Bedtime prayers for kids
A good bedtime prayer for kids is short, says thank you, names what is on their mind, and hands the night to God. Here are nine, written for ages 2 to 10, each paired with one Bible verse so the prayer rests on something God said. The prayers are ours, not Scripture; the verses are from the World English Bible. Read them to a toddler, or let an older child read one aloud to you.
How to use these prayers
Read the verse first, then the prayer. A toddler can listen to both and say the amen. From about five, children can repeat a prayer a line at a time, and readers can take a turn reading it to you.
Pick one and use it for a week. Change the words freely: add a name, a pet, the thing that happened at school. A prayer your child helped to make is worth more to them than a perfect one.
A thank you prayer for toddlers (ages 2 to 4)
In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, LORD, alone, make me live in safety.
Thank you, God, for today. Thank you for my bed and my blanket, and for the people who love me. Now I lie down to sleep. You keep me safe all night. Amen.
When it is dark and I feel scared (ages 3 to 6)
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
Dear God, it is dark, and I feel a little scared. So I am trusting you. You are here in my room. You can see in the dark. Please help me feel brave, and then help me feel sleepy. Amen.
After a bad dream (ages 3 to 8)
The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?
Jesus, that dream was only a dream, and you are real. You are my light, even now, in the middle of the night. Please take the scary pictures away. Fill my mind with good things, and help me fall asleep again. Amen.
Coming to Jesus (ages 3 to 7)
But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”
Jesus, you said to let the children come to you, so here I am. I am not too small for you. Thank you for listening to me. Please be close to me tonight, and close to everyone in my family. Amen.
Sleeping somewhere new (ages 3 to 10)
1I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? 2My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.
God, this bed is new, and the room sounds different. But you are the same, and you are here too. You never fall asleep, so I can. Goodnight, God. Amen.
For a sad day (ages 4 to 10)
The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms.
God, today had a sad part in it. You already know about it, and I am telling you anyway. Please hold me up from underneath, like strong arms, and hold the people I love too. Thank you that tomorrow is a new day. Amen.
For a worried mind (ages 6 to 10)
casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
God, here are the things I keep thinking about: (name them, one at a time). I am giving them to you now, one by one. You care about me, and you are bigger than every one of them. While I sleep, you can hold them. Amen.
Looking back on the day (ages 7 to 10)
I laid myself down and slept. I awakened, for the LORD sustains me.
God, thank you for today. Here are three good things that happened: (say them). If I hurt anyone today, please help me make it right tomorrow, and thank you that you forgive me. Now I lie down and sleep, and you will be with me when I wake up. Amen.
A blessing for a parent to say (any age)
24‘The LORD bless you, and keep you. 25The LORD make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. 26The LORD lift up his face toward you, and give you peace.’
God bless you and keep you tonight, (your child’s name). May God smile on you and be kind to you. May God watch over you and give you his peace. Amen.
This one is for you to say over your child, close to the words of the blessing printed above it. Some parents put a hand on the child’s head or shoulder while they say it.
Printing these prayers
This page prints cleanly. Use your browser’s print command (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on a Mac, or Share and then Print on most phones) and the menus and buttons drop away, leaving the verses and the prayers. Many families tape one prayer by the bed and change it each month, or let a child color in the margin.
Nothing here asks for an email address, and there is nothing to sign up for. The prayers are free to print and use at home. For verses to go with them, and a short routine for reading together, see Bible verses for kids at bedtime.
Questions people ask
What is a short bedtime prayer for kids?
One the youngest can say: Thank you, God, for today. Please keep me safe tonight. Amen. It carries thanks and trust, the two things most bedtime prayers come back to.
How do I teach a toddler to pray at bedtime?
Pray out loud in front of them every night, in short sentences, and let them say the amen. Many children start adding their own thank yous around age three; welcome whatever they add.
Are these prayers from the Bible?
No. The prayers are written by BibleDo for this page. Each one is paired with a real verse from the World English Bible, printed above it, so you can see what the prayer leans on.
Can I print these bedtime prayers for my kids?
Yes. Use your browser’s print command; the page is set up to print the verses and prayers without the menus. They are free to print for your family.