Teaching children to pray can be accomplished with consistent application of 5 simple techniques.

1. Get caught praying. You will instill in your children a sense that prayer is reverent. Your children will see your head bowed and arms folded and will naturally do better when they pray.

2. Lost toys. I encourage my children to kneel down and say a prayer when they cannot find their lost toy. You will notice these prayers become quite fervent. Afterwords make sure your child finds the lost toy and then point out that Heavenly Father heard their prayer.

3. Repetition and rituals. Repetition is a good teacher especially when you combine that with meals, waking up and bed time. These become habit forming.

4. Teach the power of personal prayer. Accepting Jesus Christ into our lives is a very powerful experience and it comes through personal prayer. Our children can tell God anything and this is an important step.

5. Stage Fright. Do you ever feel nervous praying in public? Sometimes, just praying in front of my family makes me nervous. I try to remember though, that this is helping my children when they hear me pray.

6. Short prayer? A short prayer is better than no prayer at all. I once read a quote that I liked, “Do not say you are going to pray, just pray.” For me this means instead of saying, “Oops, I forgot my morning prayers so I better say them at noon,” stop and pray right then even if the prayer is short.

In conclusion, teaching children to pray can be fun. Using meal time, bed time, and finding toys as opportunities to get our children to pray are habit forming for children.

We all enjoy being told our children are behaving well. Here are 5 things to remember when teaching your children manners.

1. Do not be disappointed if your child does not learn to chew with their mouth closed when they are 2. This takes tremendous coordination but when they are 5, a child is ready learn.

2. Example is the best teacher for children. 95% of what we do we learn through example. Our children learn to walk and talk by mimicking us, they will also learn our bad manners.

3. Speak respectfully to your child. Have you ever observed a parent trying to drill respect into a child by being demeaning to that child? Your children learn by watching you. Try using words and phrases like “please” and “thank you” “Excuse me” and “I am sorry.” Do this as early as possible in your child’s development. Also the tone you use is just as important.

4. Language is a sign of education and good manners. Swearing is a part of our culture but it does not have to be part of your child’s vernacular if you do not want it to be. Make sure you use proper language around your children.

5. Formality with adults. Impertinent children speak informally to adults. At least this was the case 100 years ago. Teach your children to say Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. unless the adult tells them otherwise. Also mind how you speak about other adults in the presence of your children.

In conclusion, always set the example first. Teach your children to be respectful with other adults and they will naturally be more respectful towards you.