Faith in the Family: Simple At-Home Practices for Growing Your Child’s Faith

Hey, friend! Today I want to talk with you about some simple ways to build faith practices at home with your family. But first, I need to say something important—this is not a “how-to” with a bunch of steps you must follow perfectly. I get it; life is busy and messy, and getting to church regularly can feel challenging. Maybe you haven’t gone in a while, or you’re feeling overwhelmed with trying to juggle everything. Trust me, I’ve been there too. This post isn’t to make you feel guilty or to add more to your plate. It’s simply meant to give you ideas you can use if you’re looking for ways to bring faith into your home life, however that looks for you right now.

So, start by listening with an open heart and find something that resonates with you. Even if you just try one new thing, you’re already taking a wonderful step forward. I’m going to share what has worked for my family over the years, but know that none of this happened overnight. It’s been a slow, step-by-step process, and it’s always a work in progress.

Why an At-Home Faith Practice Matters

There’s a beautiful verse in Proverbs that says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). This verse reminds us that building a foundation of faith for our kids is part of our role as parents. A study by Barna found that 99% of Protestant pastors and 96% of Catholic priests believe parents are the most important influence on a child’s faith.

So, if you’re here and you’re even thinking about doing this, you’re already doing something right! Give yourself grace and celebrate each step you take. Even the smallest effort is a big deal.

Starting Simple When They’re Little

When our kids were small, we kept things simple. We started with a family dinner prayer. Since I grew up in a home with both Catholic and Lutheran roots, our prayer is actually a Lutheran one that’s been in our family for years. It’s simple and easy, and we even put it up on our dining room wall for guests to join in. That way, no one feels out of place, and everyone can participate.

Another thing we did was read Bible stories at bedtime. I still remember the stories my mom read to us growing up, so I wanted my kids to have those memories too. My favorite book for this was Jesus Calling Bible Storybook. It’s beautifully written for kids to understand and offers a meaningful introduction to the stories of our faith.

We also added a bedtime prayer that was super short and easy for them to remember: “Dear God, thank you for our family. Thank you for blessing us. We love you. Amen.” Just one sentence, but it introduced them to the habit of praying before bed.

Building on Those Basics as They Grew

As the kids got older, we started adding a morning gratitude prayer. It was as simple as saying, “Thank you, God, for this beautiful day,” no matter what the weather looked like. We wanted them to recognize that every day is a gift, rain or shine. This gratitude practice was especially helpful on those grumpy mornings when school didn’t seem all that appealing.

We also started helping them memorize a few foundational prayers like the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. Sometimes I’d ask them to pick a prayer on our walk to school, and it was fun to see which one they’d choose (especially when they’d pick the shorter one to wrap things up quickly!). But this was a way to show them that they can pray anytime and anywhere.

Making Faith Visible: The Advent Wreath Tradition

One of my favorite traditions is the Advent wreath. We started with a real wreath that we’d make at church, but after realizing some of us were allergic to it, we switched to a faux one! Each Sunday of Advent, we’d gather as a family to light the candle, pray, and read together. Some years, it’s picture-perfect; other times, the kids are bickering over who gets to light the candle. But that’s real life, right? We’re aiming for grace here, not perfection.

Adding Intentions to Our Prayers

As they grew, we started adding prayer intentions during bedtime prayers. It was such a sweet way to see what was on their hearts—whether it was for a friend, a school presentation, or something bigger like praying for peace in the world. They even prayed for my husband Jeff’s safe travels when he’d be away. It’s beautiful to hear who and what your kids want to pray for, and it reminds me how much they understand and feel empathy for the world around them.

Morning Devotions and Blessings

When the kids started school, we incorporated a morning devotional. Right now, we use Jesus Calling for Kids—it’s perfect for a quick, Scripture-based reflection to start our day. After our reading, we’d do a morning blessing. This is something that’s especially close to my heart. I’ll dip my thumb in holy water and make the sign of the cross on their foreheads while praying a blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 - “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord let his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace…”. I also ask them how I can pray for them that day, which has been a great way to learn about what’s happening in their lives.

Personalizing Your Family Faith Practices

It’s easy to feel like you’re “not doing enough” or to think that your family’s faith practices should look a certain way. But the truth is, your home faith routine should look however it works best for you and your family. Maybe you only try one thing, and that’s perfect. There’s a great book, 77 Ways to Pray with Your Kids, that I highly recommend for other creative ideas.

So, friend, remember that small steps matter. Each time you share a prayer or read a Bible story with your kids, you’re planting seeds that will grow in their hearts. Start where you are, and don’t worry about having a perfect routine. Celebrate each little win, and just know that if you’re helping to raise your kids in the faith, God will fill in the gaps.

Let me know what ideas you’re trying in the Anchored with Purpose Tribe on Facebook! I’d love to hear about your favorite faith practices and what’s working in your home.

Keywords

faith practices, family, children, prayer, spirituality, at-home, parenting, Christian, Bible, community

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