Make Ramadan the Happiest Month of the Year for your Kids

Focus of Ramadan is Endurance and Tolerance

In my childhood Ramadan used to come in winters and we had to go to schools, do the home works; I still remember I had my board exams in Ramadan as well. That is why my parents did not have enough time to educate us about it (Although they did pretty well now I realize that). But parents of today are lucky that their kids are going to spend their Ramadan under their supervision in vacation. It will be a great opportunity to educate them about Islam and develop their religious habits. Following measures will help you to make Ramadan special and fun for your kids.

Picture Source: webneel.com

Family Meeting

Before Ramadan have a family meeting about it. If you have family dinner tradition then it can be discussed on that. In this meeting parents will make their kids aware about Ramadan, what is it and how we observe it. Parents are going to describe the hidden message of Ramadan and elaborate its blessings. Furthermore they will discuss how their life is going to be changed. If your kid has the age to begin fasting then discuss that as well. Set fasting targets for your kids as well.

Respect Ramadan

Make sure that you teach your kids to respect Ramadan. That means they are not going to eat in public. They are not going to eat unnecessarily. They are going to respect those who have fast particularly their siblings and servants. They would also avoid music and TV; although they should not go for them in the rest of the months but at least they could do it in a specific month.

Furthermore, clarify to them that Ramadan is not the month for eating it is basically to inculcate tolerance.

Picture Source: joemiller.us

Take them to grocery shopping

People need some additional groceries for Ramadan; when you go for shopping take your kids as well and explain them why they are here. Then give them an opportunity to shop some items for the needy people which they might need in Ramadan like juices (sharbat); also ask your kids to distribute them too.

Fast before Ramadan

If you are planning to make your kid fast for the first time then it is better that you make him fast at least once before Ramadan. This will make them practice that. Furthermore if your kid has started to fast for few years, this exercise will be good for them as well.

Goals

Set some goals for your kids to be achieved in Ramadan and reward them as well. This will help them to develop their habits like if the finish half of the Quran in Ramadan they will get the toy they want. Hence after few years they will be habitual of finishing Quran in Ramadan. For kids of 5 or 6 you can ask them to pray at least thrice a day. You can also ask them to learn the Quranic Surahs by heart like Surah Asra and Kausar with meaning and then extend it.

Picture Source: productivemuslim.com

Make their Ramadan schedule

Sit with the kids and make a Ramadan schedule with them. Include their goals in them. As their sleeping and waking up timings will be changed their meal times will be changed so incorporate all of them in the schedule. Furthermore assign them small duties for Shaher and Iftar like making juice or lay the table. Make them part of it. Mention their prayer, tilawah and tarawih timings.

Place the charts

Sit with your kids and make different charts and decoration pieces especially for Ramadan. For example download the sehar and iftar time chart and decorate it. Make the charts of duaas regarding Ramadan like duaa to keep the fast or to break it or duaa of taraweh. You can also make Ramadan greeting charts and kids prayer and fasting checklist.

Picture Source: paxpuzzle.com

Wake them up at Sahoor

Generally mothers find it difficult to wake their kids up at shaoor. In my opinion that is wrong. By making kids part of your sehri will develop their enthusiasm for fasting. Furthermore they will be habitual to practice the actual drill. They can also go to fajar prayers and can do tilawah. They will realize the fact that after certain time they will not be allowed to eat.

Picture Source: in.pinterest.com

Make them fast

If you are kid is capable of offering his or her prayers five times a day then make them fast as well. Furthermore for the younger kids make them practice the fast. You can simply schedule their eating timings and they would not be allowed to eat or drink other than that. For example, if your kid does Sehri then offer him a supper and then Iftar. In this way they will be practicing half fast.

Furthermore, do not let them eat just after sehri and just before iftar. Make them practice to control their cravings and respect the Ramadan and fast.

Celebrate their first fast 

If your kid is going to fast for the first time then celebrate that because it’s a big achievement. Invite their friends to celebrate or at least distribute iftar among poor in that joy. Make the day memorable for him. I know it’s not mandatory in Islam but it will motivate the kid to fast in the future.

Picture Source:  http://www.etsy.com

Invite their friends

 Do host of small Ramadan iftar party of your kids’ friends. On that make them share their Ramadan knowledge and let them share their fasting experiences. Small motivational lectures can be part of it.

Picture Source: mezba.blogspot.com

Charity

Most of the people pay their zakat in the month of Ramadan; do it by the hands of your kids this will make them habitual of doing this. Some parents might be following this so, they can ask the kids to do the charity from their favorite things too like from their toys.

Another way in this regard is that when you are buying clothes of Eid for your kids buy some for the needy kids as well and ask your kids to give those.

It is also suggested to distribute iftar in Ramadan. Do not make it too hard for you just share from your Iftar. Make sure to distribute the ifatar among the needy people at least one day. You go to your servant’s house or in big cities they can stand on the traffic signal to help people to break the fast.

Picture Source:  productivemuslim.com

Tarawih

Tarawih is an important prayer of Ramadan. For younger kids it is not possible to be a part of it in the mosque but make sure that you take them for tarawih on alternate days or once in week. If your kid is fasting them make sure that he offers tarawih too. If it is not possible for the fathers to get their kids for tarawih then mothers can make them pray with her. While teaching them about tarawih to your elder kids make sure to clarify them that if they are not physically capable of offering their complete tarawih in mosque then they can complete it at home with smaller Surahs.

Picture Source: islamstory.com

Itekaf camp

Itekaf is another important aspect of Ramadan. To explain the meaning of it make an Itekaf camp for them at home and let them observe it for few hours.

Picture Source: ilmfeed.com

Reduce TV

I know TV and music should not be allowed to kids throughout the year but from this Ramadan you can make practice to live without them. Instead of music make your kids listen to tilawat, hammad or Asma-ul-Husna. This will improve their recitation as well.

We elders think that kids feel happy when we buy them toys or take them to trips; we might not realize the real treasure of their childhood is their prayers and family time together. They will remember this till the end of their lives. When they feel happy in their Prayers or Ibadah they will never quit it.

Picture Source: whatsapp99.com

For more blogs like these please like and share our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/soulinstituteharipurkpkpakistan/

Sidra Shoaib

Senior Research Officer SOUL