Children can start praying as soon as they can talk. The simplest prayer is just one word: “Mercy.”
That’s not a cop-out answer. It’s actually how many Orthodox families introduce the Jesus Prayer to toddlers around age two. “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me” gets shortened to its heart. Just “Mercy.” Later, when they’re three or four, they can pray the whole thing. But that single word teaches something essential, we need God’s help, and we can ask for it anytime.
The foundational prayers Orthodox children learn are the same ones adults pray. We don’t have a separate “kids’ version” of the faith. The Trisagion comes first for most families: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.” Say it three times. Kids can learn this by two or three, especially if they hear it at every meal or bedtime. It’s short, it’s rhythmic, and it names who God is.
Then comes the Lord’s Prayer. Your child will hear this at every Liturgy, so learning it at home makes church feel familiar. Most kids have it memorized by kindergarten if you pray it together daily.
There’s also a traditional child’s prayer that’s been used for generations: “Our Father who art in heaven, bless my father and mother, my guardians, and those who are in authority over me, for their love and tender care.” It’s sweet without being syrupy. It teaches children to pray for others before themselves.
For bedtime, try “Grant, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin.” Short enough that a tired four-year-old can manage it. Or “From my bed and sleep Thou hast raised me: O Lord, enlighten my mind and open my lips to praise Thee.” That one works for mornings too.
Ancient Faith Publishing makes a book called “A Child’s Guide to Prayer” for ages five to ten. It’s got morning prayers, evening prayers, mealtime prayers, and prayers for family. Also prayers to saints and some psalms. If you’ve got a kid who likes structure (or if you need structure yourself), it’s worth having. Not every family uses a book like this. Some just pray the same handful of prayers every day and let repetition do its work.
The Jesus Prayer deserves special mention because it grows with your child. At two, it’s “Mercy.” At three, it’s the full prayer. By seven or eight, you can teach them to extend it: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on my mom and dad. Have mercy on my teacher. Have mercy on me.” It becomes a way to intercede for others, not just a rote formula.
Don’t worry about whether your child “understands” every word. They don’t understand every word of “The Star-Spangled Banner” either, but they learn it. Prayer isn’t primarily about intellectual comprehension. It’s about relationship. Your five-year-old might not grasp what “Holy Immortal” means, but she’s learning that we address God with reverence, that we come to Him regularly, that this matters enough to stop and do it even when we’re busy.
One practical note for Southeast Texas families: if you’re working a rotating shift at the plant, bedtime prayers might happen at odd hours. That’s fine. Pray when you’re together. If Dad’s on nights and Mom’s doing bedtime solo, pray for Dad by name. If the family can’t all pray together every day, each person can still pray the same prayers. You’re joining your voice to the Church, not just to each other.
Some families pray before icons at home, and kids can participate in this fully. They can light a candle (supervised, obviously). They can kiss the icon. They can learn to make the sign of the cross properly. If your child has a patron saint, get an icon of that saint for their room. Teach them to say good morning and good night to their saint. It sounds simple, but it builds the habit of acknowledging the communion of saints as real people who care about us.
Start small. Pick two or three prayers and do them every day. Consistency beats ambition. Better to pray the Trisagion and the Lord’s Prayer every single night than to attempt a full prayer rule once a week and give up because it’s too much. Your child’s prayer life will grow as they grow. What matters now is planting the habit, teaching them that we talk to God, and showing them that prayer isn’t something we do when we’re scared or desperate, it’s something we do because we’re loved.
