7 ways to bring the joy of Ramadan to your children
Festive decorations, activity packs and storytelling can all help make the holy month enlightening and engaging
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For Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a cherished time for spiritual reflection, self-improvement and community. Making the holy month engaging for children in a non-Muslim country can, however, raise challenges. For some, Ramadan can feel like an abstract concept and less exciting than other major religious holidays celebrated in Europe but, with a little planning, parents can create a memorable and joyful experience for younger family members.
From decorating your home and the giving of Eid presents to fasting challenges and encouraging small acts of kindness, there are plenty of ways to get your children involved. Here are some tried and tested tips to help your children embrace the beauty of Ramadan.
Decorate your home
Adorn your home with Ramadan decorations for a real sense of occasion. Put up lights, lanterns or even a crescent moon tree with small gifts underneath. Create a themed dining setup with special plates and cutlery for iftars. Add a Ramadan countdown calendar with pouches filled with little treats, which your children can open as the month progresses.
Ramadan activity packs
Farida Salisu, a 33-year-old mother of two from Sheffield, makes Ramadan activity packs for her children, aged eight and five. In each one, she includes a colouring book, dates, Zamzam water and books telling stories about the prophets.
“I encourage them to learn about these things so they can share with others and truly understand their faith,” she says. “When they covered Islam in school, my son was able to explain everything he knew to his classmates. His teacher later told me that he knew more than she did.”
Tell stories
Many children learn best through images and stories. Islamic cartoons such as Omar & Hana or Zaky & Friends explain Ramadan through educational songs about different aspects of Islam. You could also share bedtime stories about the Prophet Muhammad and Islamic values. Relatable and engaging narratives help younger minds get to grips with the spiritual importance of the holy month.
Encourage acts of kindness
Performing a daily act of kindness — helping a sibling, sharing toys or making dua for others — can be a fun and creative challenge. “Every day I encourage my kids to do an act of kindness, whether it’s holding the door open for their teacher or smiling at someone,” says Zarah Bello, a mother of three children aged between eight and 12, from London. From a selection of small gifts under the family Ramadan tree, she rewards the child who performs the most acts of kindness each day.
Celebrate!
Make Ramadan a big deal and count down to Eid with a sense of excitement. Show your children that Ramadan is their special holiday by buying Eid outfits, cards and gifts together.
“Every Eid, my kids will hand out cards to their classmates,” says Salisu. “We also make gift packs for their friends and include snacks, small toys and other goodies for the children to enjoy. Mine really enjoy shopping and putting them together.”
Make fasting fun
While young children are not required to fast, you can help them feel involved by letting them take part in mini-fasts, where they delay breakfast or skip snacks for a few hours. Or why not let them fast for half a day, and reward them with a special treat afterwards? Linking fasting and positive rewards can make it exciting. If your children have Muslim friends, you and their friends’ parents could also encourage them all to fast together for motivation.
“My son has a few Muslim friends in his class and they all fast together,” says Bello. “They have a prayer space in their school and so they encourage each other to pray as well. If he was alone, perhaps he wouldn’t feel as comfortable doing it.”
Plan plenty of social activities
Ramadan is a time for community, so make sure your children have lots of company during the holy month. Attend family-friendly events, such as the Ramadan Tent Project’s Open Iftars, organise gatherings at your home and visit the mosque for Taraweeh prayers, after which older kids can meet up with friends.
“We keep up the excitement by inviting people over for iftar every week,” says Bello. “We tend to have our neighbours over for the first week, then for the second, my eldest invites her friends. Then my son will invite his friends the following week. Everyone gets the chance to make iftar their thing.”
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