Praying together as a family

Learning to pray as a family is no different to learning how to develop bedtime routines or how to get everyone ready for school at the same time – practise, trial and error, good humour, looking on the Internet or sometimes asking other people how they manage. Just as we start by teaching babies and toddlers to say 'thank you' when they are given a drink or a biscuit, so this is a good way to start to learn to speak to God in prayer.

Mothering Sunday - creative collage

Mum, nan, aunt, friend, neighbour… this fun collage helps us to celebrate, pray and say thank you for those ladies who have played an important part in our lives.

When God seems far away - seeing things differently

Children and adults may go through times in their lives when God seems far away, or they cannot feel or see God in their lives. These can be difficult times for a child or indeed an adult. The following idea is a visual way of trying to help understand these times.

Children doubting faith - can the Bible help?

Many children do go through times of doubt about their faith. It may be reassuring to know that there are people in the Bible who have also experienced this - for example, David in Psalm 3. But how can it help us in our times of difficulty or doubt? Find out more and explore four different activities suitable for both younger and older children.

Paperless Christmas

A free online resource giving families the opportunity to journey together through the Christmas story and have fun in the process.

Remembrance Sunday

This simple idea offers families the opportunity to enter into a fun challenge together leading into a focus of what Remembrance Sunday means and how families can pray.

Capture your summer memories

The summer holidays may be over but capture those memories before they disappear. As a family, gather together photos and other items. Learn more about what each person has most enjoyed and use it as a prayer prompt in the months ahead.

Fruity fun for Harvest prayers

This fruity fun idea provides a way that families can pray together at Harvest time using four everyday fruits - apple, banana, lemon and grapes. Using these four simple items, we can pray for 4, 14, 40 or any number of people.

Paralympics - values for all!

With the Paralympics following hot on the heels of the Olympics, we take a look at the official values of the games and how we might all live them out. Courage, determination, inspiration and equality... what can they mean for us?

Olympic medals for all!

Everyone is a winner. Use this fun idea to celebrate the Olympic Games - make your own medals, have an awards ceremony and build one another up with positive words in the process.

Build a walled city

Ever fancied building your own walled city? What would you put inside? How high would you build the wall? What can you use to build the strongest, highest tower?

Summertime fun: creation-themed picnic

Transform your summer lunch into a creation picnic in a few, quick, easy steps.

Colour-changing flowers

Did you know that flowers can change colour? They can! This fun, low-cost idea shows how. It also reminds us not only of God's wonderful creation of flowers, animals and us, but also of how special we are to God and how he can change us into something even better.

Famous dads

Famous dads - can you think of any? Have a go at this fun idea and test your Bible knowledge too. We'll give you some clues to get you started.

Celebrating Father's Day

Make a simple but meaningful card for those men who you would like to celebrate being part of your life on Father's Day - dads, grandfathers, uncles, big brothers or friends.

Fun ideas for the Diamond Jubilee

Here are some fun quizzes to test your knowledge of the Royal Family and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee as a family.

Diamond Jubilee prayer

This year Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 60 years of being on the throne. Some people have written prayers or songs to mark the occasion. Why not have a go at writing your own prayer and sending it to us and we will include a selection on the website.

Shabbat-style evening gathering

Shabbat is a traditional Jewish celebration that takes place every Friday evening. It offers a richness of family time - giving thanks, prayer and sharing a nice meal. Meet three Christian families who share their experience of this celebration together with their children. Why not have a go in your home?

A new year

A prayer to begin the journey into the new year.

Satsuma prayers

One of the characteristics of late autumn and winter, and even Christmas, is the appearance of satsumas. Victoria Beech offers a simple, fun and healthy prayer idea using satsumas.

Joseph's coloured cakes

Do you like cakes? If so, this is the fun, yum way to learn and enjoy the story of Joseph. And you get to eat the cakes too!

Breakfast on the beach

Find out more about Peter's miraculous catch and enjoy your own BBQ as part of the experience - although you may choose to use bacon if fish isn't your thing.

Joseph jelly

Do you like jelly? If so, this is the fun, yum way to learn and enjoy the story of Joseph. And you get to eat the jelly too!

Passing on the Faith

Help, I don't know where to start to talk about faith in the home! I don't know how to pray myself! This is something we hear often. The Catholic church has produced some easy-to-use cards which offer the information and help many parents/carers feel they need to help them talk about faith in the home.

Faithful Families

Australian website offering ideas and resources to encourage families to put their faith into action.

Families First

Christian magazine offering practical advice and resources for families.

Bible riddles

A fun challenge for all ages. Can you answer these Bible riddles? This activity could be used as a fun time, or as a team game with friends and family.

Talking about feelings using colours

Talking about feelings isn't always easy. Colours are often associated with feelings. This simple idea of using colours enables families to talk about feelings, and then pray for themselves and others.

Wish lists and prayer

Maybe wish lists are not just for Christmas and birthdays! If you could wish for 2 things, what would they be and what might God's wishes be? A springboard for discussion and prayer.

Oxford Diocese

Local diocese website that provides some useful resources for family ministry.

All things new

Using the senses of hearing, taste and sight, this idea provides a way of discussing and praying when facing change.

Centre for Theology and Ministry

Faith Begins at Home

Real Kids Real Faith