A Quick Review of What We Have Learned
Over the past few months, we have been reflecting on four guiding principles for raising toddlers in a homeschooling home. The first principle was to keep them safe. Mothers were reminded that safety is a foundation of love. Toddlers explore without caution, and protecting them from harm is both a spiritual and physical duty.
The second principle was to teach school readiness skills. Here we spoke about building habits of order, attention, and curiosity. We encouraged mothers to prepare toddlers for future studies not through formal lessons, but by shaping their daily routines, conversations, and play.
The third principle was to teach them to be useful. Toddlers, when left idle, often fall into mischief. But when given small tasks—carrying a napkin, putting toys in a basket, or wiping a table—they discover joy and dignity in being helpful. These little jobs not only occupy their restless energy but also prepare them for a life of meaningful work.
This week we come to the last principle: teach them to pray. It is the crown of all the others, because prayer directs the child’s heart to God, who is their true safety, their true wisdom, and their true purpose.
Why Prayer Must Begin Early
Our Lord Himself gave clear testimony that even the youngest children should be brought to Him. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read: “Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’” (Matthew 19:13–14).
This passage makes it plain: toddlers are not too small for prayer. In fact, their simplicity and openness make them especially suited to it. They come before God without pride, and their little prayers rise like pure offerings.
St. Augustine observed that habits formed in childhood shape the soul for life. If we teach toddlers to turn instinctively to God in prayer, they will have a foundation that carries them through every stage of their lives.
Start with the Simplest Prayer
The very first prayer to teach a toddler is the Sign of the Cross. It is short, it uses the body, and it summarizes the mystery of our faith in the Trinity and the Cross. A mother can guide her toddler’s hand, slowly and lovingly, while saying the words with reverence. Even if the child’s motions are clumsy at first, they will quickly learn.
This small act makes a profound impression. Every time the toddler makes the Sign of the Cross, he or she is reminded of belonging to Christ. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches in the Summa Theologica that outward signs help dispose us toward inward devotion. The physical act of tracing the Cross helps open the toddler’s heart to the presence of God.
Morning and Evening Prayer
Just as the day begins and ends with the rising and setting of the sun, a toddler’s day should begin and end with prayer. Upon waking, even a very small child can be taught to say, “Thank You, God, for this new day.” At bedtime, they can be taught to say, “Thank You, Jesus, for taking care of me today.”
These are not long prayers, but they form a rhythm. Morning prayer teaches gratitude at the start of the day. Evening prayer teaches trust and rest in God’s care. As toddlers grow, these prayers can expand into traditional morning and night prayers of the Church. But the simple beginning is enough to shape their hearts.
Praying Throughout the Day
Besides morning and evening, toddlers should also learn the practice of short prayers during the day. At mealtimes, they can fold their hands and say grace before and after eating. During play or chores, mothers can introduce small invocations—short prayers that call upon God with only a few words.
Some of the simplest are:
“Jesus, Mary, Joseph.”
“Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.”
“Come, Holy Spirit.”
These short prayers can be whispered together when a toy breaks, when someone is upset, or when starting a task. Toddlers quickly memorize them, and they learn that God is close at every moment.
Introducing the Hail Mary and the Our Father
When toddlers begin to speak more clearly, they are ready to learn the Hail Mary and the Our Father. Mothers can begin by saying the prayers aloud each day and letting the toddler join in on familiar words. The child may start with just “Mary” or “Father,” but in time they will join in fully.
The Catechism calls the Our Father “the summary of the whole Gospel” (CCC 2761). Teaching it early means planting the very heart of Christian prayer in the child. The Hail Mary likewise connects the toddler to the gentle care of the Blessed Mother. It teaches them to run to her with every need.
Toddlers and the Rosary
A full rosary is too long for most toddlers. But they can easily join in small ways. They can hold the beads, kiss the crucifix, or say one “Hail Mary” with the family. St. Thérèse of Lisieux recalled that as a very small child she learned to join her family in prayer, even if she did not yet understand all the words. The habit itself became a channel of grace.
Therefore, mothers should not hesitate to let toddlers participate, even if imperfectly. Bit by bit, they will grow into fuller participation.
The Example of Mothers
Children learn to pray above all by seeing their mothers pray. If a mother kneels, folds her hands, and prays with devotion, her toddler will imitate her. If a mother prays aloud at natural moments of the day—before starting a chore, before a car ride, before opening the schoolbooks—her toddler will learn that prayer belongs everywhere.
St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, is remembered for her constant prayers for her son. Her example teaches us that a mother’s prayer not only sanctifies herself but also draws her children to God. Toddlers absorb far more from their mother’s example than from words alone.
Keeping It Joyful and Simple
It is important that toddler prayer not become a burden. It should be woven gently into the day, like sunlight through a window. Short, cheerful prayers, spoken with warmth, help toddlers love the practice. Correcting them harshly for forgetting words or gestures can discourage them. Instead, a smile and a gentle prompt will guide them along.
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them” (Luke 18:16). Bringing toddlers to prayer should feel like opening the door and letting them run joyfully to Him.
The Fruit of Toddler Prayer
Teaching toddlers to pray bears fruit beyond what we see. It gives them security, because they know God is near. It gives them peace, because they learn to bring worries to Him. It gives them hope, because they are reminded of heaven. Most importantly, it lays a foundation of faith that will support every future lesson in the homeschool.
Just as teaching a toddler to be safe protects their body, and teaching them to be useful trains their hands, teaching them to pray opens their soul to God. This is the most important gift we can give them.
Mrs. Dania Michael, O.P.
Homeschool Support
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
Notes
Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997. https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
New American Bible, Revised Edition. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011. https://bible.usccb.org
Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. New York: Benziger Brothers, 1947.
Augustine. Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.
