The fast of Ramadan, which is the month of patience, and the fast of three days of each month, clean all evils in the heart. (Musnad, 5:363)
As much as I am looking forward to this blessed month, I also fear the challenges of observing Ramadan to its fullest with a 19 month at bay. Yes, Ramadan is the month of patience but nothing tests your patience more than a toddler. In a month where all you want to do is establish a routine and get closer to Allah SWT, your toddler wants to push all boundaries and get closer to you. Like, really close. And although Yusra is still too young to grasp that this is a special time of year and that she can’t shove a cookie in my mouth after she’s done with it, I thought it was time to start exposing her to the idea of Ramadan by doing some fun stuff with her around the house.
Read about it!
Yusra has been read to every night since the day she was born. So its no surprise that she is obsessed with books. “My First Book about Ramadan” are just one of the many Islamic books she has and looks forward to reading due to the colourful images (and the fact that someone actually looks like her Mama for once in a book #representation).
I’ve set aside all her Islamic books in a cute basket and created a cozy corner for her in her room so when we have our several reading sessions during the day, or when Imad and I want to read Quran and do our own thing, she can feel like a part of it as well.
Learn the Arabic Letters
This beautiful puzzle was given to Yusra by her Chachi (aunt). The big pieces make it easy for her little hands to put the puzzle together while admiring the fun, colourful pictures. It takes about about 15-20 minutes for her to complete, with aid of course. That’s 15-20 minutes free of Wheels on The Bus. After we’re done, she loves to listen to me sing the “Arabic Alphabet Song“. That’s another 3 minutes free of Wheels on The Bus.
Yusra also has an Arabic letter canvas hung by her bed which she points to when she wants to listen to me read them out loud. She enjoys stacking her Arabic wooden blocks that are almost too pretty to play with.
Needless to say, Yusra is very exposed to Arabic letters. And although its not necessarily Islamic or related to Ramadan, it does connect back to the language of the Quran. Inshallah (God willing) it will allow her to recognize them faster when it comes time to learning how to read. Besides, I definitely had some brushing up to do as well.
Put up Ramadan Décor
I don’t want my daughter to think she’s missing out on the Holiday Season in December like I did when I was growing up. Yes, it is most certainly magical to see the lights and easy to get attached to the carols and sales but its also important to remind her that we too, have our own holiday season. Praying and having iftar together as a family, making specialty dishes, wearing that new fit on Eid are all things I looked forward to in Ramadan. So why not take it up a notch and throw some lights on the wall and make the month aesthetic. My daughter watched me struggle to untangle my fairy lights for half an hour while playing with her own but once they were up, it felt so rewarding to see her face light up (badum pssh) at how beautiful the set up looked.
You don’t have to do much. After all, the main focus should still be about ibadat (worship) and your own spiritual journey. Just don’t forget to let your children in on the blessings of Ramadan as well. They’ll grow up to be excited about it one day too, inshallah.
Ramadan Mubarak!
