Pray a lot about many things.

 1 Thessalonians 5:17 simply says, “pray continually.” Communication with God is an ongoing mindset. Ephesians 6:18 is a reminder to pray on all occasions about all kinds of things. Even though God already knows what is in people’s hearts and minds, He wants us to verbalize it.

Pray, so you’re not anxious. Worry can be a huge part of a kid’s life. They can learn that by talking to God, they can give their anxiety to Him and be filled with peace instead. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Pray even when you think you can’t. It’s not always easy to put into words what you’re trying to say, so it’s comforting to know the Holy Spirit can do that for you. Romans 8:26 says that the Spirit intercedes and deciphers for those who don’t know what to say.

Model and Put it into Practice

When teaching kids what prayer is, you should give them opportunities to practice it. It’s one thing to teach and read about prayer, but another to model what it looks like. Whether it’s a large or small group setting, there should be prayer time. Sometimes this should be led by adult leaders. Show them by example. It’s good for kids to see and hear adults and teens praying. This modeling will lead your students into trying it for themselves. A church setting is a safe environment for kids to learn and practice. When you start or end your worship service together, ask for volunteers to pray. For unsure kids, offer to have them repeat a prayer that you lead.

Don’t leave the teaching to just the church. Encourage families to pray together. Home is often also a safe environment for practicing and learning. Moms and dads should be modeling this so it will be a natural thing for their kids to do. Talking to God should be a daily rhythm in the life of a Christian family. But don’t assume that all of your families have prayer as part of their routine. Use social media or handouts to give pointers on some practical ways to incorporate prayer into their lives. Suggest

ions of family prayer time before bed or sharing one praise and one prayer request each morning together are easy ways to start.

Prayer is talking to God. Kids must know that it’s real and that He listens. The Bible gives clear instructions on how to do it. As a leader, you can teach them these things and model it just as Jesus did for his disciples. Help families know that prayer is a vital part of their daily life and draws them closer to the God who made and loves them.