Can anyone recommend a non-religious prayer book?

[sewarsh]

I'd like my kids to start saying prayers at night but don't want anything too religious (my kids & DH are jewish, I am catholic).

Anything out there like this?
Thanks.

[lizzywednesday]

I'm not sure how a "prayer" book could be non-religious - "prayer" is a term usually associated with religion.

Maybe you should look at "meditations" rather than "prayers"?

Or, if what you meant was "Non-Christian", maybe ask your DH's rabbi for advice?

[TwinFoxes]

Do you maybe mean non-denominational?

[marie]

Waldorf schools use lots of "verses" which are spiritual'ish.

On the left side of this blog page, there are links to some:

http://themysticalkingdom.blogspot.com/

[elliput]

The link marie posted led me to The Barefoot Book of Blessings (http://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Book-Blessings-Sabrina-Dearborn/dp/1846860695/ref=pd_cp_b_1). Not sure if it is your style at all, but it could be of interest to others.

[wellyes]

I've seen one or two specific prayer books but didn't love any of them. There is one by a UU minister that includes vague prayers from a wide variety of faiths. Really good intentions but I found it unsatisfying.

How about The Children's Book of Virtues? Stories, poems, prayers from a variety of sources. Stories are short, simple versions of The Tortoise and the Hare, Little Red Hen, The Mouse and the Lion, that kind of thing.

[PunkyBoo]

I really like "Saying Grace: Blessings for the Family Table" bug it is geared toawrd mealtimes blessings, not bedtime. My Dh used to do a bedtime prayer for the kids in Spanish but I adapted it into an English prayer before I converted to Catholic. Its just "Dear God, Thank you for all the wonderful blessings you have given us. We appreciate them all very much. We have a nice house, a haply family, good health and a nice life. We ask that's you continue to bless us tonight, and tomorrow, and all the days to come. And we ask ghat you bless the people you have given us, especially ( then we list anyone we want to pray for either for skmeones birthday or a hard time their having, etc." Then we go around and each get to name someone or something we want to pray for. Punkin usually prays for lions in the wild so they don't become extinct. :)

[citymama]

I've always loved Earth Prayers (http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Prayers-around-World-Invocations/dp/006250746X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346957489&sr=1-1&keywords=earth+prayers). The same series also includes Life Prayers (http://www.amazon.com/Life-Prayers-Blessings-Affirmations-Celebrate/dp/006251377X/ref=pd_sim_b_1), although I haven't seen it IRL.

Or something like this Thank You Prayer (http://www.amazon.com/Thank-You-Prayer-Josephine-Page/dp/0439680999/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346957612&sr=1-12&keywords=childs+prayers) seems good for little kids.

lizzywednesday, prayer books can absolutely be non denominational. My kids are being raised non denom and they say prayers (gratitude, health) daily - no religious connotations or verbiage.

[Liziz]

We just received a book called A Child's First Book of Prayers by Lois Rock and Alison Jay. I like it -- lots of very simple prayers on a wide array of topics (prayers for the morning, the world, when we're out and about, animals, sad times, etc.) It's very nicely illustrated, too. For almost the entire book, it references "God" or "Lord", but I just checked it again and found a 2 prayers (in the 200 page book) that reference "Jesus".

[ehlana06]

We just received a book called A Child's First Book of Prayers by Lois Rock and Alison Jay. I like it -- lots of very simple prayers on a wide array of topics (prayers for the morning, the world, when we're out and about, animals, sad times, etc.) It's very nicely illustrated, too. For almost the entire book, it references "God" or "Lord", but I just checked it again and found a 2 prayers (in the 200 page book) that reference "Jesus".

We have this too. I have actually found, though, that DS responded better when we let him come up with his own prayer. It is very childlike, of course, but it personalizes prayer when he has a part in it other than just reciting.

His prayer typically goes like this...
Dear Father,
Thank you for this day and for my food. Let it nourish and strengthen my body. Amen

It seems like more of a mealtime prayer but he is proud of it and it encourages him to pray. If there is anything weighing on his mind at the time when we are saying prayer then he just adds it in. He's only 3 so we try to keep it simple.

[fivi2]

I thought of the Earth Prayers linked above also. My sister used to have it, but I haven't looked at it in a while.

[Momit]

I often like the sentiments and spirituality expressed in Native American prayers and blessings.

For example:
"As I Walk with Beauty"

As I walk, as I walk

The universe is walking with me

In beauty it walks before me

In beauty it walks behind me

In beauty it walks below me

In beauty it walks above me

Beauty is on every side

As I walk, I walk with Beauty.

Traditional Navajo Prayer

I just Googled Native American blessings and found a bunch on this website:http://www.angelfire.com/md/elanmichaels/prayers.html