Examination of Conscience for Children
Based on the Lord's Prayer

Begin by asking your child to recite from memory the Our Father. Explain that the names ”Lord’s Prayer” and ”Our Father” refer to the same thing. If your child has not yet memorized it, this is a good time to do so.

Invite your child to take the Our Father line-by-line as in this material, and ask him or herself the questions here. They can write or draw their answers on a separate page. Give plenty of time for this, or do it in two or three occasions during the week.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

  • Do I think about God every day?
  • Do I say my prayers?
  • Do I pay attention and participate at Mass?

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

  • Am I kind to others?
  • Do I do what Jesus wants me to do?
  • Do I share with others?
  • Am I helpful to my family?
  • Do I show respect to my teachers and classmates?

Give us this day our daily bread.

  • Do I remember to say thank you?
  • Am I sometimes greedy?
  • Do I appreciate the good things I have in my life?
  • Do I think of ways to help those who have no food?
  • Do I take things that don’t belong to me?

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

  • Do I say I’m sorry when I have been wrong?
  • Do I forgive and forget when someone does something bad to me?
  • Do I help solve problems between my friends or do I cause more trouble?
  • Do I say bad things about people who have hurt me?

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

  • Do I play fairly in sports and games?
  • Do I cheat in school?
  • Do I tell the truth?
  • Do I set a good example by my kindness?
  • Do I let other kids tempt me to do things I know I shouldn’t do?
by Diane Laney Fitzpatrick, Stay-at-Home Parents Feature Writer. Used with permission. The original version can be found at this link.