| |  | | |  | Keep It Simple: Teaching Young Children about Complex Ideas By Wendy Díaz Younger children need things explained in simple terms. They require more of our emotional intelligence than our book smarts. As parents, we have to package information in a way that is easily digested by young minds. Teaching them tangible things like their right from left can take a lot of time, patience, practice, and repetition. Imagine explaining the concept of an All-Seeing, All-Hearing, Creator Who no one, not even the Prophets, peace be upon them, have seen. That can be a huge challenge! Ramadan offers many opportunities for teachable moments. Here are six tips to help you keep it simple when teaching young children about complex ideas. - Prepare to be a teacher.
- Learn about how children learn.
- Teach like the Prophet.
- Draw attention to Allah routinely.
- Be a model of the lessons yourself.
- Utilize available resources.
Read the full article for more details. | | | | | | Parenting Tip The schedule changes, physical effects of fasting, and rigor of increased worship during Ramadan can be exhausting. Parents have an additional challenge - to muster the energy to use these blessed days and nights as incredible teachable moments. InshaAllah, there can be huge benefits for that effort! | | | |  | Young Muslims and the Art of Dua By Samana Siddiqui Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, has said that dua is the essence of worship (Tirmidhi). It is our direct line of communication to Allah. It can be done anytime, in any condition, anywhere. Dua is not only for times of distress, but it is also for times of thankfulness, a way of showing that we love Allah and rely on Him more than anything, including our own efforts, to succeed in this life and the Hereafter. It is critical that we pass on the importance and beauty of dua to our children. Here are nine ways to make this Ramadan a dua training ground. | | | | | | Quranic Guidance "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183) | | | |  | Inspiring a Giving Attitude By Umm Ahmed As parents, nurturing a giving attitude in the hearts of our children is worthy of our time and attention. It is a matter of making a conscious effort to explore opportunities to help contribute towards the well-being of our family and community. And to have our children both witness and participate in these activities. Ramadan is the perfect time to focus on inspiring generosity. | | | | | | | | Inspiration “Ramadan is like the rain. It nourishes the seeds of good deeds.” Anonymous | | | |  | Ramadan Fasting – Benefits for the Body and Mind By Dr. Shahid Athar Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and self-training. Muslims fast in accordance with our religious requirements, but there are medical benefits as well. Dr. Shahid Athar, an internationally respected medical practitioner, professor, author, and leader in the field of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, reviews some of the physical and psychological impacts of Islamic fasting. | | | | | |  | Middle Eastern Eggplant Casserole (Fattet Batenjan) By Umm Ahmed
This uniquely flavorful classic Middle Eastern dish, Fattet Batenjen or Eggplant Casserole, is a treat for the taste buds this Ramadan. With its distinct flavors and hearty ingredients it makes for the perfect iftar dish. The best part is that it's simple and can be prepared ahead of time. You can even bring your own variations to the dish. It's definitely worth a try!
Click here for the full recipe. | | | | | |  | Book Review: Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns for Ramadan By Miriam Mohamed Alhamdulillah, the numbers and quality Islamic books for children is growing by leaps and bounds. A good many are related to the beautiful month of Ramadan. A favorite in our home is Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan. The book organizes information about the blessed month and Islamic practices by color and the beautiful illustrations by Mehrdokht Amini are a treat for the eye, young and old. Check out our book review and consider this one for your home library (and for gifts, too!). | | | | | | Online Resources 99 Creative Ramadan Projects - This is a huge collection of fun projects - including decorations, art projects, recipes, and more - by A Crafty Arab. 33 Children’s Books about Ramadan - This long list of children’s books about Ramadan that is also organized for different age groups. 30 Days of Ramadan Activities - This is an amazing collection of activities - including lessons by topic, games, activities to develop good character, and more - from Iman’s Homeschool blog. | | | |  | Adam’s World Video: Adam’s Ramadan Adam gets upset when hungry people are mean to him while he is volunteering at the masjid in Ramadan. Dad and Mama teach him about character, patience, and seeking reward from Allah rather than people. (5:49) | | | | | | | | Sound Vision has BIG plans for your children this Ramadan! | |  | During the entire month of Ramadan, creative hosts will engage students with games, stories, songs, art and movement activities, cooking demonstrations, and more! Keep your children busy and inspired to learn to love Allah and be proud to follow His guidance. Our Race4Rewards online children’s classes will target two different age groups: Adam’s World Club classes are designed for children ages 4-7. Live online classes will take place Monday-Friday from 6-6:30pm EDT. Visit Academy.AdamsWorld.org for more details and to register online. Colors of Islam Club classes are designed children ages 8-12. Live online classes will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 12-1:30pm EDT. Visit Academy.AdamsWorld.org for more details and to register online. | | | |  | | | The Sound Vision Foundation has been a trusted source of Islamic knowledge for more than 30 years. Our work with the world-renowned puppets Adam and Aneesah pioneered creative programming for Muslim children, encouraging them to learn about and love their religion. We continue to bring sound content and engaging programs that stimulate minds, touch hearts, and strive to fulfill our mission of raising better Muslims, better neighbors, and better citizens. This latest effort is designed to support and empower Muslim parents to do the same. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
