Ramadan with littles is pretty new to me still, and now I have THREE little ones to manage with the longest days of he year, alhamdulilah. While I know to build anticipation, we are still building traditions for my little ones. In sha Allah (God willing), I want my kids to grow up with a strong sense of a Muslim identity, so making sure our holidays and special times are memorable is a big deal.
Ramadan Baskets
I’m still looking for a different name for this, as I don’t want to just take the idea of Easter baskets and transplant it to Eid. Ideas? Ramadan bins doesn’t have the same ring to it. LOL. Anyway, the idea is that the kids get some small gifts at the start of Ramadan to start celebrating this blessed month. I personally love these baskets, and I fill them up with a mix of secular items and Islamic items. Some of my favorite things to include are:
One thing to note with the Ramadan baskets:
- I don’t want to make the kids think it’s actually part of Ramadan as they get older. As they age and they’re able to take part in traditional Ramadan activities, like fasting and taraweeh, we’ll start making that transition. The goal is to alert them that something special is happening. In the future, we might start Ramadan with a new book to read, or movie to learn from.
Reading!
I know I already covered books when talking about creating Ramadan anticipation, but it’s worthwhile to mention again. We picked up Ramadan and Id-ul-Fitr at the library, and we already have Fatimah’s First Fasting Day. In sha Allah I’ll be able to find more books at the library throughout the month, and I’ll keep building our home library as well.
Let them help decorate
Not only should the house be decorated for Ramadan, but let them help! I love these lanterns and window clings, and they are easy for kids to help out! We’ll also be printing out the Ramadan Road Map from the Mini Mumin FREE Ramadan kit, and letting Aamina choose where it goes. She loves to watch Hubby work on things, so we’ll make sure he puts up the lights while she’s awake. As she gets older, she’ll be able to help hang lights and banners, in sha Allah.
Go to the masjid
I won’t be bringing Amatullah to iftars this year since it’s about two hours after her normal bedtime, but Aamina should be able to join Hubby sometimes for iftar at the masjid. There’s a buzz in the air as everyone joins together to break their fast with the community. In sha Allah it can be a special memory with her dad.
I’m still so new to having little ones during Ramadan. What do you do to get them excited to take part in Ramadan, and get ready for Eid?
When the boys were young we did a variety of things to help them get excited about Ramadan. We emphasized the parts of Ramadan that they COULD participate in. Here’s a list of some of their favorites:
1. After a discussion about our deeds being multiplied in Quran, we made a calendar. Each day we consciously helped them to remember to do some special good deed that day. Then they would put a star on that day.
2. After talking about getting the reward of feeding a fasting person: help cook iftar, help make little date packages for fasters, help make other treats
3. Making homemade decorations for the house.
4. Helping the needy. As a group, we gathered gifts for the needier Muslims, then had a big gift wrapping day. Little ones can help with the tape and so on.
5. We bought real lanterns from Ikea and decorated them with glass paints. The boys would light them each evening.
6. Teaching them that the duah of a child is answered.
7. Like you said, “READ” We read a lot.
*I am sure there are other things we did, but that’s all I can think of at the moment. 🙂
These are great ideas! We just got a craft book I’m excited to start using this week, in sha Allah. I’ve mentioned deeds over the last week, but definitely need to be more consistent. I have to remember to have this stuff planned out ahead of time because Ramadan takes it out of me, too! 🙂
Great to hear from you, Rebecca! In sha Allah you and your family are well.
Another thing we did when the boys were too young to have their own iftars was to have a craft/decorate cookie day with their friends. (That’s when they did the lanterns.) Is “K” fasting? Maybe she would like her own iftar – where she picks the menu and invites her friends. We have done this for years with the boys. They LOVE it!…. Usually, the kids come a few hours early. Since it’s been summer/hot, they have a big water gun fight before iftar. When they are younger (9-12 ish), they might also play an Islamic trivia game (homemade) and after iftar – the boys stay and pray taraweeh together, taking turns being the imam. (My older guy and his gang has chosen to go to the masjid after their iftar last year and this year.)
We are all doing well – and hoping to see you in AugusT! 🙂 (No tickets, yet, but that’s the plan.)
Yep, Kira is fasting, alhamdulilah. She used to have iftars with friends, but it is so late now (9pm) that it just doesn’t work for us to do iftars for the most part. In sha Allah when the days are shorter, we’ll return to our previous fun times, but now we’re just doing our best. 🙂
Yes, in sha Allah we will see you next month!