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We have heard bedtime stories that parents tell for a good night’s sleep. Similarly, introducing thankful bedtime prayers for children can also help them sleep peacefully. If you are religious and want to inculcate the habit of praying in your children, then reciting these simple prayers before bed can be a good start. These allow children to have a quiet and retrospective moment before going to bed. In this post, we have a list of rhythmic and easy prayers for your children to recite before bedtime. These are easy to learn and will stay in your children’s memory forever.
Benefits Of Bedtime Prayers
The habit not only stays forever but also brings in a few other benefits. Let’s have a look at some benefits of bedtime prayers for kids.
- Teach gratitude: Prayers are a wonderful way to express our thankfulness and gratitude to the Almighty for the blessings in our lives. Inculcating such habits in children from an early age makes them humble and down to earth. Through prayer, children learn to speak from the heart, acknowledging and appreciating the goodness around them.
- Help in improving focus: The mind is a hub of relevant and irrelevant thoughts. Offering prayers and taking refuge in a few minutes of calmness, helps in clearing our mind and improves focus. This stillness also helps in reducing stress and anxiety.
- Build trust and faith: Praying establishes a strong connection with God, providing a sense of shelter and security. Offering prayers together with your children builds trust among each other. Kids also learn the importance of placing their faith in the values and morals taught by the elders in the family.
Inculcating the habit of praying gives children the belief that God is always there to protect them. On the same note, Ally Holland, a Christ follower and lifestyle blogger, recalls the days when she was three years old. That was the first time she was introduced to prayer, which helped her feel safe and protected. She says, “I was taught The Lord’s Prayer in Sunday school when I was three years old. The pattern of prayer was established early in my life. I began reciting The Lord’s Prayer at bedtime at age five, convinced it would protect me from bad dreams. It did. Well, God did (i).”
- Aid in leading a disciplined life: Having a routine that includes praying, makes an individual disciplined and also helps them restrain from wrongdoings.
- Reduce stress: Dedicating some time for praying before going to bed reduces anxiety in children. Saying a prayer promotes calm and comfort, reducing stress as it helps children recollect positive things. . This practice contributes to their overall wellbeing, providing them with a sense of inner peace and contentment as they prepare for sleep.
- Bring parents and children closer: A family that prays together stays together. When parents and children pray together, it helps create a strong bond, where the parent and the child can be open and honest with each other. Through prayer, family members can share their joys, concerns, and gratitude, providing an opportunity for deeper connection and understanding.
- Teach them to be humble: Through prayer, children learn to acknowledge the existence of a greater power and be thankful for all the things in their lives. This teaches them to be humble and down to earth. This virtue would be quite useful for them throughout their life.
- Teach forgiveness: Forgiving someone is not easy, but carrying that hatred could be a burden. Through prayer, your child would understand that not everyone is perfect and develop an awareness about forgiving others.
Did you know?- Strengthen their relationship with God: Praying regularly helps children develop a strong relationship with God. The thought that there is a supreme force to guide them and look after them boosts their self-confidence.
- Set the right moral values: Teaching your children to pray every day might help set their moral compasses in the right direction. Prayer teaches values, such as honesty and sincerity, which get internalized into their belief system.
- Make them compassionate: Praying might also help in reducing aggressiveness and promote compassion in children. They will learn to treat humans and animals with kindness and be sensitive to other’s pain.
- Teach respect: Praying teaches children that there is a supreme power above all of us, and we need to respect it. This also teaches accountability, as they will be aware that God is watching their actions.
- Create positivity: By remembering all the good things in life through prayer, your children can experience a peaceful slumber and wake up with a calm and positive mind. This can help them think positively and look at things with a positive outlook.
In the next section, we share some of the most relevant nightly prayers for kids.
Bedtime Prayers For Children
Prayers for children can be simple or lengthy, but if you include a rhythmic tone to their recitation, kids would easily grasp the prayer. Here are 15 easy night prayers for kids to start with:
1. Now I lay me down to sleep
This traditional bedtime prayer for children can be recited every night.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
May God guard me through the night,
And wake me with the morning’s light. Amen.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
May the angels watch me through the night,
And keep me in their blessed sight. Amen.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should live another day,
I pray the Lord to guide my way. Amen.
2. The Lord’s prayer
Image: IStock
The Lord’s Prayer teaches children to be thankful for the blessings they receive in life and the differentiation of good and bad.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
3. Now the light has gone away
A simple prayer, which underlines the importance of life and family.
Now the light has gone away, Savior, listen while I pray.
Asking Thee to watch and keep and to send me quiet sleep.
Jesus, Savior, wash away all that has been wrong today.
Help me every day to be good and gentle, more like Thee.
Let my near and dear ones be always near and dear to Thee.
Oh bring me and all I love to Thy happy home above.
4. Dear God
This prayer is ideal for children who had a bad day at school and are finding it difficult to fall asleep.
Image: IStock
Dear God,
I’ve felt a bit sad today.
Sometimes people say things that upset me,
Sometimes I feel lonely at school,
Sometimes I feel misunderstood by my mum and dad,
Sometimes my feelings are all mixed up inside.
Please make me feel better,
Please make me sleep with good dreams,
Please make a happier day tomorrow.
5. Thank you, God
A Prayer to express gratitude to the Almighty.
Dear God, thank you for this day.
Thank you for providing food, a home, and a warm bed.
Thank you for the love people showed me.
Please guide me as I prepare to head to bed and start the day again tomorrow.
Please guide my thoughts and actions. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
6. Forgive, O Lord
A simple prayer to ask for forgiveness.
Image: IStock
Forgive, O Lord,
Forgive, O Lord, for Thy dear Son.
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
7. Holy Lord
This prayer is for children who are struggling in personal life or academically, and wish to overcome that.
Holy Lord, Thank you for grace.
Please help me move beyond the hurdles that trip me up,
And give me the strength and wisdom to look up and see the hope,
I run toward in Christ.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
8. Hurry to pray
A prayer to seek protection from worrisome situations.
Image: Shutterstock
I won’t fret and I won’t worry,
Instead, I’ll hurry to pray,
I’ll turn my problems into petitions,
And lift my hands in praise.
I’ll say goodbye to all my fears,
His presence sets me free,
Although I may not understand,
I feel God’s peace in me. Amen.
9. God, my friend
The purpose of this prayer is to thank the Lord for a wonderful life and also seek blessings for near and dear ones.
God, my friend, it is time for bed,
Time to rest my sleepy head,
I pray to you before I do,
Please guide me down the path that’s true.
God, my friend, please bless my mother,
All your children — sisters, brothers.
Oh! And then there’s daddy, too —
He says I am his gift from you.
God, my friend, it is time to sleep,
I thank you for a soul unique,
And thank you for another day,
To run and jump and laugh and play!
God, my friend, it is time to go,
But before I do I hope you know,
I am thankful for my blessing, too,
And God, my friend, I love you. – By Michael J. Edger III MS
10. God is near
A prayer to express your trust and show your faith in the Lord.
Image: Shutterstock
I hear no voice, I feel no touch,
I see no glory bright;
But yet I know that God is near,
In darkness as in light,
He watches ever by my side,
And hears my whispered prayer,
The Father for His little child,
Both night and day doth care.
11. Jesus, tender Shepherd
This is a thank you prayer for Jesus. Kids can offer this prayer every day or on special days when they have succeeded in a competition or excelled at school.
Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me:
Bless Thy little child tonight;
Through the darkness be Thou near me,
Keep me safe till morning light.
All this day Thy hand has led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast warmed me, clothed me, fed me,
Listen to my evening prayer.
May my sins be all forgiven,
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take me, Lord, at last to heaven,
Happy there with Thee to dwell.
12. Savior, lay Thy hand on me
This prayer is for older children who want to thank the Lord and ask for a serene life.
Image: Shutterstock
Savior, lay Thy hand on me,
Bless me, and remember me. Amen.
Oh Lord, support us all the day long,
Until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,
And the busy world is hushed.
Then in Thy mercy grant us a safe lodging,
And a holy rest and peace at the last, Amen.
Ah dearest Jesus, Holy Child,
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be,
A quiet chamber kept for thee.
Quick fact13. Heavenly Father
This is a simple bedtime prayer for days when your kid is tired but does not want to break the habit of bedtime prayers.
In my little bed I lie:
Heavenly Father, hear my cry;
Lord, keep Thou me through this night.
Bring me safe to morning light. Amen.
14. Lord, send me sleep that I may live
A bedtime prayer to ask for sound sleep and forgiveness.
Image: Shutterstock
Lord, send me sleep that I may live,
The wrongs I’ve done this day forgive.
Bless every deed and thought and word,
I’ve rightly done, or said, or heard.
Bless relatives and friends always,
Teach all the world to watch and pray.
My thanks for all my blessings take,
And hear my prayer for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
15. Lord in heaven
A prayer to ask the Lord for care and guidance in life.
Lord in heaven, hear my prayer,
Keep me in your loving care.
Be my guide in all I do.
Bless all those who love me, too. Amen.
16. Counting my blessings
A prayer to remind ourselves how blessed we are and thank the Almighty.
Abba Father, as I count my blessings each day,
I thank You that I can name them one by one.
I believe in my heart that all the goodness I receive
can only come because of Jesus’ finished work at the Cross.
Indeed, You are my Provider, my Jehovah Jireh.
I pray that I will see the manifestation of your Grace
in every area of my life, even as I walk in union with You.
Joy, peace, health, strength, prosperity and success
are just some of the things that flood my mind, spirit and soul! Amen.
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. At what age do children begin to pray?
Parents should emphasize praying to their children when they are five to seven years old, as this is when they start understanding new concepts. Encourage them to pray regularly and keep explaining to them the importance of praying.
2. How to teach bedtime prayers to my child?
When teaching your child to pray, remember to keep it simple and ask them to talk to God in a friendly manner. Creating a routine around bedtime prayer is an important step, so you can recite prayers in front of them to encourage them.
3. How can parents make bedtime prayers fun for their children?
To make bedtime prayers enjoyable for children, parents can involve them by allowing them to choose or create their own prayers. Using props, gestures, and visual aids can make the experience more engaging. Creating a calm and cozy atmosphere with soft lighting and soothing music adds to the delight and comfort of bedtime prayers.
4. How can parents incorporate bedtime prayers into their children’s bedtime routine?
To include bedtime prayers in their children’s night routine, parents can set a consistent time for prayer, like just before bedtime. They can create a comfortable and cozy atmosphere, use a calm and gentle voice while saying prayers, and motivate their children to join by reciting prayers with simple words and rhythm.
5. What can parents do if their child resists saying bedtime prayers?
Parents can seek to comprehend the underlying reasons if a child resists bedtime prayers and engage in open discussions. They can suggest alternative ways to express gratitude. Parents must honor children’s emotions and perspectives while fostering a sense of spirituality or mindfulness that resonates with them.
In a world that is constantly losing faith, introducing bedtime prayers for children can be a reassuring way of cultivating hope, faith, and trust. Children can be molded in the way you want by inculcating good values in them. So, it is important to instill moral values in them from a young age so that they grow up into calm and confident human beings who trust humanity and have faith in the good. Just like bedtime stories, bedtime prayers can teach children to be grateful, disciplined, peaceful, and reflective. So, choose the prayer you and your child love, and make it a ritual to say it every night before bedtime.
Infographic: What Are The Advantages Of Bedtime Prayer For Children?
Bedtime prayer is a family tradition and can help instill family values in children. Therefore, teaching children and helping them incorporate prayer before bed is important. Check out the infographic below for more benefits bedtime prayer can offer children.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Introduce your child to faith and religion from a young age with a bedtime prayer.
- Prayers aid in improving focus, strengthening religious beliefs, and instilling moral values.
- Learning and reciting prayers such as Thank You, God, God, My Friend, and Counting My Blessings help children stay grateful and grounded.
- Choose from the prayers provided or blend them with your family prayers for a personalized touch.
Create a peaceful bedtime routine with this heartwarming bedtime prayer for kids. Join in as children learn this simple and meaningful prayer as they drift off to sleep.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. When Talking to God Becomes a Way of Life.https://medium.com/publishous/when-talking-to-god-becomes-a-way-of-life-d05239562086
References
- How Faith and Prayer Benefit the Brain; Westmont.
https://www.westmont.edu/how-faith-and-prayer-benefit-brain - Rusch et al.; (2018); The effect of mindfulness meditation on sleep quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials; NCBI.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6557693/ - Nagendra et al.; (2012); Meditation and Its Regulatory Role on Sleep
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328970/
