Child's Grace?

Updated on February 25, 2011
C.I. asks from Mount Airy, MD
15 answers

Hi Guys, We are a Christian family and I'm looking for a cute possibly interactive prayer that we can do before meals. We always say grace of course, but it's "grown up grace". My neighbor does something that starts with "Open Shut Them, Open Shut Them, Clap Clap Clap" but I don't know the rest of it. Her one year old actually does the clapping for them! :) Does anyone know the rest of it or any other cute childrens grace prayers we might incorporate? Thanks for taking the time.

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D.K.

answers from Washington DC on

One that we have used is:

"Thank you for the food we eat
The clothes we wear
Be present with us everywhere. Amen"

It rhymes and it's easy for little ones to remember.

Here's a new note about the post right above mine. That tune came from the old animated Johnny Appleseed movie. I love it when I was little and I was wondering if anyone knows how to get their hands on a copy.

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S.G.

answers from Richmond on

There are 2 graces that I know of. We say:
Thank you for the world so sweet
Thank you for the food we eat
Thank you for the birds that sing
Thank you God for everything. Amen.

The other is:
God is great. God is good.
And we thank Him for our food.
By His hands we all are fed.
Give us Lord our daily bread. Amen.

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S.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Found a website with some options, including the one your neighbor uses (scroll down a little on the site):

http://home.pcisys.net/~tbc/mealpryr.htm#children

Here's the one my extended family has used, but I don't know where the tune came from:
The Lord is good to me
and so I thank the Lord
for giving me the things I need
the sun and the rain and the apple seed.
The Lord is good to me.
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, A-men!

HTH!
S.

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C.F.

answers from Washington DC on

Here's the blessing I grew up saying, and my daughter learned to say it as she was learning to talk:

Bless us O Lord for these thy gifts
which we are about to receive
from Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
<then we add additional more specific personal things we give thanks for, we take turns, one person each day.>

My extended family still says this prayer before every meal, from the youngest to the oldest (my parents.)

When we were older (8 and up) my mother added either the Hail Mary or the Our Father after the short blessing during holy times of the year (Lent, Advent, etc.) This made sure we had each of them down pat as well. = )

Good luck!

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J.H.

answers from Washington DC on

This is great we just came up with ours from a childs prayer book last week.
Our hands we fold,
Our heads we bow
For food and drink We thank the Lord Now,
For God is good,
God is Great
Amen

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C.B.

answers from Cleveland on

My daughter learned this in preschool"
open, shut them,
open shut them,
clap, clap, clap,
open, shut them,
open, shut them,
now lay them in your lap

Thank you for happy hearts,
Rain and sunny weather,
Thank you for our food,
and that we are here together..

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S.H.

answers from Charlottesville on

I have two little ones and both of them say their own blessing, which we say with them. My three year old does "God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for this food. Amen." It is easy for her to remember since it rhymes. My five year says her own prayer, not necessarily the same one all the time. I used to teach at a Christian school and the prayer I always taught my little ones was actually a song sung to the theme of Brother John. It is "God our Father, God our Father, once again, once again, we thank you for our blessings, we thank you for our blessings, Amen, Amen." That was always a big hit as it was easy to remember. We always like to try new ones at our house for the kids as well. They really enjoy it. Many blessing to you family!

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K.C.

answers from Washington DC on

My son's preschool says the prayer Laura L provided before all of their snacks. When our family all gets together we sing this one:

God our Father, God our Father
Once again.. Once again..
We bow our heads and thank you
We bow our heads and thank you
Amen. Amen.

LEGAL!

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M.F.

answers from Washington DC on

My kids learned this one at preschool . . .

We close our eyes
And fold our hands
And think of quiet thoughts of You.
At work and play, we've done our best.
Thank you, Lord, for this time to eat and rest.
Amen.

I love all these suggestions. It will be good to try something a little different.

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P.J.

answers from Richmond on

Hey C.! Thanks for sharing your story! I don't know the end of the prayer you were speaking of. For me, I have 4 children. I believe that it depends on how old the child is. I believe that any prayer your use with your child is fine b/c God honors and hears their prayer. For my kids, my 3 year old, it's a simple prayer until she gets older. It's "Dear Lord, thank you for this food, in Jesus name, Amen." For my 6 and 7 year olds, they pretty much speak from their heart during prayer, and God honors that. And for my 11 year old, he says his own prayer as well. It's something like this, Lord, thank you for this day, I ask that you would bless this food that it may keep us healthy and strong and bless that hands that prepared this food, in Jesus name, amen." In time, your child will develop and the prayers will be even greater girl!!! Have fun with it! God is pleased either way okay!! Take care and be blessed!!
P. :)

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L.L.

answers from Norfolk on

When my husband and I were dating back in highschool this is the one we said at his home. We're planning on starting it soon with our daughter who is 3 and hopefully our 4 month old will hear it so much growing up she'll get the hang of it too!

It wasn't interactive but this is it:

"God is good; God is Great,
And we thank God for our food;
By his hand we are fed,
Give us Lord, our daily bread. Amen.

Good luck!

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D.E.

answers from Washington DC on

My grandson attends a Christian daycare and one of the prayer they sing are:

Our Father; Our Father; once again; once again, thank you for this food; thank you for this food....Aaaaaaaaamen

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S.M.

answers from Norfolk on

I love reading all of these. We say:

Thank you God
For Food, for Family, for Friends.
We pray our blessings
Never end.
Amen

It was very easy for my girls(4&6)to remember. Four year old asked the other day why we don't "pray for grace" in the morning. Now we say it at breakfast and dinner!

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S.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I love the sound of little ones saying their blessing! I grew up saying

Bless us oh Lord for these thy gifts
which we are about to recieve from thy bounty
through Christ our Lord, Amen.

I have been teaching it to my kids, but also my in-laws say a different one I am teaching them as well..

God is great God is good
let us thank Him for our food
By His hands we all are fed
Thank you for our daily bread. Amen.

It's also nice to let them say their own. Ask them what they think they should be thankful for and why. It lets them realy think about what they are saying instead of just reciting the same thing all the time which can get to be just like a routine.

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S.M.

answers from Norfolk on

This is the one we do before dinner. My husband is deployed so it may be a little different for you,
Thank you God for our food
Thank you God, you are good.
Thank you God for our Dad
And thank you God for all we have had.
Make sure Daddy is warm and safe
Keep him in your loving grace.
Amen

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