Engaging Kids in Meaningful Prayer: A Parent's Guide (w/ Erica Renaud) - Archive Ep. 56

Prayer is one of the most powerful tools in the Christian life—but teaching it to our kids? That can feel overwhelming. As parents, we often feel ill-equipped, unsure of how to introduce our children to something so deep, so spiritual, and so foundational.

In this best of episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World, host Catherine Segars revisits a rich conversation with Erica Renaud—author, speaker, and mom of five—about a topic close to every Christian parent’s heart: teaching our children how to pray.

Erica is the author of Pray With Me: Help Your Children Engage in Authentic and Powerful Prayer. In this episode, she shares how her passion for prayer was born out of her own struggles as a teen, and how it has grown into a ministry that helps families and churches guide kids into vibrant, Spirit-filled prayer lives.

Let’s be honest—there are shelves full of resources to teach adults how to pray. But what about our kids? Where’s the guidebook for them? If prayer is essential for walking closely with God, shouldn’t we be equipping our children early to use this spiritual lifeline?

Here’s the thing: our kids can't catch what we don't throw them. If we’re not modeling prayer, if we’re not talking about it, practicing it, and inviting them into it—how will they ever know its power?

This episode is packed with insight and encouragement to help you do just that.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• 💬 Prayer as a Two-Way Street: Erica encourages us to teach our kids that prayer is talking with God—not just talking to Him. It's a conversation, not a monologue.
• 🤝 Partnering with God: When children begin to understand that prayer isn’t just about asking—it’s about aligning with God's will—they start to experience the joy of being part of His work on earth.
• 🧭 Be the Guide, Not the Guru: You don’t have to be a theological expert to lead your kids in prayer. Erica gives us permission to be learners alongside our children—and that humility is what makes the journey beautiful.
• 🕯️ Making Space for the Sacred: From soft music to candlelight, Erica offers simple, practical ways to create sacred spaces where kids can focus and feel safe entering God’s presence.
• 😕 When Prayers Go Unanswered: Erica addresses one of the toughest aspects of prayer—disappointment. She shares how to walk kids through these moments by leaning on God's character and reminding them (and us) of His faithfulness.
• 📖 The Practice of Remembering: Teaching our kids to look back and recall God's faithfulness builds a foundation of trust that can carry them through life’s hardest moments.

This episode is more than a how-to—it’s a heart-to-heart. It’s a call for us, as parents, to step into the role of spiritual shepherd—not with perfection, but with purpose.

So, how can you begin creating a prayer culture in your home? Maybe it's praying at bedtime, before meals, or even during car rides. Start small. Be consistent. And watch how God shows up.

About the Guest: Erica Renaud is a powerful speaker, passionate writer, and the author of Pray With Me: Help Your Children Engage in Authentic and Powerful Prayer. She’s the co-founder of two prayer initiatives and frequently speaks at events and conferences throughout the Northeast, encouraging others to go deeper in their walk with God through prayer. Closer to home, Erica and her husband lead regular prayer and worship gatherings in their local congregation while raising their five children.

Erica Renaud: Website, Instagram, Facebook

Resources Mentioned:

• Pray With Me: Help Your Children Engage in Authentic and Powerful Prayer by Erica Renaud
• Let Us Pray by Watchman Nee

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