49 Ways to get Kids Involved in Ramadan

One question I’ve seen floating around on social media a lot is ‘How do I get my kids involved in Ramadan?’, so I put together a post to answer this question. Involvement can mean a lot of things, it can mean creating, learning, doing, making or helping, it can also mean so much more. Essentially it is about including children and getting them to be and feel like they are a part of something and I think the ideas in this post will help you achieve that. I had my 4 year old in mind when writing this, but there’s so many ideas in this post this could range from babies right up to children 10 years old. I’ve also included links to purchase items where relevant. So here they are, 49 Ways to get kids involved in Ramadan:

1. Let them help set the table for suhoor or iftar.  2. Make a Ramadan banner or poster.

• I created a free printable bunting last year, get out the scissors and crayons for this one, there’s a lot of cutting and the kids can go wild decorating it
• Free printable Sweet Fajr
• Free Printable Sakinah Design

3. Use a countdown calendar. Check out some of the printables below.

• There’s beautiful arabesque themed prints for purchase from Zed&Q
• Craftionary Ramadan Calendar
• In my Studio Eid Calendar

4. Or better yet, create your own.

• We made this Ramadan Calendar last year
• I also created a printable for 30 activity ideas for a calendar that aren’t sweets or toys
• Or make a Ramadan Bucket list – Little Life of Mine
• 30 Days of Ramadan Drawing Challenge for Kids from Confessions of a Muslim Mommaholic is also a great idea – another no toys – no lollies option
• There’s also so many great options on Pinterest

5. Have the kids help you decorate the house and set up a little Ramadan display with/for them.

6. Do Ramadan crafts.

• Check out my my review for Craft it Up
• Follow Ramadan Crafts on Instagram. they’re full of great ideas
• I have a few more ideas in the Crafts section of the blog

7. Learn about the customs and traditions of Ramadan in other countries – a simple google search should bring up plenty. 8. Make a sadaqah/charity box.

• Sadaqah and Eid Money Box from Karima’s Crafts
• DIY Sadaqah box – Life of a Mompreneur
• Zakat Wood Box – A crafty Arab

9. If you share some food/dates/info about Ramadan with your neighbours- take your kids along with you.

• Tell your Neighbors about Ramadan – My Halal Kitchen
• Here’s one that I shared last year when we took dates to our neighbours
• Iftar platters with printable from Muslim Matters

10. Let them share Ramadan with their friends. 

Last year we made cookies to share, the recipe and free printables are here. 11. Use Ramadan activity books and sheets to keep them busy

• There’s this cute Ramadan Fun activity book from Shahed.O
• Allah to Z activity book on Amazon
• I also really like the Allah loves Me Kindergarten activity book
• Ilm Kids Place – Ramadan Activity Box

12. Turn traditional Ramadan menu items into fun, kid friendly versions – this can be as simple as lowering the spice, cutting into fun shapes, or even offering a smaller serve.

13. Have a Ramadan party.

• We had a Ramadan Craft Party last year, with my son’s friends.
• There’s also this great Welcome Ramadan Party for Kids on My Halal Kitchen.

14. Create your own Ramadan story, if your child is too young, ask them to tell you about Ramadan in their own words and write down what they say. This will be a great keepsake for years to come. 15. Read stories from the Quran.

• Most of our Quran stories are from Goodword Books. There’s a great selection on Amazon. Find them here – Goodword Books on Amazon.

16. Get your kids to create a gratitude list.

Ramadan is one of those times that we really appreciate all that we have. Why not get your kids to start their own gratitude list. They could write daily in a gratitude journal, or fill a jar with daily gratitude notes. If your children are too small to write, you can have them draw a picture, or write it for them.

17. Donate clothes and toys to those in need. 18. Give your child money/coins to fill a charity box that you can drop off with them at the end of Ramadan or at a later stage. 19. Wear traditional garments – if you have traditional garments in their size, get them to wear it for a day. This can be traditional cultural dress or even modest Islamic dress.

20. If your kids are old enough get/make a fast tracker and give rewards for completion. Praise and encouragement work just as well as a toy or lolly.

• Fast Tracker from 1000 Good Deeds
• Fast Tracker  from TJ Ramadan

21. Get them involved in suhoor, if it’s too early for them wake up, let them have a ‘suhoor’ meal at breakfast time. Set the scene – do everything just as you would during suhoor so they can experience it and don’t forget to finish off with a date, some water and your intention to fast (just as a practise of course).

• 10 Kid Friendly Sahoor Recipes – Salam Mama

22. If your children are too young to fast, but are excited by the prospect of fasting, let them attempt a practise fast (this doesn’t have to be longer than a few hours, making sure you don’t force or push them to do so) . Offer praise for any attempt made, it will encourage them to fast when they are required to do so, in shaa Allah. 23. Ask them to help choose their eid clothes- try to purchase these before Ramadan, or if you’re using existing clothes or are purchasing them yourself, get them to try them on before Eid, and ask them to get accessories ready (socks, shoes, belt, headbands, hair ties etc).

24. Get/make a salaah tracker and offer rewards for completing salaahs.

• Salaah Tracker from A Muslim Homeschool
• Islamic Prayer Logs from Come to Learn
• 5 Daily Salaah Record from Rahmah Muslim Homeschool
• Kids Salaah Tracker by Hafsa Creates

25. Learn a new surah – if your kids are old enough and able to memorise, try learning a surah with them. There are so many short surahs to choose from.

26. Play Quran recitation in your house. If possible incorporate the playing of Surahs that your children have memorised or are familiar with.

27. Set up an I’tikaf tent. Idea from How to get your kids to love Ramadan on Productive Muslim.

28. Search for the moon together and talk about its phases and what they symbolise in welcoming the Islamic month. 29. Make food and cookies in fun islamic shapes. 

• Islamic Cookie Cutters – Eidway
• Geometric Cutter Shapes by Hello Holy Days
• Peace Line Cookie Cutters – With a Spin

30. Encourage your children to perform simple sunnahs – or they can compete with themselves by setting a Sunnah goal and trying to beat it each day. This can be a great one to work on as a parent as well.

31. Encourage good deeds or make good deed sticks.

• We made these cute good deed sticks and placed them in a tin, ready to be picked
• Good Deeds and acts of Kindness for Kids featured on Disney Baby by Little Life of Mine.
• Good Deeds Jar on Multicultural Kids Blog
• Good Deeds Cards  on Umm Abdul Basirs Creative Corner
• Good Deed List from TJ Homeschooling

32. Listen to islamic songs or Nasheeds (if you prefer instrument free, there’s a lot of options, if you look).

33. Increase knowledge together, watch (child appropriate) lectures on YouTube or put on some Islamic Children’s DVDs if you have them. 

• Little explorer’s Australia is our current favourite.
• We also own all the Zaky DVDs – Let’s Learn Quran with Zaky and Friends was played over and over again last Ramadan, I think we all know the words off by heart. Purchase through Amazon or in the 1Islam store. We plan to buy part 2 very soon in shaa Allah.

34. Create an iftar box – I saw this idea on Amnah’s (Little Life of Mine) Instagram last year. If your kids have started fasting or even if they’re doing part fasts, start an iftar box with them, it’s a great motivator to get to iftar time so they can enjoy all the treats they’ve packed.

35. Take them to the mosque when you can. If they’re up and can manage, take them for Taraweeh prayers one night. 36. If you have special ramadan recipes, ask your kids to help you prepare them, be patient, it may take longer and be more messy than usual but they will enjoy the time with you.

37. If you’re having friends and family over for iftar, get the kids to help with the meal, to set up for the guests or help with the table.

38. Pack hampers for the disadvantaged/homeless and ask your kids to help you pack. Delegate tasks that will be simple and easy so they can be pleased with themselves and aspire to do more. 39. Eat together on the floor – give the dining table a rest (or the kitchen nook as the case may be), throw a mat on the floor and enjoy your iftar Sunnah style. 40. If you’re sharing Eid gifts, get your kids involved by getting them to help you make it if it’s homemade, or help you choose something of you’re making a purchase or they can help gift wrap and fill envelopes for you.

• Homemade Eid Brownie Mix
• Homemade Playdough Eid Gift
• Eid Envelopes free printable from In My Studio, Sakina Design

41. Start a Ramadan Journal or scrapbook. It’s a great way to for them to keep track of each Ramadan, see how far they’ve come, track new achievements and set better goals each time. You can keep it simple and use a good old fashioned notebook and pen or try some of the options below:

• Karima’s Crafts – Ramadan Scrapbook Tutorial
• Check out Bismillah Babies – their Ramadan Journal looks great
• Hearts of Light has a beautiful Journals for children
• A Muslim Homeschool has a free printable option
• Benevolence Australia has a some cute free Daily Planner sheets
• Or try ‘My Daily Ramadan Journal’, another free option from Muslimommy

42. Teach them about Layatul Qadr – change your routine in the last 10 days/nights and increase your worship so they recognise the  significance. 

43. If your children use an iPad or Tablet why not incorporate some Islamic/Ramadan Learning apps. 

• Ali and Sumaya Ramadan Apple Store – Google Play/Android
• Ramadan Mubarak Happy Ramadan – eBook App
• Noor Quest is great for learning Surahs in a fun way – Apple Store – Google Play/Android
• For more ideas check out this post – Top 5 Islamic Apps for Kids

44. Get your kids to help you plan your Eid decorations, and help you decorate when the time comes. 

• You can make your own
• Try Modern Eid, their decorations are gorgeous
• There are some great options for Eid Decorations on Amazon
• For the Australians, check out Muslim Stickers Australia

45. Make a Dua list of simple and easy Duas to learn with your children. You can introduce the fasting Duas too.

46. Create Ramadan traditions with them. Some ideas below.

• Ramadan Traditions with Kids – Ilm kids Place
• 10 Ideas for creating Ramadan & Eid traditions with baby on Disney baby by Little Life of Mine
• Make Ramadan Special for Kids – Middle Way Mom
• Creating Ramadan Traditions – Muslim Matters
• Ramadan with Children – The Muslimah Mommy
• Creating Joy in Ramadan with Kids – Words and Needles

47. Let them experience iftar – start their dinner off with some water (Zam Zam would be great) and a date just as you would if you were breaking your fast before eating ‘dinner’.

48. Read Ramadan/Eid stories with them. We only have a few but I’m hoping to increase our collection this year.

• Great Ramadan Book Picks for Kids from Muslim Gift Guide
• Ilyas and Duck and the Fantastic Festival of Eid-al-Fitr on Amazon
• Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi looks great, but I’ve yet to get this one
• There are so many great looking options for Ramadan and Eid Books on Amazon
• Noor Kids – First Time Fasting

49. Encourage love for learning and reading Quran.

• Read in front of your kids when possible
• Try this Quran 30 day word activity Let’s find a word in the Quran
• If they’re old enough and ready, get them books to learn Arabic alphabets
• Also check out The Story of The Elephant by Shade 7 publishing purchase on Amazon
• Teach them about when and how the Quran was revealed.

BONUS: Make it fun and lead by example! 

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