Chat and Catch - Prayer and Prophecy made simple for kids
Introducing Chat and Catch: Helping Children Connect with God
At Croydon Vineyard we want to see our kids go beyond learning about God and on to the wonderful adventure of enjoying a personal relationship with him as disciples of Jesus. Along with Bible study and other means, we have prayer and hearing God’s voice as key tools in buliding this God-connection. We sometimes call prayer and hearing God’s voice ‘chat and catch’, taken from Parenting for Faith, we use this everyday, converstaion style to help remove barriers for the children in our Sunday groups so they can chat to God and listen to him just like Sammuel did!
You, our wonderful parents and guardians, can also use this at home to make prayer more accessible and here’s some more information to help you encourage your kids to grow in their prayer life, removing the barriers and helping to make room for them to develope a vibrant and life-long relationship with God
Chat – Talking to God
"Chat" is about helping children understand that they can talk to God about everything and at anytime, not just before bed or using specific, holy words. Just like we chat with a friend and tell them the funny joke we heard or the sad thing that happened that day, whether it’s silly or serious, God is here, a part of it all and loves to chat with us about real, everyday things.
To chat to God we invite kids to get comfortable or walk around, helping them see that their body posture isn’t a barrier to talking to God. We explain that they can chat to God like this at anytime during the day, as they walk to school, lay in their beds, or even sitting on the loo. God is here and loves when you share the details of your life with him.
This approach removes pressure—there’s no need for perfect words or lengthy prayers. Children learn that they can:
Say whatever is on their mind, from “I’m scared of my maths test” to “Thanks for my hamster.”
Talk to God silently, whispering, or out loud.
Use their emotions—like a sigh, a smile, or even a yell—to express what’s in their heart.
By modeling and practicing chatting with God in all sorts of settings (car rides, playtime, bedtime), we show children that prayer doesn’t need to be formal—it’s just talking with their heavenly Father, who’s always listening.
See the link below called 101 ways to start a converstaion with God for some fun ideas to get started.
Catch – Listening to God
"Catch" is about helping children learn to recognize when and how God is communicating back. Catching from God, just like catching a ball, involves the whole body. We may ‘catch’ from God with our minds, our bodies, our feelings and even our dreams!
To catch from God we hlep the kids understand when and what God is saying to them. Sometimes we can physically feel him in the room or with us really close, there may be goose bumps or a feeling of peace. We may see pictures or remember things in our minds as we chat to God or read his word. We may have dreams and sense that God’s speaking through them. We may feel joy, peace, and very loved or courageous. Sometimes we may even see God or hear him audibly. Sometimes God speaks to us for other people, we may catch something and know it’s for someone else, a friend or relative or for the Church.
Children are naturally intuitive, and catching gives them permission to notice and trust how God might be speaking personally to them. This could look like:
Thoughts or ideas that pop into their minds.
A picture in their imagination or a word they feel in their heart.
A Bible verse or story that suddenly feels especially meaningful.
A feeling of peace, joy, or comfort that seems to come from outside themselves.
We help children “tune in” by slowing down, being curious, and noticing what’s going on inside them. They begin to realise that God loves to speak to them in ways they can understand.
It’s also good to remember that at times it can also be hard to hear God or catch from him and that happens to everybody. We can always remember that God is good, he is our loving Father and has good things in store for us and anything catch from God can be measured against the Bible to see if it lines up. The Bible helps us discern what is from God.
Why It Matters
Chat and Catch isn’t about performance—it’s about relationship. When we create space for children to explore prayer in this way, we give them tools to walk closely with God throughout life. It builds their confidence, nurtures their faith, and helps them know God as real, kind, always near and very much alive and active in their lives right now!
Links from parenting for faith on Chat and Catch and how to pray with your kids
Chat and Catch intro by Rachel Turner
101 ways to start a converstaion with God
2 testimonies