Book Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children by Frank X. Jelenek can be a great resource for parents, grandparents and caregivers.
Centering prayer is a way of opening our whole being to God, beyond thoughts, words and emotions. It is a simple and practical way of preparing our hearts and minds to receive the gift of an intimate relationship with God.

1. Bubble Prayers

• Materials: Bubbles
• Activity: Have the kids blow bubbles and watch them float away. As the bubbles drift, encourage them to say a short prayer or think about something or someone they want to pray for. Explain that just like the bubbles rise, their prayers go up to God.
• Purpose: This activity helps children visualize their prayers being sent to God, making prayer feel more tangible.

2. Playdoh Prayers 

• Materials: Playdoh
• Activity: Let the children mold the Playdoh into shapes that represent what they want to pray for (e.g., a heart for love, a house for family). After they've created their shapes, have them say a prayer related to what they’ve made.
• Purpose: This hands-on activity allows kids to express their prayers in a creative way, making it easier for them to understand and articulate their thoughts and feelings.

3. Gratitude Chain

• Materials: Strips of colored paper, markers, tape
• Activity: Parents and children can write things they are thankful for on strips of paper, then tape the strips together to form a chain. As they add each strip, they can say a prayer of thanks.
• Purpose: This activity helps children focus on gratitude and recognize the many blessings in their lives, fostering a positive mindset in prayer.

4. M&M Prayers

Find a quiet spot, take a deep breath, and open your bag of M&Ms. As you put an M&M in your mouth, close your eyes and take time to feel and taste as the candy melts in your mouth. As the candy melts, turn your thoughts to God, and use the color code below to focus your prayers:

• Red candy: Think about the greatness of God. Think about the great things God has made.

Take a deep breath, hold it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper “God, You are great.”

• Orange candy: Thank God for the blessings you have received and the goodness in your life.

Take a deep breath, hold it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “God, You are good.”

• Yellow candy: Pray for those who are in need of basic human needs; food, shelter, water, peace.

Take a deep breath, hold it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “Thank you, God.”

• Brown candy: Pray for those close to you or far away in need of God’s guiding spirit, that they will feel God’s abundant love in their life.

Take a deep breath, holding it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “Help them, God.”

• Blue candy: Confess to God (agree with God) that you are sometimes weak and fail to follow God as you should. Ask God to help you stay strong.

Take a deep breath, holding it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “Forgive me, God.”

• Green candy: Sit in silence as you ask God to hear your prayers, those spoken and those that are unsaid in your heart.

Take a deep breath, holding it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “Praise you, God, for hearing my prayers.”