Highlights on After-school activities in Ramadan for children

Ramadan is a month in which Muslims are ordered to fast. Some non-Muslims think that we don’t like this month as we have to fast for a whole month. But we Muslims wait for this month to come.

So what do the children do? I think you are asking about fasts. Fast becomes obligatory after puberty hits. But a lot of children fast during Ramadan before the age of puberty. Also, some parents search for after-school activities in Ramadan for their kids which we will discuss in this article.

 The right age to start fasting during Ramadan

Fasting is not obligatory for young children, until they reach the age of adolescence, because the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said:

“The pens have been lifted from three: from one who has lost his mind until he comes back to his senses, from one who is sleeping until he wakes up, and from a child until he reaches the age of adolescence.” Narrated by Abu Dawood.

Nevertheless, children should be told too fast so that they can get used to it, and because the good deeds that they do will be recorded for them.

The age at which parents should start to teach their children to fast is the age at which they can fast, which will vary according to each child’s physical makeup. Some scholars have defined this as being 10 years of age.

A list of After-school activities in Ramadan

Every parent can organize after-school Ramadan activities for students. So you can keep them busy and at the same time get them involved in the holy Ramadan spirit to make it special for them and the whole family more than ever.

1- Holding family gathering about Ramadan virtues

You can set a special time every day in Ramadan as a family to explain how blessed the month of Ramadan is. You can discuss all details like the sighting of the crescent which indicate the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. Also explain how Muslims observe it, and what we should do during it.

These After-school activities in Ramadan will tighten the bond between family members and will help fasting kids to know more about this holy month of Ramadan.

2- Telling Ramadan stories every night 

One of the best After-school activities in Ramadan for kids is story time every day. You can start with your Ramadan stories when you are a kid or tell them about prophet Muhammad and messengers as briefly as you can, and make sure to tell these stories attractively.

Also, Prophet stories in cartoons are available, which will also help children to be entertained and also they will gain knowledge about Islam

3- Prepare cards to celebrate Ramadan with their classmate

You can use these After-school activities in Ramadan for kids by preparing written cards on which Ramadan Kareem wishes and filling their bags with sweets and cards that contain some of Ramadan’s virtues and importance.

Then ask your kids to share these cards and sweets with their classmates after getting permission from the school teacher.

4- Teach them more about Ramadan

Tell them, Ramadan is a holy month, this month we have to pray more and play less. We shouldn’t watch TV or any cartoon networks, because Allah is watching us, he only wants us to pray for ourselves.

This month don’t look for entertainment, look for what’s in the Quran, Read Quran, and you can get double points up.

On normal days if you do any good deeds you’ll get 1 point up, But in Ramadan, if you help anyone or you do any good deeds you get double points up.

5- Memorize and recite Dua After-school activities in Ramadan

You can make your children more active participants throughout the whole month of Ramadan by teaching them 

6- Teach children how to fast during Ramadan

Children aren’t required to fast in Ramadan before they reach a certain age as we discussed before. However you can teach them the important basics of Ramadan slowly, so you can instill these important Islamic values while they are growing and they will learn self-control through fasting through these simple After-school activities in Ramadan.

First, you can encourage them to wake up for Suhoor day after day, then allow them to fast till Zuhr time. So when they grow up, they will get used to fasting from sunrise till sunset.

7- Learn about common Ramadan greetings 

All parents want nothing but the best for their kids, so these After-school activities in Ramadan will teach your children Ramadan greetings.

You can teach them simple Ramadan greetings like “Ramadan Mubarak” which means blessed Ramadan, and “Ramadan Kareem” which means noble Ramadan. Therefore they can greet others like relatives by saying these greetings which makes them feel proud.

8- Help mother in preparing Iftar meals

You can use this example of after-school activities in Ramadan to involve your children in Iftar meal preparation. This activity will teach them to help others, plus you will have family time where you can talk together about anything. So they will always remember these memories when they grow up.

9- Take children to Masjid with you 

A father can take his young children with him to the mosque every day as one of the After-school activities in Ramadan throughout the whole month to perform the prayer there, especially during the Taraweeh prayer in mosques. Where he will have the chance to listen to the Quran from Imam.

Also going to the mosque during the holy month of Ramadan makes the child get used to going to mosques from a young age, in addition to learning how to do the prayer and knowing the manners that must be followed in the mosque.

After-school activities in Ramadan are variable and many parents can have their own Ramadan activities for their kids. The point is to show the young children the amazing spirit and celebrations of Ramadan, so they can grow up with full adaption and awareness of this holy month.