Today is Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan - the eve of the new Jewish month of Sivan - which is a special time to recite a prayer for children: your actual or future children, children you teach... or just children in general. 

Of course, praying any heartfelt prayer for our children is great at any time. However, the  Shelah HaKadosh composed a prayer for children with the optimal time to recite this prayer being Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan - right now! 

Why specifically Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan? Because it is in the month of Sivan (on the 6th) when Hashem gave the Torah to the Jewish People; and with the giving of the Torah, the Jewish People were referred to as "HaShem's Children." So as we enter the month where we become HaShem's children, we pray for our own children. The Shelah HaKodesh writes that on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, parents should recite this prayer, give charity to the poor, and if possible, fast. (Fasting is actually a custom for the very pious every Erev Rosh Chodesh, which is also called  Yom Kippur Katan; and similar to Yom Kippur, it is a special time for doing teshuva.)

Click on the pictures above to view them larger, or click here to download the prayer from the Shelah HaKadosh, in Hebrew and English, courtesy of Artscroll.

Along the same line,  the Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasized the importance of this time of year as it relates to our children. 

Here's an excerpt from the  Rebbe's Sicha (Discourse) from Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 5740 (1980): 

"...'Our children are our guarantors.' Hence, now is a proper time and place for educators, and most importantly fathers and mothers, to take upon themselves good resolutions; to use the time between now and Shavuos, - the season of the giving of our Torah, - to speak to children, both boys and girls, about the importance of (this time). In general, they should speak to the children about the giving of the Torah, explaining to them what Torah is, that it is the Torah of Life, the Torah of Kindness, and the Torah of Truth. The children must be explained that they were the guarantors, in whose merit the Torah was given initially after the Jews left Egypt. Likewise, it is their merit which causes the Torah to be given each year, - in the season of the giving of our Torah, - and also each day, as our Sages commented, 'Each day (the words of Torah) should be new in your eyes.'..."  

 

Good Chodesh, Good Chodesh!