The Importance of Social and Emotional Learning

By Zahirah Lynn Eppard

Social and Emotional Learning is defined as the process of acquiring the knowledge and skills to engage, interact, and build relationships with other people. These skills include communication, cooperation, emotion regulation, impulse control, empathy, and social initiation. Students who are competent in these areas do better in school and are generally better prepared for college and careers. As Muslims, we understand that these skills are also the building blocks of strong families and communities.

How to Help Your Children Develop Interpersonal Skills

By Sumayya Khan

There are skill sets that are essential to every human being as they navigate various relationships throughout life. Taking deliberate steps to develop them is key for adults and parents to help develop in their children, too. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was known for his excellent interpersonal skills. Anyone who spoke to him felt very special because of his warm gestures - he would turn his whole body toward the person, listen keenly, and respond with warmth and understanding. Learn how you can help your children build skills in these areas.

Communication Games for Children

By Melissa Barreto

For children, learning to communicate effectively often gets limited to academic workbooks and assignments focused on reading and writing. But the art of communicating effectively and the fun of exploring the myriad of ways that human beings can express themselves to others gets left behind. It’s for this reason that writer Melissa Barreto always turned to games to help her children build their communication skills. Learn more about games that make communicating fun and engaging, while building serious skills in language, communication, critical thinking, and logic.

Breaking the Silence: Encouraging Open Communication and Discussion in Our Homes

By Umm Ahmed

We all desire healthy relationships, but sharing our raw emotions can be uncomfortable, intimidating, and leave us feeling weak and exposed. This fear often stems from concerns about rejection, hurt, or being judged indifferently by others. It is important to overcome it though, in order to promote overall well-being, build deeper connections, and foster greater emotional intimacy within families.

Emotional Regulation in Children

By Miriam Mohamed

Do you ever wonder why your child reacts so intensely to what seems like minor inconveniences? Tantrums are a common part of toddlerhood, and even small issues can sometimes trigger outbursts that affect the entire day. It is important to remember that young children often lack the tools to handle their feelings and don’t yet understand that negative emotions are temporary. The early years are crucial for developing emotional and spiritual resilience. Teaching self-regulation aligns with the principles of patience (sabr) and self-control (taqwa), as emphasized in the Quran and Sunnah.

Online Resources

Teaching Children about Home Economics - Learn more about skills associated with the management of a home are helpful to everyone who lives in it. 

Recognizing and Understanding Mental Health Challenges in Children - Building skills is also about realistically accessing needs. 

These two articles provide a great base of information on emotional intelligence.

Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children (Part 1) 

Modeling Emotional Intelligence for Our Children (Part 2)  

Recognizing the Importance of Play - This article focuses on five essential elements of meaningful play and reminds us that, especially for young children, play can be an important learning tool.

Adam's World Video: Adam's Garden

Adam and Aneesah are working in their garden. Not only are they learning about growing vegetables but they also learn how we can grow a garden in Jannah by remembering Allah here on Earth. The Arabic letter “Jeem” is featured for Jannah. A song by Dawud Wharnsby called Alhamdulillah, SubhanAllah, InshaAllah is a nice added touch. (6:45)

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.