Bedtime prayers for little ones

[MrsJamin]

DS is just over a year old and starting to understand what I'm saying, so have thought about starting to do a little prayer with him at bedtime that he'll start to recognise. Anyone care to share what they say with their little ones?

[rubyslippers]

i say "good night, G-d bless and see you in the morning"

[McDreamy]

DH made a prayer up for DD and it has kind of stuck and now DD and DS say it together. Could you make something up that fits your family?

[PandaG]

use teaspoon prayers here ie Thankyou, Sorry, Please

so a thanks for something that day

any 'sorry' prayers

a please - often help me sleep well/have a fun day tomorrow.

Works for a tiny and an older child too.

[DungareesAndOranges]

I say:

I see the moon
The moon sees me
God Bless the moon
and God Bless me

DS is nearly 3 and is starting to repeat it. Its a nice thing to do every night. Will move onto the Lords Prayer or Hail Mary when he can grasp it abit better.

[tassisssss]

Not a prayer as such, but at this age we sing, to the tune of "He's got the whole world in his hand", we manage to fit most of the family members... "He's got mummy and daddy...", "He's got you and your siblings (insert names!)..." "He's got granny and grandad..."
etc etc

[MrsJamin]

Thank you, Sorry, Please & got the whole world in his hands sound lovely. Makes a change from singing old macdonald had a farm at bedtime! Would love to hear your prayer, mcdreamy, sounds like a nice idea to do one just for your family.

[McDreamy]

It's along the lines of

Dear God
Thank you for a lovely day
Thank you for mummy and daddy, big sister E and little brother B, Nana and Grandad and Grandma and Grandad (and anyone else they want to add at this point usually)
Thank you for making the sun and the moon, the stars in the sky and the whole wide world
Help me to be good and to love you lots
And we'll have another lovely day tomorrow
Amen

It does get amended depending on the day they've had but they've said it so many times now it's their prayer and they decide any extras IYSWIM. I am sure DH started this when DD was quite young, it's really nice now as they share a room and the 4 of us snuggle up and end our day all saying the prayer

[MrsJamin]

What a lovely prayer, McDreamy, and what a fab family time for all of you - they will remember that forever I'm sure.

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

We say gentle Jesus.
I like it, I find it soothing because I said it everynight as a child.

[McDreamy]

Why thank you but I have to say it was all DH's work

[sheena1]

Father, We Thank Thee

Father, we thank thee for the night,
And for the pleasant morning light;
For rest and food and loving care,
And all that makes the day so fair.
Help us to do the things we should,
To be to others kind and good;
In all we do, in work or play,
To grow more loving every day

this is what i say to my dd and ds every night xx

[susiey]

we get our daughter to talk through her day and say thankyou and then we ask her who she would like to pray for,she prays for them and then I pray for her that she will sleep well and dream good dreams

[MrsSeanBean]

Some ideas here

I like 'Gentle Jesus...' as my Dad always said that with me as a child.

Also like this:
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
May angels watch me
through the night and
wake me with the morning light

[MrsJamin]

sheena1 I like that a lot too. Lots of good ideas here - thanks everyone. We sang 'he's got the whole world in his hands' last night and DS really enjoyed it.

[sleepychunky]

I do teaspoon with my DS (20months) as well, although there isn't much for the sorries as I think 20 months is a bit little to be saying sorry for things. We also ask God to bless all the family by name, which he likes, and it's always in the same order.
He has also insisted that I sing the song we have at baptisms at our church:-

Jesus, Jesus loves DS
Yes, he does
Yes, he does
Jesus, Jesus loves DS
Yes, he does
Yes, he does
Jesus, Jesus loves DS
Yes, he does
Yes, he does
And he wants DS to love him too

I love doing it with him and he's always really calm after that and goes to sleep really easily!