Be vulnerable: Set the example as parents and make our prayers real. Even if you do not know what to say or you think you sound foolish, still do it. It is okay to look silly for your kid’s sake and for God’s.
Ask Forgiveness: A good way to be vulnerable is to ask God’s forgiveness for mistakes you have made. Your kids are at the age that they know you are not perfect. Teach them to seek God’s Mercy and grow.
Be honest: Tell them the truth with no sarcasm or cynicism when you ask them to pray with you. ex. “I am not sure how to do this but I know it is good.” “This is hard for me but we are supposed to do this for Confirmation so let’s do it.” “I know you do not want to do this but this is really important to me because I love you.”
Be accepting and open of whatever your kids have to say. Be very patient in prayer with your kids and resist disciplining too strongly or too quickly. They are learning how to pray and how to have a relationship with God.
If they do not want to pray with you, ask if you can pray for them and ask what they want prayers for and then pray for them right then and there.
While praying for your kids, resist the urge to lecture them at the same time.
Respect them.
Think of the best time to pray with your family and set a goal to pray at that time.
Families are super busy so do what you can but also make sure it happens. You are the spiritual leaders of your family.
Find or create something that works for your family. It does not have to be complicated and there are a multitude of different ways that you can pray together.
Prayer Ideas and Formats
Be creative and find what works best for your family. Feel free to mix thing up and pray however you choose. Here are a few formats that you could use. You really can't go wrong. Just talk to God.
Intercessions and a memorized prayer.
Go around and ask what everyone wants to pray for. You may be very surprised by what your kids say. It may be anything from praying for the dog, to grandma who is sick or for the wars in other parts of the world. This is a great way to pray and get to know each other better.
After Intercessions you can pray anything from a Hail Mary to a whole Rosary or any memorized prayer. It is nice to teach the kids about Mary and how she will take our intercessions to Jesus.
Thanksgivings and a memorized prayer.
You do not have to only do this on Thanksgiving. It is very good to teach your children to give thanks to God every day, especially if it was a rough day/week or things went wrong. Go around and name something that you would like to thank God for and then finish with a memorized prayer.
Forgiveness and a Memorized Prayer.
This one might be harder but we do things we need forgiveness from God for everyday. Honestly voicing those things out loud to God and your family is a very powerful thing that will change your whole family dynamic. This is not a Confession you really only say one or two things that you need forgiveness for. You do this for humility, forgiveness and so the people that closest to you can also hold you accountable.
Where did you see God today?
God is always present in our lives. It is wonderful to look back over the day or week and look for where He made Himself known. It is good practice for all of us. Go around the family and say where you saw God. Maybe Church, in a friend, in nature, or a funny situation… God is in a lot of things. God is always trying to communicate with His children.
Praying over your kids or blessing them.
Ask your kids what they would like prayers for and then put your hand on them or give them a hug and pray for them. Ex. “Lord, please bless my son and help with his situation at school.” "Jesus, please help my daughter to know that she is good and that she is loved by both You and me.” There are a lot of things you can say but it is good to ask permission first and do not be afraid to pray out loud. You are talking to God but it is okay to let your teen hear. This can be incredibly powerful and you can do this at any time. It can be helpful, especially if your child is struggling or feeling bad.
It might seem strange but this type of prayer is powerful. The physical touch and honest prayer to God about your child is amazing. Do not be afraid!
Nightly or Weekly Check In
There are a lot of ways to do this here are 2 formats.
Start with 2 Memorized prayers and then go around the family and have everyone answer the following questions.
What is one or two words that describe how you are feeling?
What is one thing you were thankful for this day/week?
What is one thing you need forgiveness for this day/week?
Where did you see God this week/day?
What is one thing you can do tomorrow to help you become a Saint?
Go around the family and answer the following questions.
What was the best part of your day? (High/Rose/Popsicle)
What was the worst part of your day? (Low/Thorn/Poopsicle)
Where did you see Jesus today?
What do you need prayer for?
Conclude by praying for what everyone needed prayers for and wrap it up with a memorized prayer.