Purpose of Prayer
When children are really young, they need to understand that the purpose of prayer is to talk to Heavenly Father. Children should be taught that our Heavenly Father wants to know about them, he wants to know what they did that day, what made them happy or sad.

Teaching Prayer

"Our children need to learn how to pray so they can communicate with Heavenly Father. A mother I know has taught her children to pray from the moment they began to utter their first words. Not only did she teach each child to express sincere gratitude for his blessings but also to seek Heavenly Father's guidance by specifically asking Him to 'help me choose the right.' ( Ruth B. Wright, "Teaching Children to Walk Uprightly before the Lord," Ensign, May 1994, 84)"

Proper Prayer Posture
Every family prays differently, some families kneel, some sit, and some even hold hands as they pray. Regardless of how your family prays every child should learn to fold his arms, bow his head and close his eyes.

"I think prayer should be taught in stages. First a child learns to fold his arms. Then you show him how to bow his head. Closing the eyes -- and keeping them closed -- usually takes a bit longer. The same goes with the verbal portion of prayer. First child may learn the basics of a prayer by mimicking an adult, but they will eventually, if prompted, be able to say unique, heart-felt prayers. Lori Garcia (Shoal Creek Valley Branch, Liberty Missouri Stake, USA)"

Be patient with your child and realize that she may not grasp the posture of prayer right away. Many children have a very difficult time closing their eyes for an entire prayer. After instructing your child to close her eyes, the best way to reinforce this is to close your own eyes during prayer. If your daughter opens her eyes during the prayer and looks about to see that everyone else has their eyes closed, arms folded and heads bowed it will be a very powerful visual reminder to her of what she needs to be doing.

Thanking Heavenly Father
The best way to teach is by example. Pray often as a family, let each member of the family take their turn praying. Your little children will watch and want to pray too. Be sure to teach your child the order of prayer- to thank Heavenly Father first and then to ask for His blessings.

Before your child begins his prayer, ask him about his day. Use those things that he tells you as teaching tools. If your son went to the zoo and talked about how much fun he had; you can lead him to understand that it was Heavenly Father who created all of those animals that he saw. It was Heavenly Father that made the beautiful day so that he could go to the zoo. If your child can understand what he is thankful for then he can verbally thank his Heavenly Father in prayer.

When children are just beginning to pray they will need you to verbally prompt them. If you discuss with your child what she might want to pray about before you begin it will be a more meaningful. The prayer will be more relevant to her than if you just prompted her to say things that she did not think about.

Asking for Blessings

"When our oldest son was about three, he would kneel with his mother and me in our evening prayer. I was serving as the bishop of the ward at the time, and a lovely lady in the ward, Margaret Lister, lay perilously ill with cancer. Each night we would pray for Sister Lister. One evening our tiny son offered the prayer and confused the words of the prayer with a story from a nursery book. He began: 'Heavenly Father, please bless Sister Lister, Henny Penny, Chicken Little, Turkey Lurkey, and all the little folks.' We held back the smiles that evening. Later we were humbled as Margaret Lister sustained a complete recovery. We do not belittle the prayer of a child. After all, our children have more recently been with our Heavenly Father than have we."
(President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, October 1999, page 2.)

Talk with your child about people he knows, himself included, that stand in need of a blessing. Maybe his best friend was absent from school because he is ill, your child can then be taught that this is an appropriate time to ask Heavenly Father to help his friend to feel better.

It is important that children understand that blessings are not asking for wishes to come true. Asking for blessings are things that we really want or need, but Heavenly Father will only give us what He knows we, or others, need.

"Sincere prayer is the heart of a happy life. Prayer strengthens faith. Prayer prepares us for the miracles of life. Prayer opens the door to eternal happiness. The Father of us all loves to hear from His children just as any other loving father does. (H. Burke Peterson, Friend, June 1974)"

Our examples and attitudes toward prayer will be the biggest influencers to our children. Don't forget to pray for guidance in teaching your own children to pray.

Family Home Evening Ideas that Illustrate Prayer
(these are geared towards nursery and sunbeam aged children)

• Virginia Pearce, "Sharing Time: Alma and Amulek Teach the Zoramites to Pray," Friend, Feb. 1992, 12
  
• Tell the story of Daniel in the lions den. (The Nursery Manual Second Edition page 102, has a great rendition geared towards young kids). Follow the story up with making lion masks out of paper plates, crayons and yarn.
  
• Make a flannel board story of Enos praying all day and all night. (See Enos chapter 4)
  
• Read the following story by Elder David B. Haight "Friend to Friend: Our Cow," Friend, Mar. 1973. Finish by coloring pictures of cows
  
• Pat Graham, "Sharing Time: What Shall I Say When I Pray?" Friend, June 1985, 45