Samuel Generation Ministry

Listening to children pray is very rewarding.  Children are often full of faith and it is such an encouragement to hear children praying and forming their own relationship with Jesus.  Here are a few ideas to help the children grow in their praying and encourage quieter to children to pray confidently out loud.  I've also used lots of these activities as part of 24/7 prayer activities for our children:

• Prayer hoop - encourage the children to come and jump in the hoop and pray.

• Shredding - Write down something they are sorry for and then shred it because Jesus takes away all our sins.

• Drawing - Draw a prayer.

• News prayers - pray for things that have been in the news this week (there are various christian websites you can look at to see suggested things to pray for).

• Close your eyes and listen to God speak, draw a picture of what he says and share together.

• Building blocks, think of one thing that God has done for you and add a building block to the tower.

• Rubbish - Write or draw something they are sorry for and throw it away because Jesus takes away all our sins.

• Colour prayers - have some different coloured pieces of paper and thank God for something of each colour.

• Make a praise banner to show how amazing God is.

• Praying hands - draw around the childrens hands on a piece of paper folded in half and write a prayer inside.

• Pray for the sick - Lay down and pray for the sick.

• Pray for refugees - Walk around the room and pray for refugees who have left their homes in fear of their lives.

• Paper chains - Add a paper chain to the chains and pray for those who are in prison for believing in Jesus.

• Drink and snacks - thank God that we have food and drink.

• Thank you ball – Stand in a circle and throw the ball to each other, each time you throw to someone thank God for something.

• Umbrella balls - Stand in a circle and each child to pray for someone who is sick as each person asks God to heal someone they throw a small ball into an umbrella.

• Circle time – pass a small object around the circle and forgive others who have hurt or upset us.

• Graffitti prayer - Use a large sheet of paper and each child to write the name of a friend to pray for.

• Jenga – In small groups each with a Jenga game the children take a brick and thank God for something and then place it on the top.

• Pray for the nations – Using a large globe ball – throw the ball around and each child picks a country to pray for.

• Pray for schools - use an exercise book and write down the names of schools, teachers and children and pray for them. 

• Sorry hearts - Each child to have a heart shaped piece of paper and write down something they are sorry for…

• Friends - draw a picture of your friend and pray for them.

• Pray for the nations – use cards with the names and flags of a number of countries.  The children can pick a card and pray for that country.

• Pray for the homeless - Use a play house or make a makeshift shelter and pray for those without a roof over their heads.

• Sow some seeds and remember that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains.