Hey Kutuby Fam!! Ramadan is around the block, and it’s time to gear up for fasting. We sure can’t wait, and this week we are discussing 10 ways to get your kids excited for Ramadan too!
Every action a son of Adam does shall be multiplied—a good action by ten times its value, up to 700 times. Allah says: With the exception of fasting, which belongs to Me, and I reward it accordingly. For one abandons his desire and food for My sake. There are two occasions of joy for a fasting person: one when he breaks his fast and the other when he meets his Lord, and the (bad) breath (of a fasting person) is better in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk”. – Al Bukhari
The holy month of Ramadan is a time of great excitement and bustle for Muslims around the world. For families with little kids, even more so. However, sometimes we can be unsure how our children imbibe the uniqueness of this holy month. Precisely for this reason, we have rounded up 10 tried and tested ideas you can do before and during Ramadan to get your children excited for the month!
9 Ways to Prepare Your Kids For Ramadan
1. Create a Festive Atmosphere
If you grew up in the ’90s, your folks probably never cared much for Ramadan decor. However, the challenge of making our festivities attractive to kids is real. If possible, make efforts to do up the house, or at least their rooms, in anticipation of Ramadan. You may make the decor yourself if you sport a creative side. If not, consider buying some budget-friendly decor items you can reuse for Ramadan and Eid every year.
You can use lights, Ramadan banners, balloons, scented candles, tablemats, rugs, and wall hangings to mark the beginning of the Holy month.
2. Get Crafty
For the severely artistically impaired, simple DIY crafts are life savers. Bring your kids together and look up some simple yet creative Ramadan-themed crafts. It can be an excellent opportunity to explain what Ramadan is all about—for example, making cards and writing messages like “Ramadan Kareem”, “The month of Quran”, and “Ramadan Mubarak” can serve as a conversation starter to discuss the virtues of the holy month.
Talk to kids about the moon’s phases and how the new moon marks the beginning of Ramadan or any other month in the Islamic calendar through simple crafts or drawings. Here are 30 beautiful crafts for 30 days you and your little Muslims can try from!
3. Visit the Mosque
Try to make a family routine where the whole lot dresses up smartly and visits the mosque for Taraweeh prayers. Physically experiencing rows and rows of worshippers standing shoulder to shoulder in prayer significantly strengthens and awakens their Imaan. It may inspire them to pray Salah, fast, and create a sense of togetherness. The spiritual aura surrounding the mosque, where Muslims greet each other and eagerly wait for Ramadan, is a beautiful sight encouraging kids to visit the mosque often.
4. Bedtime Stories
Share your childhood Ramadan memories or narrate stories where your child is the main character in a dreamy Ramadan night. You can discuss the lives of the prophets, the Night of Power, or the revelation of the Holy Qur’an to children at bedtime. It could be an exciting way to introduce kids to Ramadan. Additionally, there are several children’s books by Muslim authors centred around Ramadan that you can read aloud to your kids at bedtime. Here is a list of Kutuby’s most recommended children’s books that we love!
5. Being Grateful
Iftaar is the heart of Ramadan for every young Muslim. Encourage your kids to prepare simple, delicious snacks for Iftar. They could also help to set up and decorate the table for Iftar or hand out dates and water to elders while breaking their fast.
6. Iftar/Suhoor party for Kids
Hosting a suhoor or iftar party for children and their friends during Ramadan can get them excited to get into the Ramadan spirit. This may include kids gathering at one place and breaking their fast (they don’t really need to be fasting to have Iftar!), having suhoor like grown-ups, eating dates and their favourite snacks, and also praying Taraweeh. We can also teach them Dua’s to recite during the appropriate times. Iftar and Suhoor get-togethers are a fun way to introduce them to the concept of fasting which starts at dusk and ends at dawn.
7. Sadaqah
The Prophet (SAW) was the most generous of all people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Jibreel AS met him. Jibreel AS would meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur’an.
“Allah’s Messenger ﷺ SAW then used to be more generous than the fast wind.” (Al-Bukhari)
The holy month of Ramadan is not only about delicious iftars but also about counting our numerous blessings and being grateful for them. Encourage your children to think of ways they can help and do Sadaqah in this holy month. Remind them that Sadaqah doesn’t have to be about giving money, rather any good deed done for others counts as Sadaqah. It can be helping out a sibling, offering food to those needy, or even smiling at one’s grandparents.
8. Countdown to Eid!
Counting down to Eid with small gifts or little notes of love and encouragement can go a long way in making children look forward to Ramadan. For example, gift your kids with unique prayer mats just for them and watch them beam excitedly
performing their Salah! You can also gift them children’s books on the theme of Ramadan and Eid to nurture the joy of the month lovingly.
What are some traditional ways you introduce the beautiful month of Ramadan to your children? Let us know what you would like to read about, and see you next week with another blog, Inshallah!
