Bedtime Prayers for Kids: 32 Short, Gentle Prayers

Bedtime prayers for kids can be as small as one line. This page gathers 32 short, original prayers and blessings, grouped by moment: saying thank you, remembering family and friends, a worry or a hard day, the end of the day, and blessings a parent can say over a child. Each one is short enough for a two-year-old to echo, and an eight-year-old can make any of them their own. Two short passages from the Bible follow, with the translation named.

Why many families pray at bedtime

For many families, bedtime is the one quiet moment in a busy day. The story is finished, the light is low, and there is time to say thank you, to name the people they love, and to bring up anything that felt hard. Some families have prayed at bedtime for generations; others are just starting.

There is no right length. Psalm 4:8 says, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety" (NIV). Some families read that one verse aloud and let it be the prayer.

How to use these prayers

Choose one prayer, or two from different groups. Say it slowly, one line at a time, and let your child repeat after you if they like. The youngest children often join in on the last word.

Fill each blank with whatever your child offers: a friend's name, a pet, the park, a favorite snack. If your child wants to say it in their own words instead, let the words stay theirs. Some families end with "In Jesus' name, Amen." Use whatever wording is familiar in your home.

Thank-you prayers

1. "Thank you, God, for today. Amen."
2. "Thank you for my bed, my blanket and my pillow. Amen."
3. "Thank you for the food we ate today and for the hands that made it. Amen."
4. "Thank you for the sun this morning and the moon tonight. Amen."
5. "Thank you for my friends and the games we played. Amen."
6. "Thank you, God, for one happy thing today: ___. Amen."
7. "Thank you for my eyes to see, my ears to hear and my feet to run. Amen."

Prayers for family and friends

1. "God, please watch over the people who love me. Amen."
2. "God, thank you for this day and for our family. Please watch over everyone we love tonight. Amen."
3. "Please be with Grandma and Grandpa tonight. Amen."
4. "God, please be with ___, who is not feeling well. Amen."
5. "Please be with ___, who is far away tonight. Amen."
6. "Thank you for my brother and my sister. Help us take turns and say sorry. Amen."
7. "God, bless my teacher and my friends at school. Amen."

A family can say prayer 9 together, with each person adding one name before the "Amen." Change the names from night to night.

Prayers for a worry or a hard day

1. "God, please stay close to me tonight. Amen."
2. "When the room is dark, help me remember you are near. Amen."
3. "I felt sad today. Thank you for listening, God. Amen."
4. "I feel a little worried about ___. I am telling you about it, God. Amen."
5. "Please help me be brave and kind tomorrow. Amen."
6. "I'm glad I can talk to you any time, God. Amen."

You can name a worry without solving it. If your child brings one up, you might say, "Let's tell God about that together," and use prayer 18. For real worries about sleep, anxiety or behavior, talk with your child's doctor.

Prayers for the end of the day

1. "The day is done, the stars are out. Goodnight, God. Amen."
2. "I'm sorry for the times I wasn't kind today. Help me try again tomorrow. Amen."
3. "Thank you for the story we read tonight. Amen."
4. "Teeth brushed, story read, now it's time to rest my head. Goodnight, God. Amen."
5. "Please give our home a quiet night. Amen."
6. "Thank you for this day, and for the new day coming tomorrow. Amen."

Prayer 24 has a rhyme that small children like to finish themselves. Prayer 23 fits right after a read-aloud.

Bedtime blessings to say over your child

A blessing is said by the parent or caregiver, often with a hand on the child's head or back.

1. "May God bless you and watch over you tonight."
2. "May you rest well, and may you always know how loved you are."
3. "God loves you, and so do I. Goodnight."
4. "May your dreams be gentle and your morning bright."
5. "May God be with you tonight and all through tomorrow."
6. "Peace to you, little one. Sleep well."

Two passages from the Bible to pray together

Some families like to end with words from the Bible itself. Numbers 6:24-26 is a blessing many parents say over a child: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (KJV).

Jesus taught his followers the Lord's Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9-13. Many families say it together at bedtime, or use just its first line with a young child.

For nights when you want a story before the prayer, these calm retellings pair well with a short prayer: A David and Goliath Story for Kids at Bedtime, Feeding of the 5000 Story for Kids: Bedtime Retelling, The Zacchaeus Story for Kids: A Calm Bedtime Retelling, and Daniel and the Lions' Den Story for Kids. To connect a story to a child's everyday life, see Bible Stories That Relate to Everyday Life for Kids.

Choosing one for tonight

For a tired toddler, choose the shortest line you can find, such as prayer 1 or prayer 15, and say it once. A two-year-old may only manage "Amen," and that counts.

For a preschooler who likes to join in, choose a thank-you prayer with a blank, such as prayer 6, and let them fill it in.

For a 5- to 8-year-old who wants to talk about the day, choose one thank-you prayer and one from the worry group, and let them add a sentence of their own.

For a whole family in one room, choose prayer 9 and give each person one name to add. Close with a blessing from the last group.

For a night after a read-aloud, choose prayer 23, then a blessing.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good prayer to say before bedtime for my family?

Choose a short prayer with three parts: thanks for the day, a few names of people you love, and a shared "Amen." Prayer 9 above follows that shape. Let each person add one name, and keep the whole thing under a minute so the youngest can follow along.

What is a good short prayer for kids?

The best short prayer is one line a child can remember, such as "Thank you, God, for today. Amen." or "God, please stay close to me tonight. Amen." Toddlers often echo one line after a parent. Older children can add a thank-you or a name of their own.

What should I say to my child at bedtime?

Keep it simple and warm. Many parents say, "I love you, and God loves you," then pray one short line together and finish with a blessing such as "Peace to you, little one. Sleep well." A familiar order, such as story, prayer, goodnight, light off, lets a child know what comes next.

What prayer did Jesus say before bed?

The Gospels do not record a bedtime prayer of Jesus, but they do show him praying in the evening and at night. Matthew 14:23 says he went up a mountainside alone to pray as evening came, and Luke 6:12 says he spent a whole night praying to God. The prayer he taught his followers is the Lord's Prayer, in Matthew 6:9-13.

Want a new gentle Bible story on the evenings you choose? See an example first. See an example story