Try this classic prayer model to help children and preschoolers learn to pray. Don’t miss our complete coloring book based on the Lord’s Prayer – it’s 100% free too.
Five Finger Prayer for Children
Free Printable Worksheet / Template
Here is a helpful approach for teaching kids to pray. It’s a format that allows children to recall and pray in their own words for five different groups of people. All this lines up with the five fingers of their hand.
There are a few different versions of the five-finger prayer on the Internet (here | here). I was unable to track down the original, so I’ve collected below what seems like the best of each version. WE have another version of the hands prayer based on the Lord’s prayer.
Teaching Kids the Five Finger Prayer
Thumb (people who are close to you) These are your close friends and family, often the first you think about when you pray. Give thanks to God and ask his protection on your parents, siblings, friends, and classmates.
Pointer (people who point the way) These are leaders in your life, such as teachers and pastors. Offer God your thanksgiving for them and ask him to help them in their important work.
Tall Finger (people in authority) The big people in the world need prayer too. Ask God to give wisdom to our government, military, and police.
Ring Finger (people who are weak) This is your weakest finger. We should remember others who are sick, live in poverty, or are treated badly. Pray that Jesus would give them new strength.
Little Finger (your own needs) God wants to hear your needs too, especially when you put others first. Pray for your own growth in mind, body, and spirit.
We would love to hear your opinion on this five-finger prayer model. Click here to leave a comment below. You can share your own version or make suggestions for teaching this to children. You might also enjoy our prayer coloring pages and simple prayers for children.
Right click on this link to download the following printable in PDF format sent to us from Paula Baytieh.
Prayer Hands Preschool Version
After writing this post, I discovered a similar explanation from Christine Jones on her video blog. The fingers have a little different meaning, but this would be a great way to adapt this prayer for preschool aged children.
I was browsing your Facebook page this evening and came across this post. I really like how you laid out the concept here. The video made a good point, too, about the ring finger being the only one that cannot stand on its own. That is cute.
I had seen this prayer idea in passing, but never really looked into it before. I’m glad I did now! I’ll have to pass it on. 🙂
(I also thought one of the Facebook commenters had a neat addition to use the palm as a reminder for giving thanks — because when we hold out our palm, it is usually because someone is handing us something.)
We use this prayer every week in our church toddler group. We sing nursery rhyme “Tommy thumb where are you?” & say short prayer at end of each section for relevant topic and link with actions: Tommy thumb place thumb on your heart (for those close to us), Peter pointer point far away (for friends/family who are far away), Toby tall -stretch up tall (teachers/government/wisdom for decisions), hold ruby ring for those who are ill, baby small-all the little ones at the group. We bring in specifics where necessary such as new babies/members who are ill etc.
This is really helpful and insightful! As a new Sunday school teacher, this is really helping me to know what kids really need to know and learn as growing Christians. Thanks a lot and God bless you for sharing. Always a great time coming in here to learn myself.
Thank you so much, it’s insightful…. God bless you.
Thank You so much!!!! We are teaching our pre-K to pray and this is an excellent way to start!!!
Thank you for the Knowledge you are sharing with us. My home has been blessed.
Indeed God is a awesome sovereign Lord and I thank him for your life coz we are now on the right track.
THANK YOU , I AM USING IT THIS SUNDAY. VERY HAPPY WITH IT
Thank you all
May the GOD of peace open unto you his good treasure, the heaven to give
the rain unto thy land in it season, and to bless all the work of thine hand.
IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME ………………AMEN
I am so grateful for your ministry. It’s quite a task to prepare to teach small children about praying but you have made it so simple.
Is it possible to get the five finger coloring page and the seven page Lord’s Prayer coloring book with a more diverse group of children?
🙏Thank you for sharing these great tools!!
THANKS TO ALMIGHTY GOD WHO HAS CALLED US WITH IMMEASURABLE WORTH TO SERVE HIM THROUGH CHILDREN MINISTRY
I have used this in Sunday School and Children’s Church for many years. Some of my kids have come back to me years later and still remember it.
I also added another one to it. I include the wrist area as a reminder to pray for those that are far away from all the others such as missionaries and military, sometimes include older siblings that may be away at college.
Thank you for this printable, I like it for Sunday School! I wonder if you’ve considered calling the one you labeled “Index Finger” as “the middle finger, mid-finger, tall man, or long finger”? Since the pointer is called the index finger, it would confuse the children less.
I have been learning so much from your lessons,may God bless you always. Am in Kenya..
I notice it too. Index finger is the same as pointing finger. Otherwise this prayer guide is very helpful.