your kid to
- Praise God for the good things He has done for them.
- Repent any sin they have.
- Ask God for any needs or desires of their heart.
- Yield , telling God they will follow Him and let go of control by trusting Him.
Example Prayer for Parents:
Dear God,
Thank you for [child's name]. Guide and direct their path. Please help them to walk with you all the days of their life.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Example Prayer for Kids:
Dear God,
Praise: Thank You for loving me, for my family, and for all the fun things You give me every day.
Repent: I'm sorry for the times I've made wrong choices or hurt someone. Please forgive me.
Ask: Please help me be kind at school and help my friend who is sick feel better.
Yield: I trust You, God. I know You have a good plan for me, and I want to follow You every day.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Bedtime Prayers for Kids, Ages 7-12
Encourage your kid to pray out loud with you present. Suggest a theme for prayer each night depending upon what your child is experiencing so kids learn to focus on all aspects of prayer. Examples of themes could be thankfulness, protection, guidance, intercessory prayer for others, wisdom to make good decisions, etc.
Example Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for always listening to me. Thank You for my family, my friends, and the ways You help me every day.
Please help me when I feel worried or afraid. Please give me the strength to make good choices and be kind to others, even when it's hard. Help me remember that You are always with me and that I can talk to You about anything.
Tonight, I pray for people who are sick or sad. Please comfort them and give them hope.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Empowering Children to Pray on Their Own
Additional Ways to Teach the Importance of Prayer for Teens
Prayer Journals
Give your child a journal to write down things they are grateful for and keep track of the blessings God has given them. This will help them recall all the times God has answered their prayers and remind them how important it is to continue to pray every day.
ACTS Prayer
Another great acronym to share with young teens is ACTS , which structures prayer with Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication . Parents can continue to encourage their kids to pray by initiating prayer, reminding them to talk to God when they are struggling with a problem, and praising God out loud in front of their teen when their family experiences blessings.
Empowering Children to Pray on Their Own
We can empower our kids to pray independently by the time they reach middle school. Their prayer life will start to depend on themselves remembering to talk to God, initiating conversation with Him, being consistent in talking to God, and listening to His guidance.
From age 0 to 18, children have the opportunity to grow in their faith, and it can all start with bedtime prayers at home. We can serve as a tool to parents by sharing resources and encouragement so they can confidently lead their children in seeing the value of the relationship with God that prayer brings!
Additional Resources
Free Kids' Ministry Resources
Children's Ministry Curricula
Frequently Asked Questions
What age-appropriate prayer strategies should I recommend for different stages of childhood?
For ages 0–3: Use simple, repetitive prayers with baby sign language to help comprehension and memory.
For ages 4–6: Introduce the PRAY acronym (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) and let children start speaking their own prayers.
For ages 7 and up: Encourage theme-based prayers, journaling, and allowing kids to lead their own prayer time.
Finally, guide your children’s ministry kids to reflect on what freedom means for them and how honoring those who served can mirror our biblical gratitude for God’s gifts.
How can I empower parents to help their kids pray independently as they grow?
1. Encourage gradual leadership in prayer—first repeating after parents, then initiating prayer on their own.
2. Suggest tools like prayer journals or acronyms, such as ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication), to provide structure and focus.
3. Affirm that middle school is a key transition point for self-led faith practices.
How can we help incorporate scripture into bedtime prayers in a kid-friendly way?
Children's ministry leaders can choose one short Bible verse to teach kids each week. This verse can be shared with parents and guardians so that they can include it in their bedtime prayers and recite it aloud together.
Share these verses in various ways to help children memorize them:
1. Leaders can share scripture-based prayer prompts, such as “God, help me be strong and courageous like Joshua” (Joshua 1:9).
2. Encourage kids to memorize verses through songs or visuals and apply those verses during prayer time.
How can bedtime prayer support emotional and mental health in children?
Regular prayer can provide a calming bedtime routine that helps ease anxiety and promotes better sleep for kids:
Praying about daily worries, mistakes, or fears provides children with a safe space to process their emotions with God's help.
Prayer fosters a sense of spiritual security, enabling children to know they are not alone in their thoughts or struggles.
Was this article helpful? You might also enjoy:
