Teach Kids to Pray w/ Chrissy Metz & Bradley Collins
Hosted by Ellen Krause (Mentor Mama)
Teach Kids to Pray — Chrissy Metz & Bradley Collins on Starting Prayer Early:
Talking to God can feel intimidating for little ones—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, Chrissy Metz (actor/author) and Bradley Collins (songwriter/author) share practical, tender ways to introduce young children to prayer and build a faith foundation that lasts. Their new children’s book, When I Talk to God, I Talk About You, shows kids they can pray anywhere, anytime—about big feelings, little worries, and the people they love. You’ll hear simple ideas for family prayer, modeling prayer as a parent or grandparent, and weaving gratitude and God’s unconditional love into everyday moments.
Chapters:
0:00 – Intro
2:07 – Ad Break
3:35 – Meet Chrissy Metz
4:27 – Meet Bradley Collins
5:46 – What inspired you to write a children’s book together?
8:00 – Why did you find it important to teach kids to pray?
9:41 – For you two, personally, how does the book reflect your faith life and understanding of prayer?
11:16 – Your book is described as “a touching ode to unconditional love”. How have you experienced God’s unconditional love in your lives? How do we pass that on to children?
14:57 – What are your hopes for parents or grandparents who read this book to their children?
17:01 – Who was instrumental in your lives that influenced your faith walks?
20:31 – What was the process like of turning your words over to another to interpret visually?
23:33 – Chrissy, you are a singer as well as an incredible actress and we’ve heard there is a companion album that goes along with the theme of this book.
27:19 – Before we go, I loved your faith-based film “Breakthrough”. Any future faith-based films on the horizon?
Sponsor: The Talking Jesus Doll
The Talking Jesus Doll — a soft, snuggly way to help children hear and remember Scripture (10 Bible phrases, from the Lord’s Prayer to John 3:16).Go to jesusdoll.com and use promo code CBTDOLL to get 10% off your purchase.
Perfect for birthdays, Easter, or Christmas.
What You’ll Learn
Why introducing prayer early changes everything
Children are naturally curious about God—but they may not know what to say or whether He’s listening. Chrissy and Bradley explain that prayer is a conversation, not a performance. Short, simple prayers help kids feel safe to bring their feelings to God: “God, I’m scared about my spelling test,” “Thank You for Grandma,” “Please help my friend who is sick.” Early prayer habits create lasting emotional and spiritual safety.
Model it: teach kids to pray by watching you
Little hearts copy what they see. Let your children or grandkids see you pray in real time—before school, when someone’s hurt, when you’re grateful, when you’re sorry. Keep it short and sincere. Whisper a sentence, then invite them to add one: “Your turn—what do you want to tell God?” Over time, kids discover that God cares about everything, big and small.
Pray anywhere, anytime
One of Chrissy’s big lessons: prayer isn’t just for church or bedtime. Teach kids to pray by trying quick “arrow prayers” all day—at the park, in the car, while baking cookies. Bradley shares how learning to pray for his grandfather’s illness as a child opened the door to daily dialogue with God—and how that same invitation now helps today’s kids process fears and hopes.
Gratitude & unconditional love
The book repeats a life-giving theme: you’re made from love and held in it, too. Practice this at home: end each day with one “Thank You, God…” and one “Help me, God…” Kids learn that God’s love isn’t earned—it’s steady, safe, and near.
Beauty to teach kids to pray: animals, art, and music
Illustrator Lisa Fields brings gentle animal families to life so even pre-readers “feel” the story. The companion music project, Prayed for This Day, extends the message at bedtime with lullabies and a few upbeat tracks (friendship, bravery, being loved “no matter what”). Read the book, then let the album carry the truths into sleep.
Practical Ways to Start a Prayer Routine (by age)
Toddlers (1–3)
Preschool (3–5)
Early Readers (6–8)
Sample Kid-Friendly Prayer Prompts
Key Moments
Resources & Links.
FAQs
How do I teach kids to pray?
Model short, simple prayers out loud during daily moments. Invite them to add one sentence; keep it consistent and joyful.
What if my child won’t pray out loud?
That’s okay—God hears silent prayers too. Let them draw a prayer or whisper it while you hold their hand.
When should kids pray?
Anytime. Try mealtime, bedtime, before school, and “in the moment” (worries, scraped knees, celebrations).
How can we make family prayer engaging?
Use prompts from a children’s book, take turns, add music, and keep it brief. Celebrate every small step.
Final Encouragement
Prayer isn’t perfect words—it’s a present God. Start with one simple, sincere sentence today. Over time, those tiny conversations become a lifetime of trust, gratitude, and love.
For our listeners, be sure and pick up a copy of the children’s book and the album. The book, When I Talk to God, I Talk About You. You can find the link in our show notes. Lastly, head over to the Coffee and Bible Time website for our prayer journals that will help guide and document your prayer life at coffeeandbibletime.com. Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today. We love you all. Have a blessed day.
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