When I think about saying prayers for toddlers, I almost want to start by praying for their parents. Because toddlers are A LOT. The minute you take your eyes off them they are off to explore the stairs or investigate underneath the kitchen sink. Parents definately have a big job keeping them safe.

However, it is even more important to say prayers for toddlers so that they learn to hear Jesus’ voice. They need to know the voice of love and recognize the difference between Jesus’ voice and the very different ones that come from the world, or worse, the enemy.

The enemy doesn’t play fair.

In my mind, it’s “not fair” for the enemy to launch attacks on our little ones. Also, how dare he try to influence innocent preschoolers? But since when has the enemy ever played fair? It’s up to us as praying grandparents, to cover our little ones in prayer, especially before they can protect themselves. God will be their shield. He is their Good Shepherd and He wants them in His fold more than even we do.

John 10:3-5 NKJV

To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

As praying grandparents, let’s keep the enemy away as we offer up any of these 10 prayers for toddlers. 

1.  Prayers for toddlers and preschoolers to hear God’s voice.

Lord, I pray my grandchildren will be like little lambs under your care and protection. Just like it says in John 10, I pray that they will know and hear your voice, that you will know them, too and that they will follow you closely through this life and into eternity. Allow no one to snatch them from your care! Please lead and guide  grandchild’s name  from this day forward. Let them be able to recognize your presence, even if they can’t put it into words yet. Let them feel your loving arms around them and surround them with your light. I pray they will be so used to your presence that they run from any influence that is not you. Amen.

2.  Spiritual protection.

Lord, please be a shield around my grandchildren, protecting their spirits from worldly influence and evil schemes. Let them grow up to know and serve you. I pray that no weapon the enemy brings against them would prosper, including fear and illness. Please let these children be the first to be free from destructive generational patterns. I pray that, like little seedlings reaching for sunlight, these children will grow towards you. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

3.  Praying for parents.

It is one of my great joys to watch my own children become parents. I love seeing them nurture their little ones. Not to mention the memories it brings of my time as a parent. Now that I’ve had several decades to rest up, these memories bring so much joy!

But parents of young children deserve daily prayer. Some are first-time parents who need wisdom and strength. Others have been down the toddler road before but now they have a completely different child to raise. In any case, parents need patience and wisdom and strength. In mega doses. Let’s rain down prayers for toddlers on their behalf.

Lord Jesus, thank you for   child’s name.    It is so fun to watch him/her grow and learn new things. Please let us, as his/her family savor each new stage – because they go by so fast. Let us be quick to joy and slow to irritation with our toddlers and preschoolers. He/she is so cute, and I am grateful that this child is in our family.

Lord, I pray that my children and their spouses will be loving parents, good teachers, and have your insight into each child’s personality and spiritual gifts.

I also pray that my children have a strong marriage, and they work in partnership with their spouse. I pray they are willing to learn good parenting techniques and that no mistakes that I made as a parent will carry over in how they raise my grandchildren.

Lord, please find each of my family members a nurturing church, so that my grandchildren are raised in a Christian community. I pray you will bring them a good pastor and godly friends but most importantly that their church will be a place where they can find you. Amen. 

4. Prayers for toddlers and preschooler’s emotional needs.

Children who have their emotional needs met have solid self-esteem and better overall behavior. At age 1-3 toddlers need acceptance – mainly from their family but also others. They also need a sense of belonging, unconditional love from their parents, empathy and consistent boundaries.

Of course, no one does this perfectly but let’s pray our grandchildren develop a solid emotional foundation. 

5.  Prayers for toddlers and preschoolers to learn to obey.

Ephesians 6:1 ESV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Teaching a child what it means to obey is a fairly thankless task. On the one hand small children must learn to obey rules like not pulling the tail of their pet. On the other hand, toddlers naturally desire independence and like doing things themselves.

Undeniably, learning to obey is a foundational lesson because it carries over into adulthood and learning to obey parents will make it easier to obey God.

^{Luke 6:47-48 ESV}

 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them,

I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock…

So, one of my top petitions as I am praying for my grandchildren is that they are quick to learn obedience and that their parents are patient and loving as they go over this lesson. (Again and again.)

Lord,    grandchild’s name  is at that age where he/she needs to learn to obey. I pray their parents would be loving but firm in teaching her/him to follow rules. I pray he/she would realize these rules come from wanting what is best for them and this lesson would come easily. Let their obedience set a foundation for loving and following you and the good advice from your Word.

Lord, please give the parents the backbone to be consistent in their rules but not harsh with their children. I pray that    child’s name    would feel protected inside the boundaries their parents are setting and want to obey for themselves. Amen.

6.  Protection from accidents.

You probably couldn’t name every single accident that could befall a toddler. And maybe it’s better not to think about it. Instead, let’s pray for their protection. Fortunately, God sees every sparrow that falls, so He obviously can see our little one about to crash into the corner of the coffee table.

Lord Jesus, you have so much compassion for little children, and I ask that you would watch over   child’s name today. Please protect him/her from accidents in their home, in their car, at day care and preschool, at the playground and places they go visit.

Let their parents and babysitters be vigilant about their children’s safety. Lord if    child’s name    starts to do something dangerous, please alert their caregivers and prevent them from getting injured.

Please cause their pets to be patient and not scratch and bite. I ask you to send angels to watch over this little one and protect them from all types of danger. Lord we can’t watch these children at all times, but you can, and I thank you that you do. Amen.

7.  Prayers for toddlers: their identity.

At this age, children can recognize that there are two types of people – mommies and daddies. Let’s pray that our grandbabies will have good role models – both male and female.  I pray that my grandchildren will be satisfied with the gender that they are born with and not question their identity as a boy or a girl. In faith I ask God to prevent the enemy from whispering words of doubt about themselves to our innocent little children. In prayers for toddlers today, I cover them all with the blood of Jesus.

8.  Prayers for toddlers to find favor with others.

I pray that my grandkids will find favor with the people in their lives: teachers, neighbors, siblings, and other kids. I do this because I want my grandchildren to have the best lives they can and live up to the potential God has given them. What kind of children might God bless with favor? Obedient ones. Kind ones. Humble and compassionate boys and girls. Grateful ones.

9.  Begin to learn who God is. 

Let’s face it. If preschoolers and toddlers are going to learn about God, it will have to come from their parents. As extended family, we can speak Jesus’ name and encourage family prayers. Yet the main emphasis in the home will be from the parents.

So, what if your children aren’t following Jesus? Hopefully, they have some belief in God. Maybe some good moral values. Let’s pray that our children will be clear on what they believe and pass on the good parts to our grandchildren. Remember what the Bible says about a mustard seed? A small measure of faith can grow into a giant tree. Let’s ask God to nurture and grow the faith that our children do have. In addition, pray that your children will desire to pass on what they believe to their children. That no busyness, or insecurity will keep them from speaking about what they know to be true.

 I’m praying for toddlers to:

• Learn that there is a God and who He is.
• Learn about why Jesus came to earth and why he is their friend.
• Respect the Bible as the holy word of God.
• Have a good church where they feel loved and accepted and where they are safe.
• Attend an excellent Sunday school program with anointed teachers.
• Learn that he/she is a child of God who is loved, protected and forgiven.
• Learn that there is a God and who He is.

10.  My grandparenting: let me be a good example.

Lord Jesus, please give me the insight to be the kind of grandma that my grandchildren need. I pray they will know without a doubt that I love them for who they are.

Lord help me to lay a faithful foundation for our next generation, teaching them the truth about Jesus and His gift of salvation.

Let my life be an example pointing them to you. Lord examine my life and show me where I need to improve. If I have wrong attitudes or thoughts, please show me so I can align with you. Wake me up to opportunities to tell them about you and most importantly the need to choose to follow you. Please let me be a good support to my children and their spouses – encouraging and not critical. I am grateful for the privilege of being a grandma.  Thank you for hearing my prayers for my grandchildren. Amen.

I really believe that God has a special plan for the kids being born right now. He wants a generation that has been raised in prayer and belongs to Him. Because they love Him and follow Him, He wants to bless them with innovative solutions to today’s problems. They may not follow our plan for their lives, but they will follow His.

As grandparents of this new generation, we have the honor and responsibility to start the prayer covering over our grandchildren. Let’s pray that each one is a child after God’s own heart and can fulfil God’s plan for their life.

More Prayers.

Want to keep praying for the toddlers in your life?

Try my post Praying for your grandchildren’s safety and protection

List is not mine, but it’s good: 10 things to pray for small children.

What else do you include in your prayers for toddlers and preschoolers that I have left off the list?

Please let me know in the comments. Thank you.