How do you make Ramadan memorable for your kids? What are some special traditions that you have started or will start so that your kids not only learn about the special blessed month but enjoy it as well by being a part of it?
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
I have 4 year old and it seems she is more excited about Ramadan this time around than she was last year.Something I have done (this year) is make a Ramadan calendar and sort of a bucket list of 30 things she can do thru out the month.She was excited about crafting the calendar with me as she loves arts and crafts and I have been telling her things we will be doing throughout the month…like putting up Ramadan decor/lights (we were supposed to do that today but the string lights weren’t enough so that was a crisis I faced today…lol),making paper lanterns,going to masjid for Jummah prayer,putting out pray mats for everyone at namaz time,listening to Adhaan quietly,making eid cards,mailing out Eid cards,helping mom set table for Iftaar,invite friends over for Iftar,give iftar to our neighbors..etc etc…stuff a 4 year old can do.I have been telling her that at the end of thirty days we will have Eid.
This is the first time for us with a calendar and bucket list.I did not associate everything with a reward like a candy or something because I knew it will become a daily thing.The cards I used to write down the chores on have a star shaped sticker on the back..so the plan is that once we do a certain chore/task,we will invert the card,put it in a pocket on the calendar thingie and that will reveal the star.Once the calender board shows thirty stars it will be time for Eid.I will improvise as and if needed.
In the last two years I have put up balloons/banners/lights and other paper decorations for Eid.She remembers those and expects them to be up this year too.
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
Mine is a little young at 3 for an Eid Advent calendar but iA next year that’s what I want to do too! This year, I’ll be talking to him about Eid and we will iA decorate the house for it, too. I am also hoping to host either a dinner or an open house to get everyone together and let the kids feel the occasion is as special as Christmas time is. And I hope to take him for Eid namaz too iA.
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
We usually have a Ramzaan calender (just like the christmas one) and behind each window there is a little dua or a little story which I tell him on that day. It worked fine last year, I’m hoping it will work out this year as well. I’m thinking since he did listen a few stories last year etc I want him to tell me the story this time. We will see inshallah.
Since it’s vacation time, he does sehri with us. He even kept a few rozas last year and if he wants to try this year as well, I will let him do it.
We’re going to focus a bit more on the prayer and perhaps learn a few of the short Surahs as well.
Eid is usually a big thing in my family for the kids and I think now he’s old and mature enough to go with his dad for Eid prayer.
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
I love chips’ idea!
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
Yep what chipsy said.. Ramadan activity calendar with similar tasks ( yes we talked to each other ) and he is pretty excited about it. He asks me everyday if he can take out an “ativy”(Activity) to do. I plan to take him to masjid as much as possible during Ramadan. We have a few Ramadan books so we will be reading a lot like always. 
We haven’t decorated the house yet but we may put up some string lights tomorrow and save the rest for eid.
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
My kids are older now, and starting to keep full rozas (mA!) so the only think I really do other than decorating the house is hang there “Ramadan Stockings” on the fireplace (yes, I adopted this from a Christmas tradition, sue me 
). I’'ve posted a pic here on GS before, I think.
When they were toddlers/pre-k I did a lot of what chips & gtg have said
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
Oh, and another tradition we started in my family a few years ago is at our family eid party, I hold a “Ramadan Jeopardy” game for all the kids in the family. I made up a huge game board modeled after the Jeopardy screen and I have 3 categories.. “Quran” “Religion” “Hadith/Sunnah” and then categories from 100-500, with the questions under 500 being the most advanced/hardest.
I play Alex Trebek lol, and the kids have to buzz in to answer the questions. We tally up the scores and then give out gift cards to the 3 top scorers. It’s always a lot of fun, is hugely interactive and creates a buzz with all the kids and healthy competition.
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
The activities calendar I love! And khatti…the jeopardy game is so cute. I bet the kids get super excited.
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
Guriya has been a given a ramadan calendar by her school for all 30 days and hopefully that should be exciting for her.
Other than that ramadan meals , mama coming home early and eid are things that will be making her happy.
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
I love the calender idea. I’m gonna head to the local dollar store and pick up some craft stuff for Ramadan activities. Can you please share or pm me the pics. You ladies are Ahmazinnggg!!!
Please forward me those pm’s too 
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
moodie..ramadan calendar picture is on my facebook.. check it out. I actually love chipsy’s calendar.. bug her to share
and here is the list of activities in no particular order..
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Memorize Bismillah
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Memorize shahdah
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make paper lanterns
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Bake Ramadan cookies
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Make rice krispie treats
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Give iftar to neighbors
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Attend community iftar at masjid
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attend jummah at masjid
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read Ramadan book
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read eid book
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pray one namaz with mama
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pray one namaz with baba
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pray one namaz with Ammi
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donate a toy
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make eid cards for friends and family
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Color /paint Ramadan pages
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make date milkshake
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Make date balls for friends at masjid
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Go to the post office to mail cards/gifts to friends and family
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Wrap eid gifts
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attend halaqa with mama
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Moonsighting
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Listen to Adhan quietly
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go for a nature walk
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go for ice cream after iftar with mama and baba
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Put money in the donation box at masjid
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Help mama or baba make something for iftar
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Decorate the house for eid
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Bake Eid cookies
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Attend eid namaz
** Our first one tonight is moon sighting inshaAllah **
Can I be forwarded those pm too.
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
It is kinda hard to read the cards in the pics.I will write the activities down.They are in no particular order and I might change them if and as needed.I did talk to Gemini the Great when she was making hers and we exchanged our lists at that time too…:D..Thanks Gtg …
*Read a Ramadan book
*Read a book about Eid
*Read an Islamic story book
*Memorize a new suarh (this might take some time and not a day but that’s fine)
*help mom set up the table for iftar
*help mom clear the table after iftar
*help mom clean up around the house
*Attend Jummah prayer
*Put money in donation box at masjid
*Go to masjid (I might take her for tarweeh prayer but still not sure how it will work as it is pretty late)
*make Eid cards
*Go to post office to mail out Eid gifts and cards
*Give iftar to neighbors
*Attend iftar at a friend’s house
*Invite over friends for iftar
*Make paper lanterns/Ramadan craft
*String beads to make tasbeeh
*Help put jai namaz for everyone at namaz time
*Make a list of your blessings (we can talk about the blessings)
*Moonsighting
*Put up Eid decorations
*Pick out Eid outfit and accessories (during the end of Ramadan)
*Ramadan coloring pages
*you have been nice!Have some ice cream
*You have been nice!Have some chocolate
*Listen to the Adhaan quietly
*Make dua after namaz
*Let’s do your favorite activity of all of these,today.
I put the star stickers on the bottom end of the cards.Will flip them over so they will peek out the windows on the calendar.30 stars later,time for Eid.Also,I have a few repetitions on these cards.They were to suit me, like helping mom clean up is on a few times…
I am hoping this goes well.She drove me nuts two days ago when we made it…she wanted Eid to come before Ramadan…
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
Lol at helping mom clean up!!! Love it!
I’m gonna try and make this tonight after a trip to.dollarama
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
love the calendar and the game idea, my little guy is too young for that right now, but iA will introduce the calendar next year. Thanks for sharing!!!
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
So many great ideas!
We’re doing the advent calendar for the first time. Thanks, GTG, for the detailed suggestions!
Each day has one activity that encourages us to be helpful, reflective, kind in the spirit of the month and another activity that is encouraging religious knowledge (listening to Quran recitation, practicing a new surah, reading namaz with a parent, etc). I’m sooo excited!
Re: Making Ramadan special for kids
I spent all day today making a calender (thanks GTG and chips6 for ideas) and printed a journal for the elder one (6yo) , needed to change a template I found online according to requirements .. kids are excited for the Ramadan wall , hope it all goes good for them
I printed 30 pages of these, each with a different hadith that we’ll discuss every day, and the list of duas is what he has already memorised and we’ll be revising them every day since he is not into a practice of reciting them much when needed yet. We are already doing some arabic practice so I have included that and some other things I needed in the checklist.
