Babies<\/strong><\/em><\/span> 1s<\/strong><\/em><\/span> 2s<\/strong><\/em><\/span> 3s-Pre-K<\/strong><\/em><\/span> Kindergarten<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nBabies will continue to learn more about prayer as they grow. As you interact with them, use simple \u201cthank you\u201d sentence prayers, spoken with reverence and in a soft voice. For example: \u201cThank You, God, for Ava. Thank You that Ava can touch the picture.\u201d Speak these simple sentences with reverence and a soft voice. Babies will since your sincerity and enjoy the exchange. You will have their attention when you mention their names. As you interact and build relationships with babies, you are helping them build a foundation for understanding more of Jesus\u2019 love for them.<\/p>\n
\nOne year olds may not understand the word pray but they will understand the words \u201ctalk to.\u201d Help them understand that they can talk to God. Children are building an understanding of God by hearing you talk to God. As you use the Bible, briefly tell the Bible story. Use a small blanket to cover the Bible in the room. Draw children\u2019s attention to the blanket. When a child moves the blanket, say: \u201cBible. The Bible tells me about God. God hears me when I talk to him.\u201d You might place a marker in the Bible at Matthew 6:6, \u201cTalk to God.\u201d Open the Bible, point to the verse, and read the words \u201cTalk to God.\u201d Cover the Bible again and watch as a child uncovers the Bible. Repeat the words again. Perhaps another child will be interested as well. Have fun!<\/p>\n
\nEvery preschooler enjoys being praised and appreciated. As you talk to a child this week about prayer, tell her, \u201cI can say thank you to God for (insert child\u2019s name).\u201d Continue: \u201cGod likes to hear me talk to Him. You can talk to God, too. You can tell God thank you for your family.\u201d Use the time as you play alongside twos to mention simple prayer thoughts such as: \u201cThankYou, God, for friends (name a few children in the room). Thank You, God, for teachers who take care of me and love me.\u201d Children learn through example; by hearing you talk to God in simple sentences, they learn to talk to Him, too.<\/p>\n
\nCreate a game about talking and praying to God. Gather one beanbag and print six statements, each on individual sheets of paper (8\u00bd x 11 inches). The statements should be prayer opportunities, such as: I can thank God for my friends, I can thank God for my family, I can thank God for my church, I can thank God for my teachers, I can thank God for food to eat, and I can thank God for water to drink. Copy these samples on colorful construction paper. As you set up the game, turn the sheets over so children can\u2019t see the writing. When a child has a turn tossing the beanbag onto the sheet of his choice, turn it over and read the statement. Lead the child to pray the thank-you prayer. Say, \u201cTalking to God is also called praying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nEncourage each child to make a \u201cprayer bag.\u201d Supply strips of paper and a small lunch sack for each child. Provide stickers and colored markers for children to decorate their sacks. Print simple prayer statements for kindergartners to copy onto the strips of paper. Encourage them to choose a strip each day for prayer. Statements to include are below.
\n\u2022 Thank You, God, for family (encourage the children to print their family members\u2019 names).
\n\u2022 Thank You, God, for friends (help the children print their friends\u2019 names).
\n\u2022 Thank You, God, for my church.
\n\u2022 Thank You, God, for food to eat.
\n\u2022 Thank You, God, for my teachers.
\n\u2022 Thank You, God, for hearing my prayers.
\n\u2022 Thank You, God, loving me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bible Story: \u201cJesus Taught About Prayer\u201d (Matthew 4:23-25; 5:1-2; 6:5-1) Babies Babies will continue to learn more about prayer as they grow. As you interact with them, use simple \u201cthank you\u201d sentence prayers, spoken with reverence and in a soft voice. For example: \u201cThank You, God, for Ava. Thank You that Ava can touch the…","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n