One of my favorite aspects of parenting is shepherding my children along when they first show an interest in spiritual things. Recently, 2 year old Boo has been retelling her Sunday school lessons and showing a big interest in praying.
Sometimes when we pray, she repeats phrases after me. Sometimes I pray, and she agrees with me by saying “yes” after each pause in my prayer. Always she says, “Amen.”
Though I’m not a huge fan of pre-written, memorized prayers, I think they are useful in the preschool and toddler age groups, when kids don’t really know what to say during prayer. For that reason, I agreed to review Roma Downey’s Little Angels Prayers for Every Day .
About Little Angels Prayers for Every Day
Little Angels Prayers for Every Day is a board book that contains 50 rhyming prayers for young children. The prayers are divided into sections like Prayers for Breakfast, Prayers for Others, Prayers for Guidance, and Prayers for Bedtimes, based on times, events, and feelings in a typical child’s day. Relevant Bible verses are scattered throughout the book.
My Feelings About Little Angels Prayers for Every Day
Before I get to my thoughts about this book, I’ll let you know what Boo thought. We picked it up from my UPS Box on Wednesday, and she wouldn’t let me see the book to review it until Friday night. She carried it around with her, remarked about the cute pictures of “babies” (little kids), and even slept with it! So the two year old gives Little Angels Prayers for Every Day her stamp of approval.
When I finally had a chance to look at the book, I liked what I saw.
First, the prayers are short, four to five lines long, and they rhyme, making them appealing to toddlers with short attention spans.
The way the prayers are divided into sections really shows young children that praying is something that can take place at any time and for any occasion. We can pray when we need help, when we’re thankful, when we’re sad, and when we want to praise God.
I also loved the way that Roma Downey begins the prayers in different ways. She alternates between using “Dear Jesus,” “Dear God,” and “Dear Lord.” One of the things I don’t like about memorized prayers is that sometimes kids start to think there’s a specific formula that is necessary to pray. By switching things up a little, Roma Downey shows kids that it’s not about the words we say, but about the conversation with God.
The scripture references are a nice touch, too. Introducing each scripture reference are the words, “The Bible says.” I love that Downey points kids back to the authority of scripture.
As you can probably guess already, I love Little Angels Prayers for Every Day! I will be using it frequently to teach Boo about prayer and having a relationship with God.
To find out more about Roma Downey’s Little Angels series, watch what Roma Downey has to say on YouTube.
The Giveaway
One reader will receive a copy of Little Angels Prayers for Every Day . To enter the giveaway, just follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below.
Giveaway is open to residents of the United States. I will email the winner at the end of the giveaway, and the winner will have three days to respond with a mailing address, or I will choose another winner.
- $8.99
Absolutely! “Now I lay me down to sleep…” “Jesus, tender shepherd, hear me…” singing “Jesus Loves Me,” etc.
I still say “Now I lay me down….” with my own children and other prayers like “Our Father”!