Children and Ramadan

Somehow laziness sneakily creeps in with the blessings of Ramadan. With the first Roza starts the vicious cycle of sleeping late, waking late,jumping out of the bed right in time for zuhar prayer, rushing to wudu  while motivating kids to join mama on prayer mat, stuffing kids’ stomach with some quick meal while thinking that it looks impossible to recite an entire juz before aftar, getting the lil one dressed, tending to rooms, thanking Allah that I still have wudu for Asar, letting kids watch TV a lil longer while grabbing Quran to recite ……looking at the clock and here starts the kitchen time….aftar, dinner, Maghrib, dishwashing and finally reclining at sofa to relax before Isha and Taraweeh,  with a hot cup of tea in one hand  and remote or mobile or Quran in other ........................….phew….things go on pretty well and almost in same fashion till the end of holy month. Even kids let me recite in peace if I let them watch some more TV. Though they are not supposed to watch it more than a certain time but it becomes difficult to concentrate with all juggling going all around you and it seems safer to let them watch a lil more so that I can better concentrate.

 As the days passed by I somehow realized my failure in getting my kids involved into the spirit of holy month. Their eagerness for fasting made me forget the fact that the excitement of our lil ones exhausts way before it gets mature. They need constant reminders and continuous involvement,  to keep the spirit alive throughout the month.  Obviously, it’s impossible to put everything aside for the sole purpose of concentrating over kids, yet it’s manageable. We don’t need to sit separately for mom and child ‘Ramadan Special’ sessions; everything can be done on the go.

Look at me who realized this at the time when first ashra is about to be finished but we still got three blessed weeks awaiting us and I’m all ready to embrace them with love and reverence and here is my action plan :

·         Tell a Tale: Nothing can surpass the way in which a mom can tell stories knowing the taste and level of understanding of her each child. Lectures are boring and It’s quite a torture for kids if we make them sit and listen quietly even if it’s for ten minutes, so turn all the information you have about Ramadan into tiny tales to tell in whatever time whenever you get. It’s better to share both individually with young kids in a mom and child interaction (when you are helping them getting dressed or when they are nudging you while recitation or aftar preparation) as well as having family talk at dinner or sahoor time. My kids love to hear about the rewards and surprises waiting in Jannah, inshaAllah. They give full rein to their imagination thinking about chocolate streams, candy palaces and unlimited hours of fun and play. (May Allah bless all the kids with long, healthy and righteous lives; enable them to be a pride for the parents and ummah here and hereafter, ameen!)

·         Help them mach memorize ‘duas’ or ‘supplications’ for each ‘ashara’. I’m sure there are moms who will be doing more than this but knowing my kids' pace I have decided to choose a target which they can happily hit :) 

·         Let them help you prepare the meals. There are loads of thing which they can easily do i.e.; peeling and cutting vegetables with a blunt knife, mixing batters, arranging tables, preparing drinks.  Appreciate their efforts, tell them how are they earning rewards from Allah and yes, they may be messy, clumsy and slow but they are being a part of Ramadan instead of wasting their time in other activities. My son particularly loves to chop tomatoes and my daughter has taken the job of slicing potatoes for pakoras.

·         Every family member should tell one good deed every day. I have specified dinner time for this and to keep it simpler I’ve specified deeds as well; “controlling your anger in a debate with siblings”. Which they have many and it’s a giant task for both of them to hold their tongues :P “Listening to mama.” Well, they mostly listen to their father, it’s mama who has to perform the yelling job even for a tiny task :O and “ helping siblings.” However when one claims that he or she has helped , other totally refuse the effort and another debate starts so I try to avoid this and concentrate on first ones.

·         Encourage kids to supplicate after prayers. Inspire them to ask Allah whatever they desire either it’s a toy or a task.

·        Ramadan is the month of Quran. Motivate them to spend time with Quran daily. You can decide how? I'm being easy in this too. I've asked my kids to rememorize all the surahs which they have forgotten. Though I so want them to understand the meanings as well but so far it's difficult to manage :(

·         Encourage kids to behave nicely with each other. Don't forget to be in your best moods to set an example.

·         Keep remanding them that Ramadan is a beloved guest which will leave us soon, so we should try to avail as much of its barakah as we can.

·           It’s good to be dressed nicely than usual.

·         Kids love cartoons and you can find lots of Ramadan themed cartoons, rhymes and stories on the web.

·        Repetition is very important. Keep asking questions from the stories you are telling them.

·         Prepare aftar boxes to distribute in laborers. Kids love to sort the packed food into bags.

·         Don’t forget to buy presents for your little jewels to celebrate their efforts at the end of Ramadan.

·         Motivate kids to buy small gifts for their siblings too.

Remember, aim is not to burden the kids’ innocent minds with rituals and chores but to light the incense of gratitude and graciousness which slowly seeps into the hearts. The way we cherish this bliss today, will determine the attitude of our kids, tomorrow. 

May Allah enable us to cherish each and every moment of this blessed month with our maximum faculties, ameen! Here are some links to Ramadan related activites. I really appreciate the efforts and creativity of all the wonderful people who has created them. May Allah accept our efforts and make us excel in His path, ameen!

Ramadan Puzzels and Word Games

Ramadan Facts

Creative Ramadan Activites

Ramadan Craft Ideas on Pinterest


Are your kids ready for Ramadan ?

Ramadan colouring pages

The Lantern 'a Ramadan story'