Level III: 9-12 Years

Create a Prayer Space

Make a beautiful space for quiet personal prayer and joyful family gathering, and you may find more peace and gratitude amid difficulties.

If your child has been in the atrium, chances are he or she knows how to prepare a prayer table.  Here are some quick tips:

  • Choose a place where a child can be quiet, not a busy or noisy area in the home.

  • Allow the children to choose and arrange the objects for the prayer area. Avoid making it "perfect". Let it evolve.

  • Offer a real Bible (instead of a children's story Bible).


For more information, the national association for CGS has prepared these instructions.

Organize Family Prayer

Work with your child to establish a time, perhaps once a week, when he or she will guide prayer time.  At first, it may be a good idea to set a reasonable time limit (10 minutes is good to start).

You may want to  incorporate these elements:

  • favorite Bible stories or verses

  • prayers remembered from the liturgy, found in the book of common prayer or written from the heart

  • hymns or songs

  • silence

  • personal thanksgivings or petitions


For more ideas, visit CGSUSA.org

Begin a Prayer Journal

Writing by hand can help us to slow down and connect more deeply with our thoughts. 
Consider:

How do I feel about what is happening now? The Psalms contain a huge range of human emotion. Any feelings that you have are good to put into prayers.

What do I remember about who God is? What have you learned about in the Atrium, at church, from family and friends, and through your prayers.

We have many names for God, does one of them seem especially true to you?

​What am I thankful for? If there is something good in life, take the time to notice it and to be thankful.

What am I hopeful for? Every moment is a new opportunity for God and us to work together for good.

What Child Is This?

“What is my place in the world?” is the question of the late childhood years. The child at this age thinks seriously about growing up and wants meaningful work. We seek to foster their independence and desire for purpose by allowing the children to organize and plan activities. At this time children study more complicated Old Testament stories which provide models for virtuous life and help to develop a sensitivity to moral choice.