People who pray take life’s ups and downs with grace and peace. Here are 10 basic Catholic prayers to teach your children:

• Sign of the Cross: Prayed before and after other prayers, it reminds us we do all things in God’s name.
  
  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
  
  
• Our Father: A great morning or evening prayer to say as a family.
  
  Our Father, who art in heaven,
  hallowed be thy Name,
  thy kingdom come,
  thy will be done,
  on earth as it is in heaven.
  Give us this day our daily bread.
  And forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive those
  who trespass against us.
  And lead us not into temptation,
  but deliver us from evil. Amen.
  
  
• Hail Mary: Learning this prayer is the first step toward praying the Rosary.
  
  Hail Mary, full of grace.
  The Lord is with thee.
  Blessed art thou amongst women,
  and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
  Holy Mary, Mother of God,
  pray for us sinners,
  now and at the hour of our death.
  Amen.
  
  
• Glory Be: Any child can learn this simple prayer of praise.
  
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
  Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
  be, world without end. Amen.
  
  
• Act of Faith: A nice way to start the day.
  
  O my God,
  I firmly believe that you are one God
  in three divine Persons,
  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  I believe that your divine son became man,
  died for our sins,
  and that he will come to judge the living and the dead.
  I believe these and all the truths
  which the holy Catholic Church teaches,
  because you who have revealed them,
  who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
  Amen.
  
  
• Act of Hope: Children can pray it before a test or other times they need God’s help.
  
  O my God,
  relying on your almighty power
  and infinite mercy and promises,
  I hope to obtain pardon of my sins,
  the help of your grace,
  and life everlasting
  through the merits of Jesus Christ,
  my Lord and Redeemer.
  Amen.
  
  
• Act of Charity: Expresses love for God, but it is also a daily reminder to forgive and love others.
  
  O my God, I love you above all things with my whole heart and
  soul because you are all good and worthy of all my love.
  I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you.
  I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I
  have injured. Amen.
  
  
• Act of Contrition: Essential for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but a nice prayer for bedtime, too.
  
  My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to
  do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you
  whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your
  help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever
  leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for
  us. In his name, my God, have mercy. Amen.
  
  
• Grace: before meals. Reminds us that all good things come from God.
  
  Bless us O Lord, and these, thy gifts, which we are
  about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ our
  Lord. Amen.
  
  
• Guardian Angel Prayer: Helps us remember that God sends us help in many different ways.
  
  Guardian Angel from heaven so bright, Watching beside me to
  lead me aright, Fold thy wings round me, and guard me with
  love, Softly sing songs to me of heaven above. Amen.