As we enter this blessed month of Ramadan, the focus personally and across the community switches to increased ebaadah and good deeds. And what better good deeds than the tarbiyyah of our children?
The sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to make wool toys for their children during Ramadan as an encouragement to fast and a distraction from the hunger. So in the 21st century, how are we guiding and encouraging our kids to build a better connection with Allah in this most holy of months?
Visual Calendars
Each year, I create a visual representation of the days of Ramadan for my kids. Especially for those below the age of 10, visually representing the abstract idea of a month simplifies this concept for them.
Some things I’ve done over the years:
- kraft paper pouches hanging from wooden stick
- canvas pouches hanging from a rope
- varying sizes of small boxes creating a mini village
- letters arriving in a mailbox
- 3D paper origami-style stars
- a calendar with pockets
Read Aloud Books
We also incorporate a lot of Muslim-authored books during this month especially. Some are about Ramadan and some are about other Islamic themes like salah, charity, kindness, etc
Check out the highlights on the Instagram page for suggestions
Crafts and Activities
And for those days when the fasting hours really start taking a toll on the kids, some messy crafts and activities can really help to pass some time.
- felted Ramadan shields
- decorate a paper lantern
- toilet paper roll binoculars to spot the moon
Treats
And what is excitement without a bit of sugar?!!! Each day, the kids get a small treat: usually a candy or a chocolate. Some years, they open the box/pouch and find it there. Other years, we have a dedicated candy box that they choose something from.
And then come Eid, we gift them something they wanted making extra sure to verbally acknowledge the hard work they put in during Ramadan.
Older Kids
And now, with kids moving into the adolescence stage, I created a few trackers to mark the pages as he strives towards his goal of reading one Juzz on his own. The visual tracker and act of colouring in a page each time has been a nice self-motivator for my son. And the whole Quran tracker is one I personally use.
- Juzz by Juzz tracker. Perfect for kids.
- Full Quran tracker. Perfect for anyone aiming to complete a reading of the whole Quran
Ramadan Mubaarak everyone!
From The Pearl Tent family to you
