Simple, loving routines—modeling prayer, telling stories, and celebrating answered requests—turn gratitude and prayer from a lesson into a daily habit for your child.
Prayer is one of the most important spiritual practices in a person’s life: communicating with God calms the heart and brings peace. Join us to learn how to teach your child to pray in the right, effective way.
Religious education is a central part of raising children. One of the key elements in that education is helping a child form a healthy, correct understanding of God and religion. Prayer is one of the most tangible practices parents can use to help a child know God more intimately.
Teaching a child to pray is a major parental responsibility. Although it’s challenging to explain meaning and purpose in ways a child will grasp, the techniques below will make the process easier for both you and the child.
In general, the innate disposition to recognize God exists in everyone; it only needs a spark and guidance to flourish. That is why teaching religious concepts to children is so important for their upbringing.
If instructed properly, a child will enjoy praying and may make it a daily habit.
A child should learn that at the start of any action we should ask God for help. The best beginning is to pray openly in front of your child and ask God— in your prayers— to help you and your child become faithful and not forget God. By doing this, the child understands that we ask God’s help for everything, and sees that you rely on God in practice.
Always try to perform acts of worship—like prayer and supplication—in front of your child. When a child sees worship as a fixed part of your life, they naturally model you as their role model and will try to imitate your behavior. Seeing you pray regularly often awakens a child’s curiosity; they start to ask questions, which is an excellent step for learning.
If a child understands why we pray, it helps them learn. Explain, simply and plainly, why we give thanks and pray. Don’t begin with abstract rules or Arabic phrases that may be hard to grasp; use stories—children love stories—and short everyday examples to show why prayer and gratitude matter. Stories transmit meaning indirectly and are easier for children to accept. Provide very simple, relatable examples and be creative—creativity yields better results.
To begin teaching prayer, pick a regular time of day to pray together. Morning before school or late at night—when the house is quiet—are usually the best times. A regular schedule helps build habit and avoids distractions.
As a parent, never neglect your own attention to God. When small problems arise—even if trivial—first ask God for help with your child present, and when the issue resolves, thank God out loud with your child. For example, if you’re searching for lost keys together, ask God to help you find them; when you find the keys, thank God together. These real moments teach a child that prayer is effective and natural.
Teaching works best when it is kind and creative. If your child forgets to pray, visual cues are very helpful. Write a short surah or phrase on a card or printed paper and place it somewhere your child sees often so repetition helps memorization. If you want to teach the child a particular supplication or prayer formula, put it on paper or print it and place it where the child will see it regularly.
When teaching prayer movements and words (for example, in formal prayer), say the words out loud and clearly while praying and invite the child to repeat after you. Repetition during shared practice helps retention.
If you and your child prayed together and a prayer is answered, be sure to express thanks and keep a simple record—write it in a notebook, for example. This shows the child that prayers are heard and encourages future prayer. Over time the child sees that prayer has effect and becomes more eager to pray.
Practical Tips
Model prayer openly—children learn most from watching you; pray aloud and invite them to join.
Use simple stories and everyday examples to explain why we pray and give thanks.
Choose fixed, quiet times (e.g., before school or at night) to pray together so the habit forms.
Use visual reminders (printed short prayers or cards) where the child will see them often.
Celebrate answered prayers together—write them down so the child sees prayer produces results.
