Part II: Steps in Establishing a Mental Prayer Routine for Children
When teaching little ones to sit still and hear God, it is important to introduce them to the routines of a formal prayer life.
What you will need: The Gospel, or a selection from the readings from the day, is all you need to establish a prayer routine.
1. Introduce them to the readings. When praying with my students, I often open up the prayer session by first telling them in child-friendly words what they are about to hear. Sometimes this requires some background knowledge or a brief history lesson so that they can get a sense of the context of the reading for the day.
2. Start with formal prayer and readings. I will then begin the formal prayer with the Sign of the Cross, sing a short Psalm, and follow with the reading for the day.
3. End with a moment of reflection. Immediately following the reading is a moment of reflection. Usually I will ask them to reflect on one aspect of the reading or ask them to ponder what Jesus is teaching us in the Word. This reflection time should start off extremely short, 30 seconds to one minute maximum.
Every week I challenge the students to “beat their record” by trying to sit still for 30 more seconds than the previous week. Students love a good challenge and before you know it, we are meditating for 10-15 minutes stretches.
4. Extending the reflection time with guided meditation. It is here in the longer stretches of meditation that you must become the guide in each child’s journey to listening to God’s voice by breaking up the silence with guided meditation.
Introducing sacred music/Gregorian Chant. When we reach the 4-5 minute meditation mark, I introduce them to Sacred Music through Gregorian Chant. I explain that the chants are holy songs sung in Latin with the sole purpose to praise God and they are immediately drawn to it! During longer meditation sessions I turn on the Gregorian Chant and the children will disperse and lay or sit comfortably in their own space a good distance away from other distractions.
It is here that you must teach them to protect their time with God by not allowing any disruptions to occur, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. Immediate and firm redirection is needed so everyone understands the significance of this time.
Incorporating Lectio Divina. Once the children are accustomed to sitting still with the Gospel for at least 5 minutes, it is hear that I teach them Lectio Divina. After a reading from the day’s Gospel, I will pray aloud a short prayer to the Holy Spirit asking Him to dwell with us in this time. I then invite the children to welcome the Holy Spirit to their soul while they listen to Gregorian Chant.
After about 2 minutes, I will then remind the children of the main teaching in the Gospel. I rarely reread the Gospel, as they usually don’t understand the words completely. It is here that I rely on the Holy Spirit to give me the words to help connect Jesus’ teachings the children’s lives. At times, I will surprise myself at what pours forth from my mouth and the teacher then becomes like a little child, a student of Christ.
Click here for Part I: Introduction and Preparation
Click here for Part III: In Conclusion: Working With the Holy Spirit to Form His Precious Stones
More about Michelle Estep: Michelle Estep is a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, a wife and a mother to one precious little stone. She has been blessed with the vocation of teaching and has been doing so for the past eight years – all in Catholic education. She finds joy in all of God’s creation, but especially enjoys witnessing the miracle of new life in the garden.