Ramadan For Kids – Little Muslim Books Blog
I remember as a kid, Ramadan was a time that I always enjoyed. The time with family and iftar get-togethers. Now, as a mummy of young children, I want my children to enjoy Ramadan but I also want them to understand Ramadan for kids.
Before I begin, let’s talk about Ramadan. Ramadan is the month of fasting, which is the fourth pillar of Islam. It’s the 9th month in the Islamic calendar which continues for 29 to 30 days where Muslims keep a fast from sunrise until sunset. Ramadan is a month that helps us better understand the needy and those who don’t have enough to eat or to feed their families. It is a month of giving and making sure we remember such people and give them adequate rations as well so they are also able to fulfill the rituals of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
What is Ramadan for Kids?
Ramadan is a time to teach children about Islam and bring them a little closer to Allah. What we must remember as parents is that our children’s comprehension of ‘Allah’ has not yet properly developed. It is important not to overwhelm our children at a very young age. That being said, young children soak up information and we should take advantage of this and build some good foundations.
Ramadan is the optimal time for kids to understand why Ramadan and the other pillars of Islam like Salah and Zakaat exist. Depending on the age, it may be a good time to teach children how we perform Salah.
Fasting starts at Suhoor, which is the time before the Fajr prayer and ends in Iftar which starts with the Maghrib prayer. Older kids should be encouraged to participate at both times even if they are not obligated to fast.
It’s a month of constant Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) which means that kids should be taught the importance of thanking Allah for all he has blessed us with as well as asking for his forgiveness for any wrongdoing. This brings a sense of humility in children and they also embody kindness. Children should understand that as Muslims, we make mistakes, what’s important is that we learn from them and ask for forgiveness from Allah.
Ramadan Activities for Kids
Ramadan is a time when children should be engaged in activities that help develop their understanding of Ramadan and their love for Ramadan. I’ve shared some of my ideas below.
- Teach them about Islam through stories of the prophets. One thing about children is that they love listening to stories. This brings their imagination to life and gives them an understanding of Islam. Each story in Islam has a message and this is what we want our children to take away. Don’t worry if they do not express this understanding as this often happens subconsciously. We have a collection of Kids Islamic Books which includes stories about the prophets.
- Completing activity books on Islam. These allow children to be actively engaged and learn about Islam. We have the 5 pillars activity books collection which contains 5 activity books, each on one of the pillars of Islam.
- Simple tasks at home. As parents, we always think about unique activities to help our children learn about Islam. Sometimes the most simple things are the most effective. Asking your children to help cook or even make the table engages them in Ramadan and family life.
- Helping the less fortunate. Whilst our children are young, we should talk to them about the less fortunate. Being born in the UK means our children are blessed with shelter and food, which are blessings from Allah. Take your children to donate food to a shelter and let them become involved in giving at a young age.
- Decorate the home for Ramadan. Decorating the house during the holy month is a great activity to do with your children. Ramadan is a blessed month and as well as preparing spiritually, we should decorate the home so our children know that this month is different from all others. We have a selection of Ramadan Decorations that can help spruce up your home for Ramadan.
- Teach your children about Salah. Ramadan is a good time to help our children learn Salah. Our Kids Prayer Mats are perfect for children up to the age of 8. They can copy their parents when they pray. Let’s be honest, nothing feels nicer than our children praying with us. If you want to go a step further then there is the My Salah Mat, which actually teaches children the words of Salah and the correct movements.
- Give your children a Ramadan Calendar. A Ramadan Calendar for kids acts as a daily reminder of Islam and is an opportunity to reward your children daily with a small treat. We have a selection of Ramadan Calendars for kids.
If you have any other ideas, feel free to comment below.
Ramadan Facts for Kids
I’ve shared a handful of Ramadan facts for kids below.
1) Islam is one of the most followed religions in the world. There are around 1.8 billion Muslims in the world.
2) Muslims believe that there is only one God.
3) Muslims follow a holy book called the Quran. Muslims believe that is the word of God.
4) Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad.
5) People who are not able to fast, are not required to do so. So those who are elderly, sick, pregnant or travelling are not required to fast.
6) After Ramadan, we celebrate Eid al Fitr. This is meant to be a fun occasion where we celebrate as friends and family.
7) Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The other pillars are charity, faith, Hajj and Prayer
Final Thoughts
Ramadan is a blessed time and for kids with young minds, it’s a great time to shape them for the future so that they stay close to Allah and remember him in every aspect of their lives. It is however important to note that Ramadan is not compulsory for children and if they insist on fasting, then you can start them with 2-hour fasts which can be increased once they get better at fasting. It is much more important to utilize this time to help kids learn about the teachings of Islam in a light friendly manner and let them have fun as well.
This is a month of unlimited blessings and kids should learn to ask for what they need directly from Allah and help them build a very strong relationship with their religion and its teachings.
