The things I pray about

Here's an easy to memorize poem that will help young children learn and remember what the Lord's prayer teaches us to pray:

God and me (Address)
and thank-yous many (Thank you prayers)
I pray for the church (Church prayers)
and leaders plenty; (Prayers for leaders)
Things special to me (Special to me prayers)
and help me grow, (Growing prayers)
Then I pray for others (Prayers for others)
and his way to go (God's way prayers)
He hears my prayers (Closing)
and answers them.
And in Jesus' name
I say Amen.

This poem will be more helpful for some children than others. Some kids will benefit from it as merely a reminder of things to pray about, while others will want to use it as a template to guide them sustematically through their prayers.

A final comment. For some children casual prayer may be the more difficult of the two types of conversation with God. For other children chatty conversation with God will come very easily. It all depends on their personality type. It's crucial that we not try to force our children into a certail prayer mold. Although it's important to have our children grow in both casual and practical prayer, it should be expected that some children will put a far greater emphasis on one than the other.