Ways to get kids involved in Ramadan with tips for home schoolers

Search for the crescent moon at the start of Ramadan and look at it each night to see the phases that it goes through during the month. Point out that the full moon shows that we are halfway through Ramadan. Design a poster that shows the phases of the moon, and for older children, look up the names of each one (e.g., waxing gibbous and waxing crescent).  

Make a Ramadan banner or poster

Tip: Use age-appropriate designs that include an appropriate level of skill, such as (child-safe) scissor work and colouring inside the lines for younger children, and calligraphy and origami for older children.  

Design a countdown calendar

Tip: Take this opportunity to teach your child the difference between the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the sun, and the Islamic calendar which is based on the moon. You can take this a step further by looking at other calendars, such as the Chinese calendar and the Amazigh calendar. Also, remind your child that the calendar should not be a countdown to Eid, but should create awareness of how quickly Ramadan passes and that we should fit in as many good deeds as possible. 

Set up a Ramadan corner

Tip: Keep it simple and cordon off the area with paper lanterns or hoops, or you could go all out and design an ‘indoor mosque’. Put prayer mats down (My Salah Mat is ideal), as well as books on Ramadan (e.g., Ramadan in Space); age-appropriate print outs; a dua poster, and some cushions and tasbih beads for chilling and remembering Allah.  

Learn about Ramadan traditions in other countries

Tip: Find travel blogs on YouTube and search Google. Some examples are the drummers that go around waking people up for suhur in Turkey, Egypt and Palestine; night life and videos of families spending time outdoors during the nights in Ramadan; the storyteller (hakawati) in Syria who tells stories from the Quran and about famous heroes; the different decorations in different Muslim cities, and the different food and drink people have during Ramadan. Use a World map or a globe to add in a Geography lesson.

Wear traditional clothes

Tip: dress up in traditional clothes and as for the previous point, search traditional Muslim dress around the world and get your children to compare and see what they all have in common.

 Read stories from the Quran

Tip: As you read the Quran, pick out the stories of prophets as you go along and explain them to your children. Give them books or watch videos if you find it difficult, such as the channel Quran Stories on YouTube. Get your child to make a poster of the prophets, which they can add to each time they learn about one, or make individual smaller posters, on each prophet.  

Donate to those in need

Tip: whether clothes and toys, or a charity box, get your child to do some sort of sadaqa during Ramadan. Take the opportunity to learn about the place that they are donating to or collecting for, but do not make this too frightening for younger children. Look up the history of the country, including how Islam spread there, as well as finding it on a map – if you are donating clothes and toys, find possible routes on a map and learn about the countries along the way.