So here in the US, public schools usually prefer that kids keep their religious beliefs to themselves (pretty much), but this is not to say that they do not respect the diversities. My daughter’s teachers have always asked us about our festivals, preferences, what my child can do, cannot participate in, etc…and have always encouraged her to share in class about anything special we do.
However, my question is that is it OK to bring on religious conversations with your pals? For example, you know how we teach our kids that Allah will be happy if you do this and that, and all that good stuff…how do you tell these little children to keep their beliefs to themselves?
I don’t think you can get them to keep it to themselves, and honestly IMHO you shouldn’t even tell them to… that might convey the message that its wrong to talk about Allah and our religion. I just keep talking to my daughter about how everyone is not a muslim and they are entitled to their beliefs, so that she does not get into arguments (and OMG kids these age actually argue about everything ). I guess its easier for us since we live in a diverse area with lots of Indian and Muslim kids in her classroom. I believe we should be teaching our kids tolerance towards others instead of teaching them to keep our beliefs private.
But then I haven’t experienced public school yet, my daughter is in a private school.
I've only just started wondering about all this. My daughter is in 2nd grade and often she gets into conversations about God at school. I have been telling her that while it is OK to believe and apply the religious principles in her life, maybe she should avoid talking about it too much as in some families, they don't talk about God. I know next year will be better as she will be more mature in her conversations but this year I have to help her understand that it isn't necessary to open up and share everything at school.
If your daughter is anything like mine (who’s a daadi amman) best of luck My daughter thinks she has the right to correct everyone about everything and keeps complaining to me about how the kids said this and said that and don’t believe her or don’t listen to her :hinna:
Isn’t it totally cute also (MashaAllah)… I just want to hug her and protect her from the big bad world out there… our kids are so innocent, too bad it won’t stay that way for too long :hinna:.
my sis when in grade 2 told her other muslim friend that Allah will punish her for sinning by eating non halal pizza
the teacher must have overheard cuz my mom was called in to school the next day and politely told that my sis had to quit with the maulvi talk
my mom came home and was very proud with my sis and disturbed at the same time :D
its tough... very tough.... if anything its other muslim kids that throw muslim kids off the track... but i remember my mom just told her that she is not allowed to talk about allah with anyone else outside our home.. its something we only talk about at home..
sure she asked lame questions like so religion is only for hom? and ok if religion is for home than i can be non muslim outside of home?... mom just got real angry and told her to shush it... jitna kehrahi hu, uthna samjho
but haha.... she never told anyone that tehy were sinners and going to hell for it again :D
I don't think you should teach them to keep it to themselves. It's a fine line, but i think the approach should be to encourage them to share and respect other views, to understand that we a,l have different ways of understanding why we are here and how we should live our lives. I don't think the focus should be on right and wrong or sin when talking to people of other faiths. It's tricky.
its not hard when you are talking to child that is a bit older... but grade 2? its VERY tricky cuz religion is so complex .. you cant simplify it enough for a child that young. especially not when they have to deal with someone else..
I have told them to keep it to themselves. They do have a lrge number of desi friends though and go to Sunday school and hence get a platform that's enough to express their religious beliefs.
Their teachers know that they can't eat non halal stuff and they are ok with that. Beyond that they just say we can't eat that but don't elaborate upon it.
Normally teachers encourages kids to share their “festivals” more than anything else (specially not beliefs) and I dont see anything wrong in it. Knowing other people’s festivals/preferences creates more flexible environment.
We keep on reminding kids about our beliefs but also encourage them to know about others. We try to talk to them on day to day basis so that we clear out any confusion created in their little minds during any discussion at school. in fact these days we are trying to tone down our son (8 years old) who sometimes bluntly tells others that they are “christians” or “hindus” and he is “muslim” and thats why he can not eat non-halal meat!!
other day we went to a birthday part of my far-far cousin’s daughter. My cousin married a convert and he changed his name to YahYah (from John) but all of his family still calls him John. So in middle of brithday party my son exploded a bomb asking him “are you a muslim? if u are a muslim, why is your name john”
Till 2 years ago my son used to think that only people who can speak urdu (in addition to english) are Muslims
). I guess its easier for us since we live in a diverse area with lots of Indian and Muslim kids in her classroom. I believe we should be teaching our kids tolerance towards others instead of teaching them to keep our beliefs private.
My daughter thinks she has the right to correct everyone about everything and keeps complaining to me about how the kids said this and said that and don’t believe her or don’t listen to her :hinna:
Isn’t it totally cute also (MashaAllah)… I just want to hug her and protect her from the big bad world out there… our kids are so innocent, too bad it won’t stay that way for too long :hinna:.