4 Tips For Muslim Parents For Preparing The Children For Ramadan

When it comes to nourishment and upbringing of children, parents hold the role of a nucleus. It is the parents who guide and direct the children towards the right direction and if the parents fail to perform their role then the ultimate result is the children losing their course and falling from the path of righteousness and spend their life without any direction or sense of truth.

In Islam, parents have a great role to play when it comes to nourishing and development of children into a better Muslim and a good human being. It is the parents who provide such an atmosphere to children in which the children get familiar with Islam and then start adopting its values and tenants. Parents have to play this role to effective level throughout the year in general and during the month of Ramadan in particular.

Children are naïve and they don’t have the same intellect to understand the importance and significance of Ramadan as the adults do, therefore, it is imperative that the parents teach their children the right way of welcoming Ramadan and observing in the best manner possible. Thus, parents need to groom their children and guide them throughout the whole process. The lines below discuss some tips that can help the parents in educating and preparing their children for Ramadan.

Discuss Ramadan With Them:

Before the arrival of Ramadan it is imperative that the parents try explaining the importance of Ramadan to the children so that they could have the right intentions for the month. The Muslim parents must tell the children about the place Ramadan holds in the Islamic calendar and history. In this regard, telling them reasons such as the revealing of Quran in this month and the Laila-tul-Qadar can help in motivating the children for Ramadan. Moreover, if the parents tell the children the reasons and objectives of fasting, it can also spark the spirit of Ramadan in them and make them welcome and observe the month with true spirit. When children know that fasting is supposed to make them empathize with others and thank Allah for all the blessings, the children also start seeing things from a new perspective and grow fonder of the piety and sacredness of Ramadan.

Create An Atmosphere:

Pertaining to incorporating the right and true spirit of Ramadan in the children, it is important that parents create an atmosphere in the home that reflects the importance and significance of Ramadan. This atmosphere must comprise of pre-Ramadan preparations as well as its observance during the month.

Pertaining to pre-Ramadan preparations, the parents must start creating an atmosphere in the house where they plan on how they are going to celebrate the month of fasting, the Iftaar and Suhoor guests they are going to have, the mosque in which they are going to pray, the number of times they are going to recite Quran and so on. When such discussions take place in the house, the children start taking interest in what is happening and thus try knowing more about Ramadan.

As far as the observance of Ramadan during fasting is concerned, the parents need to make sure that they implement what they had planned during Ramadan. They need to observe regular prayers, recite Quran, offer Taraweeh prayer, have proper Suhoor and Iftaar and perform excessive prayers during the month. Thus, when children see all this happening, they also get into the mood and try imitating the parents and try observing all the acts that come with Ramadan, hence, this way they start anticipating and observe the Ramadan rituals from a young age.

Involve Children In Preparations:

Another thing that can help in making Ramadan fun and joyful for children is involving them in Ramadan preparations. Before the start of the month parents should take their children to the market and buy the food and other stuff related to Ramadan, which makes children await the arrival of Ramadan anxiously. Moreover, during the fasting the parents should try involving children in the preparation of Suhoor and Iftaar meals, which would involve them in the spirit of Ramadan and also keep them busy during the fast. Furthermore, the arrangement of Iftaar parties for guests is also another way in which the parents can motivate the children in enjoying Ramadan and observing it in the best manner possible.

Take Children To Mosque:

Taking children to mosque can also help in initiating the spirit of Ramadan in them. The fathers can take the children to offer regular prayers in the mosque and also take them for Taraweeh as well which will make children observe the way prayers are offered and the way the whole proceedings take place. Moreover, the mothers in this regard can have their female children offer prayer at home with them in congregation so that they also pray and get to see the way prayer is offered and what kind of special prayers one can offer during Ramadan.

Bottom Line:

In a nutshell, it is imperative for parents to stand up as role models for children during the month of Ramadan, as the children do what they see in their parents. Hence, parents should lead from the front, create an atmosphere that reflects the peace, serenity and an ambiance of Holiness and submission.