Praying with Kids: Whole Body Practices for Families and Church Communities
Lawson-Hedger, Kate; Thompson, Curt
Synopsis "Praying with Kids: Whole Body Practices for Families and Church Communities"
Whole Body Prayer Experiences for Young Hearts Transform everyday moments into sacred encounters with this practical guide designed to help parents, caregivers, and ministry practitioners cultivate meaningful prayer experiences with children. Drawing on spiritual formation principles and current research on child development, Praying with Kids offers a treasure trove of accessible, research-backed approaches that honor both Scripture and child development, creating pathways for young hearts to connect with God through prayer. With dozens of creative ideas and formative practices, Kate Lawson-Hedger equips parents, children's ministry workers, and other caregivers to pray together with kids in ways that involve not just their words but also their bodies, senses, emotions, learning styles, imaginations, and so much more. She shows how, from a very young age, kids can experience prayer as a fun, creative, and life-giving adventure of relationship with God. What you'll find in Praying with Kids: 40+ detailed prayer practices: Step-by-step instructions for diverse practices, ideas, and variations that engage the natural learning styles of children ages two through twelve. Both contemporary and time-tested wisdom: Drawn from the rich tradition of Christian prayer and current developmental research, ideas include both ancient and new ways to pray. Inclusive accessibility: Insights for praying with children who have disabilities, special needs, or are neurodivergent. Age-appropriate application: Each chapter also includes ideas and principles for inviting teenagers deeper into prayer. This resource transforms the often-intimidating task of teaching children to pray into an adventure of discovery, connection, and joy. Whether you're seeking to establish family prayer traditions or bring prayer into your children's ministry programming, this book provides the tools you need to guide children into rich prayer experiences that will shape their spiritual foundation for years to come. Scripture calls all of us, no matter our age, to love God with all our heart, soul, and might. As you help nurture children's connection with God, together you'll discover that every day is infused with holy opportunities to love God with our whole selves.
