Lent prayer for kids: short prayers by age, and a 7-week family plan (2027)

A good Lent prayer for kids is short, says one true thing about Jesus, and asks for one thing a child can understand: "Jesus, help me to love like you. Help me to say sorry when I'm wrong. Amen." Below are prayers sorted by age, a prayer for Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter, a simple 7-week plan for Lent 2027 (Wednesday, February 10 to Easter Sunday, March 28), and ideas for keeping it going when your kids get restless.

How to explain Lent to a child in two sentences

Children pray more easily when they know what the season is for. Try this: "Lent is the 40 days before Easter when we get ready to remember that Jesus died for us and came alive again. We pray a little more, give up something small, and share with people who need help, so our hearts are ready for Easter."

For older kids you can add where the 40 comes from. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness praying and fasting before he began his work (Matthew 4:1-2). Lent copies that, and Sundays are not counted, which is why the season runs about six and a half weeks.

Lent is not in the Bible as a command. It is an old church custom, and many Protestant churches keep it while others don't. If your church doesn't, these prayers still work as a way to get your family ready for Easter.

A Lent prayer for kids to pray today

Pray this with your child, one line at a time, and let them repeat each line:

Dear Jesus,
thank you for loving me so much.
During Lent, help me to get ready for Easter.
Help me to pray to you every day.
Help me to say sorry when I do wrong,
and to forgive others when they hurt me.
Show me someone I can help today.
I love you. Amen.

Six lines is about right for a child under ten. If your child wants to add their own line at the end ("and help Grandma's leg get better"), that is the best part.

Short Lent prayers for kids, by age

The right prayer depends on how a child thinks. Little ones repeat; school-age kids like to fill in a blank; older kids want to say it their own way.

Ages 2 to 4: say it, then they say it

• "Jesus, I love you. Amen."
• "Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me. Amen."
• "Help me be kind today. Amen."
• "I'm sorry, God. Help me do better. Amen."

At this age, prayer is mostly copying you. Fold hands, close eyes, say a line, wait for them to echo it. Ten seconds is a whole prayer.

Ages 5 to 7: fill in the blank

• "Thank you, God, for ______. Help me to ______ today. Amen."
• "Jesus, I'm sorry for ______. Please forgive me. Amen."
• "God, please help ______, who is sad. Amen."
• "Jesus, this Lent I'm giving up ______. When I miss it, remind me of you. Amen."

The blank does the teaching. A child who fills in "for being mean to Leo" has just learned confession without the word.

Ages 8 to 12: a simple shape

Older kids can use a four-part shape. Write it on a card they keep in their Bible or by their bed:

1. Wow: tell God one thing that is amazing about him.
2. Sorry: tell God one thing you did wrong today.
3. Thanks: name three good things from today.
4. Please: ask for help for yourself and for one other person.

This is the same pattern as the ACTS prayer model grown-ups use (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication), in kid words. Our ACTS prayer model guide has the long version if you'd like to teach it.

Teens

Teenagers usually don't want a kids' prayer. Give them a verse and a question instead, and let them write or pray it alone. "Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10, WEB): what would a clean heart look like for me this week? A journal works well at this age; see our prayer journal prompts.

Prayers for the big days of Lent

Ash Wednesday (February 10, 2027)

Dear God, today Lent begins. Thank you that you made me and you love me. I know I don't always do what's right. Please forgive me and help me change. Get my heart ready for Easter. Amen.

If your church puts ashes on foreheads, tell your child before you go: "The ashes are a sign that we're sorry, and that we need Jesus." Some kids are scared of it; it is fine for a young child to watch rather than take part.

Palm Sunday (March 21, 2027)

Jesus, the people waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna!" when you rode into Jerusalem. I want to cheer for you too. You are my King. Amen.

Read Matthew 21:1-11 together. If you have a long leaf or a strip of green paper, let your child wave it as you read.

Maundy Thursday (March 25, 2027)

Jesus, you washed your friends' feet even though you were their teacher. Help me serve other people, even when nobody sees. Amen.

A simple way to make this one real: wash your child's hands or feet in a bowl of warm water before you pray it, and read John 13:1-15.

Good Friday (March 26, 2027)

Jesus, today we remember that you died on the cross. You did it because you love us and to take away our sins. Thank you. I'm sorry for the wrong things I've done. Amen.

Small children don't need the details of the crucifixion. "Jesus died, and that was very sad, but it was part of God's plan to rescue us" is true and enough. Older children can read Luke 23:32-49 with you.

Easter Sunday (March 28, 2027)

Jesus, you are alive! You beat death and you are with us now. Thank you for loving me forever. Hallelujah! Amen.

"He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said" (Matthew 28:6, WEB). Let your child shout the first line. Easter is the one day loud prayers are perfect.

A 7-week Lent prayer plan for families (2027)

One theme a week keeps it simple: you learn one verse, pray one prayer each day, and do one small thing together. Five minutes at dinner or bedtime is enough.

For the grown-ups in the house, our 40-day Lent prayer challenge follows the same weeks with a daily plan and longer readings, so parents and kids can talk about the same thing at dinner.

The Holy Week readings, one a night

• Sunday: Jesus rides into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11).
• Monday: Jesus clears the temple (Matthew 21:12-17).
• Tuesday: the widow's two coins (Mark 12:41-44).
• Wednesday: a woman pours perfume on Jesus (Mark 14:3-9).
• Thursday: the Last Supper and the foot washing (John 13:1-15).
• Friday: Jesus dies on the cross (Luke 23:32-49).
• Saturday: Jesus is buried, and everyone waits (Luke 23:50-56).

Read it from a children's Bible for young kids; read it from your own Bible for kids over eight. Stop after each reading and ask: "What do you think Jesus felt?" Then pray one line about it.

What should a child give up for Lent?

Giving something up is a way of praying with your body: each time you miss it, you remember Jesus. For a child, it has to be small and clear, and it should feel like a choice, not a punishment.

• Give up: dessert on weekdays, one TV show, the tablet in the car, complaining at dinner, a sugary drink.
• Add instead: one prayer before school, one kind thing a day, reading a Bible story at bedtime, saving coins for a gift to people who need it.

Tie it to a prayer so the point isn't lost: "Jesus, I miss my show today. Thank you that you gave up much more for me." Children under six often do better adding something than giving something up.

Fasting from food is for adults and for older teens who choose it with a parent's help; children shouldn't skip meals for Lent. If an older teen in your house wants to try it, our guide to praying when fasting covers what to pray and who should check with a doctor first.

Hands-on ways to pray with kids during Lent

Many children pray better when their hands are busy. These cost little or nothing:

• A prayer jar. Each person writes or draws a prayer on a slip of paper and puts it in a jar. Pull one out at dinner and pray for it together.
• A candle at dinner. Light one candle (or a battery tea light for little ones) and pray the week's prayer. Blow it out together with "Amen."
• A paper chain. Make 40 links. Each day, tear one off and pray the word written on it (sorry, thanks, help, love, share…). Kids see Easter coming closer.
• A thankful cross. Draw a big cross on poster paper. Every day, each person adds one thing they're thankful for. By Easter it's full.
• Prayer walks. On a walk, pray for each house you pass: "God, bless the people who live here."
• Drawing prayers. Young children can draw who they're praying for. You write the name underneath.

Church kids' ministries often use prayer stations: a table with blocks where children pray for people without homes, or a table with candles where they pray for people who are sick or have died. You can set up one station on your kitchen table for a week.

When your child won't sit still (or won't pray)

Every parent meets this. Some things that help:

• Go shorter. If five minutes ends in tears, do one minute. A short prayer kept every day beats a long one kept twice.
• Let them move. Kids can pray while they walk, swing, color or hold a stone. Closed eyes and folded hands are a help, not a rule.
• Let them lead. A child who says "I don't want to pray" sometimes means "I don't want you to pray at me." Ask them to pray for you.
• Don't force words. "You can just listen while I pray" keeps them in the circle without a fight.
• Same time, same place. Kids follow routines. Dinner and bedtime are the easiest hooks because they already happen.
• Pray yourself, where they can see. Children copy what they watch more than what they're told.

If prayer has become a battle in your house, our guide on how to pray for your children has prayers you can pray for them on your own while you wait for things to soften. "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me" (Matthew 19:14, WEB): the aim is to keep the door open, not to win.

A Lent prayer for the whole family to pray together

Parent: Lord Jesus, we're getting ready for Easter.
All: Get our hearts ready too.
Parent: For the times we were unkind this week,
All: we're sorry. Please forgive us.
Parent: For our home, our food and each other,
All: thank you, God.
Parent: For people who are hungry, sick or lonely,
All: please help them, and show us how to help.
Parent: Jesus, you died for us and you rose again.
All: We love you. Amen.

Print it or write it on a card by the table. Kids who can read can take the parent's lines; it gives them a reason to join in.

If you'd like the same habit for yourself, ten guided minutes a day with a Psalm and a prayer read to you, answer a few questions to build your prayer plan.

Common questions

What is a simple Lent prayer for kids?

"Jesus, help me get ready for Easter. Help me say sorry, forgive others and help someone today. I love you. Amen." It names the season, three things a child can do, and ends with love.

How do you teach kids about Lent?

Explain it in two sentences (40 days to get ready for Easter, by praying, giving something up and sharing), then do one small thing together each week. A visible countdown, like a paper chain or a thankful cross, helps children see the season move.

Should kids give something up for Lent?

They can, if it's small and their own choice: a show, dessert, complaining. Children under six often do better adding a kind act or a prayer. Children shouldn't fast from meals.

When does Lent start in 2027?

Ash Wednesday is February 10, 2027. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, March 21, Good Friday is March 26, and Easter Sunday is March 28.

How long should a child's prayer be?

About a minute for preschoolers, two to five minutes for school-age kids. Short and daily works better than long and rare.

Do Baptist or non-denominational churches keep Lent?

Some do and some don't; it is a church custom, not a command in Scripture. Many families who don't keep Lent still use the weeks before Easter to read the Easter story together.

Pick tonight's prayer from the age list above and write the Ash Wednesday date on your calendar. When you want a daily prayer time of your own to go with your kids', start your prayer plan here. For Christmas first, see our Advent prayers for each week, and more in our prayer guides.

Sources

Scripture: World English Bible (public domain), eBible.org. Lent 2027 dates: Easter Sunday, March 28, 2027 (Western calendar), counted back 46 days to Ash Wednesday. Pages read for this guide: Sparkhouse, "Prayer Stations for Kids during Lent"; The Religion Teacher, "Lenten ideas for kids" printable; "40 Day Lent Guide for Kids" (church PDF, cloversites.com).