Bedtime prayer for children - please share!

[JoyfulMama]

My ds5 has requested a new bedtime prayer, but hasn't been happy with the other two I know, as they are "too short". :glare:

(At this age I prefer for a rote prayer vs a method of prayer - he'll get to that.)

Ours is:

"Dear Lord,

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

The angels watch me through the night, until I wake in morning light. Amen."

 

Would you share yours?

:bigear:

[BikeBookBread]

There is a lovely, classic book (1945 Caldecott winner) called "Prayer for a Child" that is plenty long :)

 

Bless this milk and bless this bread

Bless this soft and waiting bed, where I presently shall be wrapped in sweet security

etc.....

 

I bet you could find it at the library. This was a bedtime staple for at least 3 years for us. My girls can still say it.

[grace'smom]

We do the Our Father. DTLK (I think that is it) has a free print out of the prayer with pictures so it won't go over your child's head. Anyway, I think it's good for her to start getting that one in her head even if she won't understand it fully until later. We also ask for help with anything we're struggling with or give thanks for our blessings.

[Whereneverever]

My two year old prays this:

Now I lay me down to rest

Angels guard my little nest

Like the wee birds in the trees

Heavenly Father, please care for me.

Amen.

 

My five year old prays this:

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son,

that Thou hast graciously kept me this day, and I pray Thee to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.

[LittleIzumi]

We just pray from the heart--The Sponge likes to thank her Father for everything from her daddy to her toes :D.

[Chris in VA]

We start with Thank You Jesus, for today. Then we say thanks for all the blessings we can think of, any answered prayers, etc. Then we ask for whatever we are worried or afraid about to be covered by God.

We end our prayer rotely, so to speak, with

Guide us waking, oh Lord, and guard us sleeping

That awake we may watch with Christ and

Asleep we may rest in Peace.

It's from Compline (occasionally known as "Complain" at our house ;)) in the Book of Common Prayer.

We're such good Episcopalians...lol

[DawnL]

WE use the same one as you, and sometimes add random additions on the end. Plus, I sing a VeggieTales song......

 

I thank God for this day,

for the sun in the sky,

for my mom and my dad,

for my piece of apple pie,

for my home on the ground,

and His love that's all around,

that's why I say thanks every day.

 

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart.

I'm glad for what I have,

that's an easy way to start.

 

For the love that we share,

'cause He listens to our prayers,

that's why we say thanks every day.

[Georgiana Daniels]

We pray from the heart, and usually it ends up bunny-trailing to all sorts of things--great reason to add a rote.

 

So this week we started learning Our Father. My 4yo keeps saying "feather" instead of "heaven", and my 5 yo says "howled be thy name." Needless to say, we still have work to do, but it's been a good process. :)