The month of Ramadan brings blessings for all Muslims – young and old. Young children show a lot of excitement and anticipation on special occasions. Generally, children are an important part of a Muslim community. The Quran describes true believers as those who are concerned about the spiritual welfare of their families.
“Our Lord, Give us, from our spouses and our children, comfort of eyes, and make us heads of the God-fearing.” [Translation: 25:74]
The above verse mentions a dua that the pious Muslims make for their families and children. It enhances the significance of engaging with one’s children and spending quality time with family members.
The Prophet’s (SAW) teachings highlight the importance of involving kids in daily matters of Muslim life. There are various narrations that mention the presence of his grandchildren in the mosque and his immense kindness towards them. The companions have reported that the Prophet (SAW) used to pray while carrying his granddaughter. According to a report:
“I saw the Messenger of Allah (SAW) leading the people in prayer, with Umaamah bint Abi-al-Aas on his shoulders. When he bowed he would put her down and when he stood up from prostrating, he would pick her up again.”
Similarly, the Messenger (SAW) used to carry his grandsons, al-Hasan and al-Husain, during prayer, making prostration longer if they climbed on his back.
Islam places great importance on treating kids with kindness and love. One way of showing kindness is spending time with them and giving them opportunities to learn from others’ examples. The Prophet (SAW) said:
“Whoever is deprived of kindness is deprived of goodness.” Muslim 2592
The holy month of Ramadan offers immense opportunities to engage children and teach them about Islam. It is important to make use of this blessed time by involving kids in different aspects of fasting. Read on to find out practical ideas for organising Ramadan children’s activities to inspire young minds.
Many Muslims take their kids to the mosque for prayers, talks and other activities. Although young children do not have to participate in night prayers, it is important for them to observe Taraweeh. Attending the mosque in the company of other community members is beneficial for their well-being. Most kids learn by doing things themselves. Joining children’s Ramadan activities at the mosque is the best way to develop an understanding of Ramadan.
Besides prayers, children can help get the mosque ready for Iftar by putting the mats, cutlery, and plates in the given space. They can also help with giving out dates and tidying up for prayer times.
Ramadan is a time when everyone in the Muslim community fasts. Even those who are not fasting due to illness or other valid reasons do not eat in public. This gives children the motivation to participate in fasting. While older kids join in the actual fasting spirit of Ramadan, the younger ones can also earn the reward of eating Suhoor. After Suhoor, kids above the age of seven can try to fast for a few hours by having breakfast later than normal or missing breakfast altogether and just having lunch. This will train them to fast full days when they reach the right age and ability.
Iftar is the most interesting time for families in Ramadan. Everyone gathers at the dinner table at this time, participating in dua before breaking the day-long fast. Traditionally, children look forward to Iftar time and request their favourite dishes to be cooked. It is a good idea to involve them in meal preparation and shopping for the required ingredients. Children can help with setting up meal planners for the whole week, which will include their food choices and increase their enthusiasm for Iftar time. This is also an opportunity to teach kids about the need to include vital nutrients in their food during Ramadan.
Iftar is a time of great virtue. Children should be educated about sharing food and spreading kindness. They can help adults by taking food to friends and neighbours or passing the snacks around at home.
Books are a great way of spending time as a family during the noble month. Parents can share Ramadan stories and relevant books with children at home. There are many books available on the topic of fasting and Eid, which make for interesting Ramadan activities for kids. These can be read online or bought to be kept as a collection. For younger kids, rhyming books or picture books are more helpful.
There are various craft ideas available online to engage young minds. These can be downloaded to be used with children and can include paper lanterns, drawing of moon phases, mosque design and bunting. Card-making is also one of the Ramadan kids’ activities, which is sure to give them hours of fun. These colourful Ramadan or Eid cards can be given to friends and relatives on completion.
Eid gifts make the whole Ramadan exciting for children. While it is advisable to avoid extravagance, it is beneficial for children to come up with some simple Ramadan and Eid gift ideas. It is equally important to remind kids about the less fortunate people and include gifts for needy children. They can also participate in other ways to donate for charitable purposes. You can give them money to donate to the charity box kept at the mosque, or they can use some of their pocket money to do so. You can also use this occasion to teach them how to donate online to help those in distant areas.
Take this opportunity to donate to Muslim Aid and help those in great need of your support this Ramadan.
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