Raising Kids Who Love Prayer: Starting With Scripture

Jun 11, 2026 | Latest, Spirituality, Theology

When we are teaching our children to encounter God in prayer, we have to root them in what prayer actually is.

As we discussed in the previous article, if prayer becomes only something we do, we can unintentionally miss what prayer is. At its heart, prayer is relationship with a God who already knows us, already loves us, and desires to be with us. This is one of the most important truths we can teach our children. Throughout Scripture, we see something that can surprise us if we have never noticed it before—God is always the one who moves first.

Abraham ever followed, but first God called. He came to a bush he knew Moses would encounter. The disciples did not leave their nets until Jesus called them. When Peter denied his Lord, Jesus sought him so he could be restored. The story of salvation is the story of a God who continually takes the first step. This is where prayer begins. That simple truth can transform the way we pray with our children. In teaching them to pray, we can help them learn to notice where God is already speaking and acting. And one of the most beautiful places to begin is Scripture.

Starting with Scripture

Catholic families are familiar with vocal prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. These prayers are treasures of our faith and should always have a place in our homes. But as we build from these prayers, Scripture offers something unique. When we open the Bible, we are not simply bringing our thoughts to God, but are first listening to what God wants to say to us. Rather than a monologue, our prayer is transformed into a dialogue. This makes Scripture a natural starting point for prayer. This method of prayer is called Lectio Divina, and it is remarkably simple.

Read.

Notice.

Listen.

Respond.

This method approaches the Word of God as a conversation. Let’s look at each step, examining ways to make them accessible for children of all ages.

Step 1: Read

Choose a short passage from Scripture. The Sunday Gospel is often a wonderful place to start. Give your child some age-appropriate background as to what will be happening in the passage, and then read it slowly together. We will use Mark 4:35-41 as an example. It is an engaging, highly visual passage with imagery that even small children are familiar with: a boat, a storm, and sleep. It also gives a clear and comforting lesson about fear and trust.

After you read the passage the first time, read it together again, but this time, encourage your child to engage their imagination. Before reading, tell them to imagine the feel of the wind, how unsteady the boat would be, and how fearful and confused the disciples might be, seeing Jesus sleeping through their fear. Encourage them to place themselves in the scene, imagining who they would be, how they would feel, and what they would hear. This allows them to use their imagination to be fully engaged. Then, read the passage again, reminding them to listen for a detail or feeling that comes to them as they listen or read.

Step 2: Notice

Ask them very simply: “What stood out to you?” For younger children, it might be a person, a word, an image, or an action. For older children, it might be a question, a feeling, or a connection to their own life. There is no right answer, only what God puts on their hearts. Take a couple of moments and have them consider why God might have put that detail on their hearts. Perhaps what stood out to them is when the disciples asked Jesus, “Don’t you care?” Maybe this speaks to a worry they have about God’s care in their own lives or in the life of someone they love.

Step 3: Listen

Once they have pondered why they were drawn to their own specific detail, have them sit quietly and listen for God to speak to them. It can be very difficult to explain to another how to hear God. Often, the best explanation is that He speaks in a quiet voice that seems to come from outside their own thoughts. It can be a feeling of peace or doubt about a certain thought. The goal here is to cultivate a practice of silence to really listen for God. This does not have to be a long period  – for many families, starting with thirty seconds is enough, and build from there. It is important to allow space. Children sometimes do not get opportunities to simply sit with something meaningful.

Step 4: Respond

This is the action step. Guide your child in discerning how what they heard in prayer can be applied to their daily life, and how it draws them closer to God.

A Foundation for Every Other Prayer

This simple rhythm teaches something that children can carry into every other form of prayer they encounter. When they pray the Rosary, they will know how to notice Jesus within the mysteries. In the practice of the nightly Examen, they will have the tools to notice God within their day. When they offer spontaneous prayers, they learn to speak honestly to a God who is already present. The habit beneath all these forms of prayer is the same: God calls first, we listen and respond. This will not work like magic, and you may find that your children (or even you!) are restless and that this type of prayer takes a bit to get used to. That’s ok! We are building a foundation, and that takes time—but the best work usually does.

In the next article, we will dive into the rosary, some common problems we face when praying it as a family, and how to make it engaging for people of all ages. I can’t wait to see you next time!