June 20, 2025
Prayer is the strength of faith. It’s not always about perfect words. Often, it’s those simple, heartfelt whispers from a child’s heart, shared directly with their Creator. As parents, you have the sacred opportunity to pass this beautiful practice from your hearts to theirs, showing them by example how to open up, share their joys and fears, and feel that loving connection.
As they begin to pray, they also develop a deep connection with Jesus. This bond will be with them even when they grow up and leave their homes.
You’ll always lift your kids up to the Lord in prayer, but what greater gift could there be than to teach them how to go directly to their Heavenly Father? To show them the direct access they have to their Great Sustainer? And isn’t that what you long for your children to do? To know God in a real, personal way— to develop a faith that isn’t just their parents’ faith but their own.
However, how can you support your kids in getting there? What builds their confidence to call out to a God they cannot see?
Let’s begin by exploring the ways you can help your children start a strong foundation with prayer.
Why Start Young?
Children’s innocence and purity make them more receptive to feeling God’s presence. Children frequently express wonder, ask questions, and accept facts with an open mind.
Jesus noticed this when He said,
“Let the little children come to me” (Matthew 19:14).
Raising children in the teachings of Jesus provides them with means to communicate with God, to thank him or find comfort in difficult moments. Today, most Catholic families feel it is more crucial to build strong faith at an early age. Luckily, you have modern tools to help with this journey. The Santo Catholic App and the Santo Kids App are great resources for families in Canada and beyond. These apps make it easy to pray in your daily life in a way that feels natural and fun.
Prayer with Toddlers: Keep It Simple and Joyful
Prayer should be simple, short, and joyful for young children. A good place to start is with a “Thank you, Jesus” in the morning or a “Goodnight, God” at night. It seems a small thing, but a child’s understanding of this concept will show them the importance of prayer.
Apps like the Santo Kids App are outstanding because they communicate with kids in a way they understand. The app uses gentle voiceovers, bright colors, and short daily prayers. Through this, your little one can see God as a source of warmth, safety, and love.
A short song like “Jesus Loves Me” or making the sign of the cross before meals can help set a routine your child will remember.
School-Age Children: Building Habits and Meaning
As kids get older, they start asking more intricate questions. They might wonder, “Why do we pray?” or “Where is God?”. Children must understand that they can communicate with God at any time and from anywhere, just like they would with a parent or close friend. God is always willing to hear. This simple prayer helps them to reflect their love and gratitude.
O Lord Jesus.
We pray for a heart that loves you.
Accept our plea and give us the strength to love others more than we love ourselves.
We thank you for this day.
We thank you for another opportunity.
Amen. (Source)
This prayer instructs children to be grateful and seek God’s assistance in loving others. By praying for a friend or classmate or by expressing thanks to God for something positive every day, you may help prayer become more significant for them. Even a simple prayer like “Jesus, help me today” can be used as stepping stones towards daily prayers.
The Daily Catholic Prayers App is a great tool for this journey. It has audio, line by line explanations and reflections from the saints to help your child understand the prayer.
Bedtime can be a great time to reflect and pray together. The app also has gentle evening prayers for families so you can end the day in faith and gratitude.
Creating a Sacred Prayer Space
Kids benefit from having routines. Just as they have a special place to read stories, giving them a specific area to pray can help make prayer feel real and welcoming.
Set up a small table or corner in your home for prayer. Include a crucifix, a children’s Bible, a candle (one that is safe and runs on batteries), and perhaps a picture of a beloved saint. Allow your child to help decorate it. This way, it feels like their own prayer spot.
Consider placing a tablet or phone with the Santo Kids App close by. This digital companion can help your child take part in morning prayers, read the Gospel each day, or pray the Rosary. It brings the best of faith and today’s world together.
Using the Santo Catholic App as a Family
The Santo Kids App is an ideal tool to introduce prayer for young children. Meanwhile, the Santo Catholic App provides resources for the whole family. As a parent, the way you pray is the most powerful lesson for your child.
Use the app to read the daily Mass readings. Moreover, you can also pray the Rosary together before dinner. When your child observes that prayer is important to you, they learn that it should be important for them too. Kids often do what they see. So, let them watch you pray.
Faith in a Digital World: A Catholic Approach
The world around you is full of technology. It’s common for Catholic families to integrate technology into everyday routines. You cannot keep it all away, and frankly, you shouldn’t. Instead, you can use it to help them—Why not extend that to spiritual life?
That’s where Catholic Apps come in—offering faith-based experiences that fit naturally into the digital habits children already enjoy. The important thing about Catholic Apps like Santo Kids and the Santo Catholic App is that they are based on Church tradition. They give kids content that matches their age and help them learn about faith in an easy way. Using these apps is enjoyable and feels like just another part of the day, such as watching a favorite cartoon or playing a game.
And for families, if you are heading to hockey practice or driving across Toronto—these apps let you pray no matter where you are.
Final Thoughts: Building a Lifelong Connection to God
Faith doesn’t grow in grand gestures—it grows in the little things. A whispered prayer before school. A bedtime “thank you, Jesus.” A candle lit in the dark. These small acts become the story your child tells with their life.
Children learn they are not alone through prayer. In good times as well as bad situations, they are able to interact with God. They may experience joy, sorrow, fear, or excitement during this time. Even if you might not always say the correct thing as parents, you can still provide children with the right tools. With the help of new tools, like Santo Kids App, it is easier to enjoy your family’s faith. These are not just apps. They are designed to accompany you, your family, and your faith each day.
Light a candle. Say a prayer. Open an app. Then begin.
When you teach children how to pray, you are doing more than making habits. You help them have hearts that are strong in God.
