As teachers and youth leaders, we are always looking for ways to make prayer less of a routine and more of a meaningful connection for the children in our care. Sometimes, a little bit of colour (and a little bit of sugar!) is all it takes to shift the atmosphere.

The Candy Prayer Challenge is simple, low-prep, and effective at teaching children how to pray specifically for others.

Best suited for: ages 8–14.

A quick note before you start: Check with parents or carers about allergies (nuts, gluten, dairy) before handing out sweets. If sweets are not an option for your group, swap them for coloured paper tokens, stickers, or sweets wrapped in coloured paper.

What You’ll Need

• Individually wrapped sweets in four colours: red, orange, yellow, and green. Caramels or fruit chews work well, but any sweet will do.

How It Works:

1. The Mystery Distribution

Pass around a bowl and ask each child to pick exactly two sweets, making sure they are different colours. Don’t tell them why yet — let the curiosity build.

2. The Reveal

Once everyone has their sweets, announce that these aren’t just snacks — they are prayer prompts. Explain that you will be breaking into small groups of two or three for a five-minute focused prayer time.

3. The Colour Code

Assign a specific prayer focus to each colour. Display these on a screen or whiteboard:

• 🔴 Red — Family. Pray that your family would grow closer to the Lord, spend more time with Him, and have the courage to speak about Jesus to others.
• 🟠 Orange — Friends and peers. Pray for those who do not yet know the Lord, asking that their hearts would be opened to the gospel.
• 🟡 Yellow — Spiritual leaders. Pray for pastors, teachers, and missionaries who spend their lives sharing the Bible with the world.
• 🟢 Green — Government and leaders. Pray for the leaders of your country, that they would seek God’s wisdom in the decisions they make.

The Prayer Time

Since each child has two different colours, they each have two distinct prayer focuses. In their small groups, have them take turns praying for their assigned topics.

Why This Works

This activity moves children away from vague prayers (like “God, bless everyone”) and teaches them to intercede for their families, their nation, and the lost with intentionality. The sweet treat afterwards becomes a small reminder of God’s goodness.

(Image:Adobe Express)