Praying with Kids:
Whole Body Practices for Families and Church Communities
Forthcoming Book (November 17, 2026)
with a foreword by Curt Thompson, MD
About Praying with Kids
Whole Body Prayer Experiences for Young Hearts
Transform everyday moments into sacred encounters with this practical guide designed to help parents, caregivers, and ministry practitioners cultivate meaningful prayer experiences with children.
Drawing on spiritual formation principles and current research on child development, Praying with Kids offers a treasure trove of accessible, research-backed approaches that honor both Scripture and child development, creating pathways for young hearts to connect with God through prayer.
With dozens of creative ideas and formative practices, Kate Lawson-Hedger equips parents, children's ministry workers, and other caregivers to pray together with kids in ways that involve not just their words but also their bodies, senses, emotions, learning styles, imaginations, and so much more. She shows how, from a very young age, kids can experience prayer as a fun, creative, and life-giving adventure of relationship with God.
What you'll find in Praying with Kids:
40+ detailed prayer practices: Step-by-step instructions for diverse practices, ideas, and variations that engage the natural learning styles of children ages two through twelve.
Both contemporary and time-tested wisdom: Drawn from the rich tradition of Christian prayer and current developmental research, ideas include both ancient and new ways to pray.
Inclusive accessibility: Insights for praying with children who have disabilities, special needs, or are neurodivergent.
Age-appropriate application: Each chapter also includes ideas and principles for inviting teenagers deeper into prayer.
This resource transforms the often-intimidating task of teaching children to pray into an adventure of discovery, connection, and joy. Whether you're seeking to establish family prayer traditions or bring prayer into your children's ministry programming, this book provides the tools you need to guide children into rich prayer experiences that will shape their spiritual foundation for years to come.
Endorsements
"Kate Lawson-Hedger has written the clearest, most practical guide to prayer I've ever read—not just for children, but for adults as well. Praying with Kids sets parents free from the burden of 'doing it right' to make a way for adults and children alike to experience God in meaningful, transformative ways. In Lawson-Hedger's book, no one is left out of the opportunity to connect with and know God's love."
— Sarah M. Wells, author of The Family Bible Devotional series and To Say One Million Times, Wow!"This extraordinary and beautiful book is not simply a valuable tool that every parent needs as they seek to help their children pray; it's also a book that brings a blessing to every reader. Prayer is explored—the different types and different ways. The result is a compelling and delightful journey through the gift and privilege of sitting in the presence of the Creator of everything that is."
— Ian S. Markham, dean and president of Virginia Theological Seminary and president of The General Theological Seminary"Praying with Kids is a must-read for parents and those who support them on the journey of raising children to know and love God. Through informed wisdom, vivid imagery, keen wit, and creative imagination, Kate Lawson-Hedger invites you and your family to experiment with all sorts of prayer practices. These aren't practices to do to or for your children, but with them. In the process, you will find your own faith growing right alongside theirs."
— David M. Csinos, author and associate professor of practical theology at Atlantic School of Theology"Kate Lawson-Hedger's child-centered approach to prayer is both wise and carefully considered. Praying with Kids is exactly the kind of resource I'm eager to recommend to caregivers who want to pray with their children in ways that honor the whole child: mind, spirit, and body."
— Flo Paris Oakes, priest, children's pastor, and coauthor of Little Prayers for Ordinary Days"Praying with Kids is a creative and compassionate Christ-centered guide that takes the prayer lives of kids and teens seriously. It's deeply researched, thoughtful, and practical, with tangible, hands-on practices for connecting with the One who knows us and loves us. As a spiritual director and mom to four kids—each with their own personalities, needs, and abilities—I'm grateful for the wide net Kate casts over the many ways different ages and stages can pray. This book enlivened my own heart, mind, body, and soul to pray in the midst of my real life, too.”
— Kayla Craig, author of Every Season Sacred and To Light Their Way"Too many parents farm out the spiritual formation of their kids to their churches; this book will help parents step in with confidence and creativity. I really loved the practical second half of this book and—since my family utilized creative prayer with our kids when they were younger—wish I'd had this fantastic resource years ago!"
— Mark Oestreicher, founding partner in The Youth Cartel and author of Youth Ministry 3.0 and A Parent's Guide to Understanding Teenage Brains