Four Ways to Teach Your Children to Pray – Mrs. Adina Soclof

Knowing how to pray is probably one of the most essential tools a Jew needs to live a meaningful life.

It is through prayer that we connect with G-d. It is an anchor in times of trouble. It gives solace, and it is a healthy outlet for our anger at the injustices of life. Prayer is there when we have despaired, when we are at the end of our rope. Prayer is there when we have pulled through, when we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the good things in our life. Prayer is a daily ritual that keeps us focused on all the important stuff—stuff most people don’t pay much attention to.

With each year, I become more and more grateful that I start my day with prayer. Prayer is a precious gift, one I want to pass on to my children. I want my children to have prayer to comfort them, to keep them grounded, and to keep them focused on the essentials of life.

How can we do this? Here are four ways to teach your children to pray:

1. Start Early

The simplest way to teach your child to pray is to pray with them from a very early age. Singing Modeh Ani in the morning and Shema at night is a great starting point.

2. Make It Personal

I always remind my children that G-d has a special place in His heart for a child’s prayers. He loves to hear from young children. Help your child compose prayers for their family, a grandparent who might not be feeling well, or a friend home sick with a cold. You can tell your children they can pray for anything they want—new shoes, or even the toy that all their friends already have. Make it a habit. It can be done in the morning, at night, or while lighting Shabbos candles together.

3. Tell Them There Are No Wasted Prayers

It’s important to talk with your child about the fact that sometimes G-d says no—but that doesn’t mean He wasn’t listening, or that He doesn’t care. G-d always wants what’s best for us, and when He does say no, it probably wasn’t what was best for us after all.

We can also teach them another beautiful concept in prayer: sometimes G-d keeps our prayers in storage for another time. Then, in the merit of all the prayers G-d has put away for us, we end up receiving something else that we need—something that might turn out to matter even more than the toy we originally asked for.

4. Be a Role Model

Children do what we do, not what we say. Let your children see you pray in a heartfelt way. Bring them to shul, or simply let them see you pray as you light Shabbos candles. Keep prayer books handy around the house. You can also share insights about prayer and stories about its power around your Shabbos table.

Passing It On

None of this has to be complicated. A quiet Modeh Ani in the morning, a whispered prayer for a sick friend, watching us light candles on Friday night—these small moments add up. Over time, our children build a relationship with prayer that’s truly their own, one they can lean on for the rest of their lives.