So given that you and your spouse pray your fardh salat regularly, would you wake your kid up for fajr when they are of the appropriate age? I know many parents who let the kids sleep in as they have to go to school, but I was reading that the gunaah comes to you as a parent…
Next question, how would you incorporate the other prayers in their routine? Tell from your experience, your thoughts, or other peoples examples.
Re: Establishing prayer routines in a child
My brother and his wife have been waking up their children for fajr as soon as they were old enough. Every prayer that can be done as a family is. It does help that the kids go to islamic school so they already have prayers as part of their routine.
I think kids learn by example....there's nothing worst then a mother nagging the kids to pray when she herself doesn't.
Re: Establishing prayer routines in a child
I agree with Ramsha about parents setting an example. Also i've read about parents getting gunnah too by not waking up children for fajr. I don't have any children yet but inshaAllah when I do, I will once they reach the age.
Re: Establishing prayer routines in a child
I dont think you should force your child to prayer - gunnah to you or not. You're supposed to encourage them to pray, if they dont, it should be their choice. There is nothing worse than robot-namazein, where u are just going up and down without the real intention. I thik once the real feeling is there, the kid will pray on his own.
My younger sister is a super regular namazi for the past couple of years (she is 13). She does it on her own and its going so good. I remember when my mum used to remind us all the time, it was more like a duty "do it and get over with it" ..
Bottom line is, some children need encouraging words or reminders. Others just get irritated and you're pushing them more far away by the constant pressure.
Re: Establishing prayer routines in a child
^ But I think sometimes you need to push a bit to help children (and adults) get into the routine. What's wrong with going through the motions AT LEAST, so that you keep it part of your lifestyle, and one day it becomes a source of comfort/inspiration to you? I think your sis is namazi partly because your mother insisted on it as part of her lifestyle as well as her own.
Re: Establishing prayer routines in a child
^^ agree.
Re: Establishing prayer routines in a child
read in front of them. a lot of people pray in their rooms and close the door, away from the kids. I mean, younger kids, like toddlers. I say, pray in front of them in a common room. Let them see what you are doing. A lot of these younger kids watch them and even mimic their movements and know when to say Ameen and Allahu Akbar.
Another thing is to take your kids to the masjid for prayers. If there is a masjid close by, take them there (or the husband) for each prayer, or Jummah at least.
Pray as a family. I've said this before and it really works. Also when going to someone's house as well, take the time to pray there as well.
and I totally agree with Ramsha's last statement. Ive seen that at the masjid one too many times with the kids that I taught.
Re: Establishing prayer routines in a child
I learned to pray from watching ammi do it. She never enforced it on us......save to scold mildly when we had the tv on at namaz time.
Now I don't even have to say it to Noor.....she sees me get ready and runs to join. There have even been times when I am not praying but hearing the azaan she has done it on her own, Ah.
Another thing that I noticed works is when the janamaz is always laid out rather than being put away after each prayer. It serves as a constant reminder that we need to take time out of whatever we are doing and remember Him and His commandment.
Re: Establishing prayer routines in a child
^ But I think sometimes you need to push a bit to help children (and adults) get into the routine. What's wrong with going through the motions AT LEAST, so that you keep it part of your lifestyle, and one day it becomes a source of comfort/inspiration to you? I think your sis is namazi partly because your mother insisted on it as part of her lifestyle as well as her own.
Like I said, you should encourage your child to pray. That doesnt mean pushing them or reminding them 5 times a day. I'm sorry, but anything which you're pushed/forced to do 5 times a day, wont just suddenly become a source of inspiration all of sudden. I've yet to see that. I know plenty of arab or desi kids around me who were pushed to pray when being younger, but never had their heart into it. These kind of kids dont become regular namazi nor do they find any inspiration in namaz, as they always see it as a burden. Thats at least what I have seen around me.
But I do agree. Parents should lead my example. My mothers strategy has always been to tell religious stories to all of us when we were younger and my younger siblings read the Quran at home instead of going to Masjid, so they prayed one namaz all together. I think that was a motivation factor as the kids enjoyed doing it together. With my elder sibling, who went to Masjid, there was no such thing as namaz together. Instead they were reminded/pushed by mum, they have a more unregular relationship with namaz ..