Realistic family prayer routines to do between diapers, carpool, and sports

Venerable Patrick Peyton famously coined the phrase, “A family that prays together stays together.” Want to take these words to heart, but struggling to find a practical routine that works for your bustling family? Read along for inspiration and ideas to bring prayer into the beautifully ordinary moments of family life. 

Utilize car time 

Pray. Between school, extracurricular activities, and errands, families can clock a lot of time in the car. Take advantage of this time where everyone is seated in one place and pray together! If the car ride is more than 20 minutes, pray a family rosary. Allow older children to choose a special intention and lead a decade. Provide rosary activities for the younger ones to use during the rosary. 

Sing. Implement the rhythm of singing hymns together when the family is driving to a place, and save other music or podcasts of choice for the way home. Create a playlist on your preferred music platform so that your favorite family hymns are ready for a time of praise and worship. 

There may be a learning curve for praying on the go, but persevere. After all, our Heavenly Father promises that where two or three are gathered in His name He is present. That means even your car can be holy ground. 

Prayer anchors throughout the day 

Find natural rhythms in the day to stop and pray. Just as farmers would stop in the fields to pray the Angelus at noon, incorporate small moments of family prayer into your daily schedule. Find a regular rhythm in your own family life, and choose a prayer or devotion that fits your family mission and put the two together. 

Sing the Doxology after breakfast. Pray the Angelus before lunch. Enjoy an after school snack and then pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Begin your evening walk with the St. Michael prayer. Whatever rhythm you choose, it will become a beautiful habit and memorable part of your family culture. 

Prayer doesn’t have to be long, silent, and surrounded by candles (although that can be good too!). Small, regular opportunities uniting in prayer add up to many beautiful moments encountering and welcoming the Lord in the daily life of your family. 

Beginning and ending the day in prayer 

If parents work outside of the home or children are in traditional school with ample extracurricular activities, morning or right before bed may be the best time to gather for family prayer. 

To incorporate Scripture into your family prayer routine, read the daily readings or the Gospel each morning before breakfast. If the children are young, a parent could read while they are eating to help them avoid distraction. 

The Liturgy of the Hours is a fantastic prayer for a bustling family because there are many times for prayer throughout the day to choose from. The podcast Sing the Hours is a beautiful resource loved by children and adults alike. 

Before heading your separate ways, it is very powerful for a parent to pray a blessing over the family and bless each child with holy water as they go forth from the home. In the evening, the family can gather at the family altar to share prayer requests and pray the Our Father and a family litany. 

To pray a family litany, invoke the intercession of the patron saint for every member of the family and any additional favorite or patron saints. Purchase a custom-made printable or create your own, and add to it as your family and devotions grow! 

Mealtime prayers

Mealtime is a natural place for family prayer. It is fitting to thank God for His abundance surrounded by loved ones and delicious food. Mealtime can be a wonderful time to share graces and mercies from the day and speak words of gratitude and encouragement to one another. 

Just as children help set the table or load the dishwasher, equip them with the skills to assist with family prayer. Give each child a specific day to lead the family mealtime prayer and watch their creativity, personal devotions, and unique relationship with Our Lord shine through their blessing.