5 Benefits of Prayer for Children
Most people who pray on a regular basis feel that it improves their daily lives. Prayer often brings about a sense of peace in a world that is anything but peaceful. Teaching your child to pray can help them just as much, if not more. Daily prayer can help children in many ways. Here are a few.
Focus on What’s Ahead
When children pray, they’re often looking toward the future. This helps children think in terms of goals and desired outcomes, rather than looking back. By focusing on what’s to come, children get into a mindset of planning for and anticipating all possible scenarios. This leads to better critical thinking skills and a more positive outlook on life.
Empathize with Others
Prayer often focuses on others just as much as it does on the self. When children pray for other people, especially those who have wronged them, it helps them see that person’s perspective. It also allows them to forgive the person and themselves. These are important steps toward building empathy, a trait that everyone can benefit from.
Enjoy Peaceful Moments
People of faith often pray in the morning when they wake up or at night right before bed. For children, this adds a much-needed moment of peace as the day begins or ends. In a world that’s often chaotic between school, sports games, music lessons, and other obligations, calm moments of prayer can help children re-center and rest their minds.
Develop Gratitude
We live in a society where the words “thank you” are often left unsaid. By learning about prayer early on in life, children are conditioned to say “thank you” without getting anything in return. Even if it starts as learned behavior, the spirit of gratitude eventually becomes ingrained. Expressing gratitude can help children throughout their lives, and feeling gratitude can bring people of all ages peace of mind.
Bond with Family
Families benefit from spending quality time together, and for some families, this means praying together. Praying together as a family has many benefits for children. First, they learn how to pray. Children don’t inherently know what to ask for or who to pray for when they sit down to pray. Family prayer time gives you the perfect opportunity to teach your child classic prayers and to learn new ones. Spending this time together will make everyone in the family closer.
At our school, we encourage children to pray whenever they’re compelled to do so. With over 57 years of academic excellence, St. Teresa Catholic School, a Titusville Catholic school, provides a quality education that challenges and empowers students to develop their full potential. Teachers foster qualities that are essential for lifelong learning and equip students for future success. To learn more about why St. Teresa is the perfect fit for you and your student, contact us today.