Ramadan is inching closer. As we prepare ourselves and our surroundings to immerse in the ibadah of Allah, let us not forget about the ones who look up to us for guidance, information, and lots of help — our children! 

If you are wondering: How to teach my children about Ramadan? Look no further: 

7 Simple Ways To Keep Kids Involved During The Month of Ramadan

1. Answer Their Questions

A household with multiple kids can lead to a hair-pulling situation during the month of Ramadan. Before the holy month descends, discuss and answer their queries:

• Is it difficult to fast for Ramadan?
• Are you allowed to use a phone during Ramadan?
• What will I do for so many hours?
• How many hours does the fast last?
• How does the first day of fasting in Ramadan feel like?

Sit with them, explore the time zone in your city and country, and find out the timings for suhoor and iftar. Answer their questions to the best of your ability and repeat if you have to. It won’t be easy, but with patience comes the ability to face challenges and overcome them.

2. Explore Sunnah Practices

Ease your children into healthy conversations about Ramadan. Share sunnah practices that help them understand specific actions that might be out of the ordinary around the year.

• Preparing suhoor and iftar together
• Breaking fast with dates
• Being more generous 
• Praying taraweeh
• Abstaining from getting angry at others and controlling negative thoughts
• Performing good deeds that please Allah

3. Learning Different Ways of Ibadah

Praying 5 times a day, reciting the Quran, praying taraweeh, and more… In what ways can you help your child increase their ibadah during Ramadan?

• Read the Quran as a family
• Perform your prayers together
• Listen to sermons and Islamic lectures
• Learn the 99 names of Allah and understand their meanings 
• Learn the health benefits of fasting and be mindful of actions

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan tests our stamina and willpower too. To resist frustration and to shower your family and friends with love and compassion are also ways of performing ibadah. 

The Muslim Pro app has a Khatam feature that helps track you and your family’s khatam journey. 

4. Prioritize Tasks

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world change their lifestyle and practices from dusk to dawn. Adapting to something new is difficult for us, and it can be more difficult for children. 

• Create a calendar
• List tasks for the rest of the day
• Create a reward system for when the kids complete a given task, like memorization of a surah or a tasbih or finishing a chore at home. 

5. Ramadan Friendly Activities

While adults may get busy praying and reciting the Quran, children may not be able to do that all day. 

• Look for creative crafts on social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram
• Read age-relevant books by Muslim authors
• Decorate the house
• Plan and make Eid cards for friends and family
• Create a surprise-filled 30-day Ramadan calendar 
• Download and keep Ramadan printables ready for use
• Help them create a doodle journal to document their experiences

6. Concept of Giving

Teach your children about the pillars of Islam. Emphasize on saum and zakat; to teach them the spiritual understanding behind the concept of giving is equally important. 

• Sharing the surplus that they have with others
• Giving and sharing their meals with the less privileged

To make the concept fun, create charity jars or boxes. Let your children share and give away their books, toys, and other material things that may be dear to them.

7. Be Their Role Model

Your children will mirror your actions, so be that person for them to emulate and look up to. Talk about your childhood and experiences as a child. Like how old you were when you first started fasting for Ramadan, and how it felt to skip breakfast and replace the grumbling in the stomach by involving yourself in other activities. 

• Share your worries and challenges
• Let them know its okay to not complete the fast the very first time
• Teach them how to share the experiences of Ramadan with their non-Muslim friends
• Invite their friends over for iftar

InshaAllah, the journey to improve your child’s Ramadan experience will benefit you and them in the long term.