Help Your Kids Make This COVID Ramadan The Most Memorable Yet
There’s nothing like the quiet excitement in the masjid during Ramadan. It’s an environment that becomes a second home during this sacred month, with the constant buzz of spiritual activity that inspires and motivates us to push through the exhaustion.
But we won’t experience this part of Ramadan this year, for the second year in a row. Many of us are 13 months into zoom fatigue, curfews and expressing our love for our families by not going to visit them. It’s incredibly hard and it’s wearing us down.
How then can we ensure that we help our children squeeze out every drop of goodness this month and foster a spirit of community and fun?
Make Suhoor and Iftaar family time.
Include kids in meal planning and take their suggestions seriously. Give them the responsibility of calling everyone to iftaar towards maghrib time. Recite dua’s together at Suhoor and Iftaar:
بِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَّوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
Bi sawmi ‘adin nawaytu min shahri ramadan
I intend to keep the fast for tomorrow in the month of Ramadan.
اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ امنْتُ وَعَليْكَ تَوَكّلتُ وَ عَلى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ
Allahumma inni laka sumtu wabika amantu wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu
O Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You and I put my trust in You and I break my fast with Your sustenance.
Read books together
Take turns and read them to your kids and have them read out pages as well (age appropriate). Talk about what you’ve read. Be sure to include stories about the blessed Prophets and the sahaaba to forge a strong connection.
Pray together
Since we can’t go to the masjid together as a family, do your best to create a salah corner in your home and try to pray the five daily prayers together if possible. Include the kids in Taraweeh prayers so they can insh’Allah learn from you how to earn extra rewards this blessed month.
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Read Qur’an Together
If your children are continuing their Qur’an classes this month with a teacher, try to take 15-20 minutes each day and have them read a little portion of Qur’an with you. Explain to them that during Ramadan, the rewards for reciting Qur’an are increased ten-fold. Be sure to let your children watch you absorb yourself in Qur’an too, because sometimes the most powerful and long-lasting lessons are taught by example.
Feed your neighbors
Prepare food boxes to distribute to your neighbors. It can be something as simple as date rolls, or as elaborate as a full meal. Whatever your situation and circumstances allow, including your kids in planning, preparing and distributing these gifts imparts an incredible lesson on the positive effects of giving.
Nap together
Experiencing a lull in the afternoon? Take a nap together. From preschoolers to teenagers, we all can benefit from some extra sleep. Just one hour can leave us feeling refreshed and energized to keep going late into the night insh’Allah.
Maintain Relationships
Stay connected with your loved ones who are far away. Try connecting with a video call during iftaar time and break your fast together. It’s not ideal, but it can bring so much joy to our elderly parents who may be alone, and to our children who miss them so much
Wishing you all a blessed Ramadan with your families. May Allah subhana wa ta’ala’s mercy and tranquility descend into your homes, and may His remembrance and glorification be a source of light in your hearts. Ameen.
