15 Ways to Make Ramazan Special for Our kids
Alhamdullillah the Ramazaan-ul-Mubarak has arrived and hope you all had prepared yourself (nafs) for the Blessings (Riza) of Allah (s.w.t) , take some little time to prepare kids for Ramazaan and it's Blessings, Benefits & achievements. Here is couple of ideas to help make it special this year.
Hold a family meeting about Ramazaan
Hold a family meeting to explain what Ramazaan is, that the sighting of the moon indicates its beginning, what Muslims do and how the family's schedule will change. Also ask for suggestions of what everyone would like to do during the month.
Welcome the month with balloons, banners and more
Say "Ramazaan Mubarak" with the standard party fare: balloons, a great banner and decorations galore. Get the kids to help decorate the place and ask for their ideas and suggestions so they feel included.
Tell a Ramazaan story during bed time every night
Don't just rely on children's books about Ramazaan to share stories. Describe what Ramazaan was like when you were a kid. You can also make some tales up with your child as the main character in a Ramazaan adventure!
Let them fast even a quarter of the day and celebrate
Kids often want to fast as they see their parents and older siblings do. This year, let them fast for a couple of hours. Prepare a special "Iftar" for them when they iftar fast with a couple of their favorite foods.
Make Ramazaan loot bags for their class
Get their teacher's permission to make loot bags with Ramazaan Mubarak written on them for the class. Fill it with candy, small toys and a little card explaining in two or three short sentences what Ramazaan is. Have your child distribute the bags to their classmates.
Make a presentation about Ramazaan in their class
Tell the kids about Ramazaan such as what is Ramazaan?
Why every Muslim Fast in this month?
What the Ramazaan bring's for us?
What is the purpose of Ramazaan?
what should we achieve with Ramazaan? etc.
Make Ramazaan's arts and crafts at home
Art is a great way to learn more about Ramazaan. Have the kids make the different shapes of the moon and show which one indicates the beginning of the month , which one the middle and which one the end; make a collage of some of their favorite foods for Iftar; have them make special Ramazaan placemats for the dinner table.
Make a family trip out of sighting the moon
Once the kids are dressed in their pajamas, herd them into the car and take them to where other Muslims in the city are gathering to sight the Ramazaan moon. Do the same at the end of the month. Bring a telescope or binoculars if possible for you.
Invite their friends over for a kids-only Iftar
Let your kids come up with the guest list and menu. Also, have them make some of the food. You can pick some kid-friendly recipes or they can help with preparing the parts of Iftar that don't require using a stove or cutting with knives.
Invite grandparents or elder community members over for Iftar
After everyone's eaten, hold a story telling session where the guests describe what Ramazaan was like when they were growing up. Ask them to be descriptive. How was Iftar time announced? In some countries, they use a drum. In other places a verbal announcement on a loudspeaker is made. What kind of food did they eat? What games did they play during Ramazaan? Etc.
Make a Ramazaan's hijri scrapbook
Take plenty of photos of everyone during Sahar and Iftar time, as well as while they are fasting and pieces of decorations used, interesting stickers, etc. To make a scrapbook about this Ramazaan. Each child should bring one or two or more mementos he or she would like to include.
Remember the poor
Arrange with the kids to volunteer at a soup kitchen for a few hours on a weekend If possible, try to find one that has children as its clients so they see that not only adults, but kids like themselves also suffer from hunger.
Make and send self made Ramazaan cards
Before the month starts, have an arts and crafts session to make Ramazaan Mubarak cards for siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. Send the cards soon though, time's running out!
Make or Play Ramazaan Taranaaz (songs)
When the kids are playing or involved in some leisure activity, turn off the usual fare and put on some beautiful Ramazaan songs. May be you can ask the kids to memorize one song by the end of Ramazaan or compose one of their own. Such as ..
Ramazaan is here, Here is Ramazaan.
Ramazaan is coming, The time that is blessed.
Ramazaan is coming, The time we love best.
The month in which the Qur'an was sent;
A time of Great Blessing in which to repent.
Fasting for Allah is a great Muslim deed;
Controlling desires and Suppressing greed.
Take them to prayer so they feel they're part of a community
Nothing teaches community spirit like congregational prayer. Take the kids with you to the mosque for prayer on Friday or any day (if daily is not possible for you) when homework isn't an issue. Also, ask them to bring some of their allowance to give in charity while they're there.
Let our children knows about Ramazaan .. It's Blessings and its achievements
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