There’s More Than One Way to Pray

Helping Children Discover the Many Languages of the Heart

When most of us think of prayer, we picture folded hands, bowed heads, and quiet words. And while that’s a beautiful way to pray, it’s not the only way.

Children, especially, often express their faith with movement, imagination, and sound. Their prayers might look more like drawings, dancing, humming, or sitting in silence staring at the sunlight through a stained-glass window.

All of it counts.

Because prayer isn’t a formula — it’s a conversation. And God listens to every voice, even the ones that don’t use words.

1. Talking to God (Out Loud or in the Heart)

You can start with the simplest kind of prayer: just talking. Tell your child that prayer is like checking in with a friend. They can whisper, speak, or even think their prayers.

“Hi, Jesus. Thank You for today.”
“God, please help Grandma feel better.”
“I love You.”

These tiny prayers are as powerful as long ones. God hears every one.

Encourage your kids to talk to Him whenever they feel something — happy, sad, excited, scared. Prayer is how we keep God close in all those moments.

(Read: “A Good Father Doesn’t Give a Snake” for more on trusting God’s answers.)

2. Listening Prayer

Prayer isn’t only speaking — it’s also listening.

Explain that sometimes God talks to us in quiet ways — through a thought, a feeling, or even something beautiful we notice. You might practice this by lighting a candle together, sitting quietly for a minute, and saying:

“Let’s just be still and listen to what God wants to tell our hearts.”

Children are often better at silence than we realize. They just need permission to find it.

3. Prayer Through Art and Music

Some children connect best to God through creativity.

Encourage them to draw something they’re thankful for, paint a picture of heaven, or sing their favorite song as a prayer. When they create with love, they’re praying with their hands.

If your family sings at Mass, remind them that their voices — even if off-key — are gifts of praise.

“When we sing, we’re not just saying words — we’re sending joy to God.”

4. Praying with Scripture

Children can also learn to pray with Scripture.
Pick a short story or line — like “The Lord is my shepherd” — and repeat it slowly together. Ask, “What do you think God is trying to tell us here?”

This introduces them to Lectio Divina, an ancient practice of listening to God through His Word. You can even make it a bedtime tradition — one verse, one thought, one quiet moment with Him.

5. Praying with Action

Remind your family that prayer doesn’t stop when we leave the church. Every act of kindness, patience, or forgiveness is also a prayer.

Tell your child:

“When you help someone, you’re showing God you love Him.”

Service is love in motion — a way of turning faith into action. Whether they hold the door for someone, share a toy, or say something kind, they’re praying with their lives.

A Prayer Without Words

When your child feels they don’t know what to say, remind them that God already knows. Even a sigh, a smile, or a tear can be a prayer if it’s offered with love.

“God, You know my heart.”

That’s sometimes the most powerful prayer of all.

Try This at Home

You can build prayer into your family’s rhythm with small, tangible acts:

• Keep a “Prayer Journal” where everyone draws or writes what they’re praying for.

• Play instrumental music before bedtime and let everyone take a turn saying one sentence to God.

• Go on a “thankful walk” — find five things to thank God for before you get home.

These small practices teach your children that God isn’t just found in church — He’s found everywhere love is.

There’s more than one way to pray,
but they all lead to the same place —
into the heart of God.