The Educational Values of Ramadan

Preparing children for Ramadan

Bootcamp

Several Islamic occasions can be used to nurture spirituality during the months of Rajab and Sha’ban that precede Ramadan, so I like to look like a training camp that qualifies for the holy month of Ramadan. Exactly how we prepare to enter any competition or a test, we must prepare our children for Ramadan. Let's use religious occasions before Ramadan to prepare our children spiritually and plant them with values so they can adhere to them during Ramadan. In the month of Rajab, we celebrate the Prophet Mohammad's Ascendance to the heavens. One of the most beautiful ways to celebrate this precious occasion is to tell stories about it to our children, as mentioned in the prophetic tradition. One of the most beautiful Hadiths is the one that recites the conversation between the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) and our creator, including the greetings we say during our daily prayers. When I recounted this instance to my daughters, they understood and felt these sentences more, which elevated their spirituality.

I recommend that parents prepare to deal with their children and develop Ramadan’s spiritual and educational values before the start of the holy month. The spiritual preparation for Ramadan is more important than preparing sweets, samosas, and decorations; it must be a comprehensive educational preparation.

Practicing fasting

If the children are of fasting age, it is essential to physically prepare them for this step by encouraging the fasting of some days in Rajab and Sha’ban. The family can fast on Mondays and Thursdays to be prepared for fasting in Ramadan.

Practice the five daily prayers.

It is also important to remind children to adhere to the prayers and the group's prayers with the mother and father in preparation for Al-Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan.

Ramadan preparations

Involving children in Ramadan decoration and buying prayer clothes and a new praying rug are beautiful things that stimulate the child to receive Ramadan. If these things appear material, they will kindle your child's spirituality.

Why fast?

This question is one of the questions that a child must ask before Ramadan, and mothers sometimes feel reluctant to answer it, especially for children under school age who are not yet aware of the meaning of the pillars of Islam.

When we were kids, we were told that we had to feel with people with low incomes. This answer is somewhat problematic, especially since the child will see hunger as temporary. After Iftar, we eat what we want, and he will not feel like the poor because the poor are okay, and his hunger is temporary. We also do not want to develop survivor’s guilt in our children because we must help them feel blessings, thank God for them, and share them with others through charity.

Fasting disciplines the soul and the mind. This is what we must tell our children: that fasting is an educational and disciplinary step that teaches us to control our desires and train ourselves in patience and endurance.

I want to mention a popular psychological and educational experience on which the Marshmallow theory was built. They conducted an experiment where marshmallows were placed, telling children not to eat them immediately and waiting. Some children waited until they were allowed to eat the treats, while others could not wait and ate them immediately. After several years, the researchers returned to follow-up on those children who became adults. They found that those who gave up and ate the treats were making quick and wrong decisions that put their lives on an unsuccessful path. Children who waited for successful people became well-informed decision-makers.

Ramadan Educational Values

1| Self-control

Self-control is essential, and Ramadan is the best course to gain this skill. Hunger is one of the worst feelings in humans. Fasting during Ramadan teaches us to control our anger despite the bad feelings that hunger generates.

2| Family Gathering during Iftar

One of the educational values of Ramadan is that families come together at one table at Iftar time, which most families miss the rest of the year due to the different programs of returning home and parents' busy schedules—sitting at a table once a day is essential for raising children, as it is an opportunity to talk and share stories and experiences.

3| Helping out

Participating in chores is an essential educational value during Ramadan. The stereotype among many families is that the mother is busy preparing Iftar food and preparing the table while the rest of the family shows up at Iftar time. It is essential to enhance the value of helping children in Ramadan and assign tasks suitable for their ages. E.g., preparing the table, lighting decorations, preparing dates and water, and helping to clean up after Iftar. This participation will enhance the family bonding and will grant some relief to the busy mother.

4| Communication

The pace of life, the busyness, and the presence of screens deprived us of constant communication with our children and deprived them of communication among themselves. Breakfast, Suhoor, and prayer time are golden opportunities to increase communication between family members and their bonding.

5 | Giving

Giving is not only for those in need but also for the parents and neighbors. One of the beautiful habits is sharing food with neighbors, which is one of the forms of giving. It is essential to instill this value in our children and involve them in implementing it so they deliver food to neighbors and the building's guardians.

Mini fasting

Young children not required to fast are excited and always ask to fast. There is the little bird fasting, where the child fasts for a few hours to feel that he has fasted like the rest, even for a short time. It is a beautiful exercise, but it is preferable to let kids fast after lunch and break the fast with the family. The child feels that he shares the joy of Iftar and prays when the adhan is heard.

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