Children’s Prayer Book- The Red Headed Hostess

I have some students, whom I love and adore, who are unable to speak for themselves, either because they are unable to speak at all, or have difficulty formulating a sentence.  But I know they can pray, and I know they want to pray.  So after years of experimenting, this is what I finally have arrived at.  A prayer book.  For years, I would see others in the class, who could pray, stand by the student and say a prayer for them – and the student with special needs would just wait until they were done and then say “amen”, and that was our attempt of helping them pray in front of the class.  But this is no longer happening, instead, the student goes up to the front with this book and then points at the things they would like to pray for.  For those who cannot speak at all, a friend will be their voice for them.  For those who can speak but have difficulty, they point to it, and a friend will help them say what they are trying to say.

It has been a beautiful thing.  And if any of you have children that you are teaching to pray – this may give you some new tools.

All you need to do is print off the pdf document and staple the pages together like a booklet.

Also, check out our website here to learn more.

20 comments

  1. I’ve been snooping through your site marveling at your creativity and wonderful ideas. Then I came to this. I was hit with a swollen heart and my eyes started tearing. I do not know you at all but I can say that I think from this one small post you are a genuinely compassionate woman and you have touched the hearts of the children you teach in a forever kind of way. You have touched my heart as well and I thank you.

  2. All I can say right now it thank you. I’m sitting here crying my eyes out at the time and effort and pure inspiration you have given us all. My son is autistic and when he says a prayer all he ever says on his own is “thank you for this day”, and “bless the food”, regardless of it being a meal-time prayer or a prayer at church. I can’t tell you what this means to me. I’m printing it off right now, as I type this, and am going to implement this with my son today. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  3. I saw these hanging on the wall at a friend’s house while babysitting. She shared your link with me and I’m printing it off today to help my children develop their prayers further (5 and 2 yrs old). Thank you so much; this is perfect!

  4. I printed this out for a friend of mine a few months ago, I had no idea if she would use it with her son who is non-verbal. But I thought it couldn’t hurt to print it out and give it to her.
    For a long time we thought that he was trying to say something to us, but we just had no way to understand.
    My friend sent me a message on sunday night asking me to thank you, her son was able to give his testimony in church yesterday.
    Thank you!

  5. OH my gosh, What a WONDERFUL idea. I am in my primary presidency in a small branch that is combined english and spanish. Most of our children have been baptized in the last year and this is such a good idea. i am printing it out and taking it to church next sunday.

  6. Thank you so much for sharing this idea. I have a two year and he is points at the pictures to tell me what he wants to pray. It is wonderful when we give them a voice to with this pray book. Thanks again.

  7. Thank you once again for you ideas. I wish I could return to you all that you have given to me. I am a grandmother and I try to make little gifts which have a spiritual meaning. I have made this into a little cute book to give each child for our cousins sleepover and talk about prayer. You are truly a wonderful person. God bless you all that you do and share.

  8. I’m sharing this with my children. Hopefully, they can use it with their own families, or their Primary callings.
    This will be so helpful for little ones – to visually see what they can pray about and for!
    Your talents are incredible. Your willingness to share surpasses even that talent!
    Thank you.

  9. I just have to say thank you so much for this! As mother of an Autistic child I have a difficult time finding ways to teach my child about the gospel as well as understanding what he is trying to communicate to me! I am so excited to use this to help him with saying his prayers! So Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! I hope you will continue to make more stuff like this!

  10. I would like to get the prayer book pdf but nothing happens when I click on the link. I have on of the special children that this will help. Thanks for your great ideas and help!

  11. This is just beautiful! Not only for my children, but also for me. Your website is truly a blessing and an inspiration. Thank you so much!

  12. I love this! My 7 year old is minimally verbal and will imitate us when we pray. His words are not understandable to us, so this tool will enable us to help him pray independently and be able to know what he is saying in his prayers. 🙂 Thank you for your creativity!

  13. I actually found and printed this book a little over three years ago. I love the simple approach to helping my beautiful nonverbal daughter to pray. Now three years later she can and does pray using this book. She sees us pull it out and she starts saying the parts that are repetitive, dear Heavenly Father….thank thee for…in the name of Jesus Christ amen. It is so wonderful!!! We’ve shared this her other special needs friends and her other friends (get it at the redheadedhostess). What’s wonderful is that we can take it with us or copy it for her primary teacher and now she can be part of the rotation of saying the prayer in primary!!
    THANK YOU, you have blessed our family immeasurably! It is so important to teach all my children to pray and have a relationship with Heavenly Father. Thank you for blessing this mother with a tool, to learn to pray, I didn’t have myself

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