Prayer Sticks

When our kids began to argue about whose turn it was to say the meal or family prayers, I remembered a trick used by my children’s preschool teacher and made my kids some prayer sticks with this simple prayer sticks craft.

I covered an old play-dough container with some scrapbook paper. I painted some Mod Podge (matte finish) on both sides of the paper and wrapped it around the cup (after pre-cutting to size). I painted some popsicle sticks, both sides, black. Then I printed all of our names twice onto a piece of paper and Mod-Podged them onto the painted sticks. Voila!

When it is time for us to say prayers together, mom or dad pulls out a stick. The person whose name is on the stick is the lucky winner. The sticks we pull out are then wrapped together in a rubber band. When all the sticks have been pulled, we take off the elastic and start over again.

This could work for anything your kids are taking turns for: chores, sitting shotgun in the front seat, picking a tv show, etc.

It is something the kids really enjoy and the best part is we don’t argue anymore…at least over who is going to say the prayer.