Everyone wants their child to be a good ambassador of Islam. Teaching children about Islam is a rewarding and enriching experience, but it can also be challenging to engage young learners. Children have short attention spans and can get easily bored, so it’s important to keep things interesting and engaging. To make the learning process more interactive and engaging, it’s important to use creative teaching methods that appeal to children’s interests and learning styles.
There are many reasons why it is important to teach children about Islam.
- To help them understand their faith: Teaching children about Islam helps them understand the teachings and principles of their faith and how to practice Islam in their daily lives. This can help them feel more connected to their faith and develop a strong foundation in Islam.
- To build positive character traits: Islam emphasises the importance of developing positive character traits, such as honesty, kindness, and compassion. Teaching children about these values can help them develop these traits and become kind and compassionate individuals. It basically allows us to raise our children with those values we hold dear.
- To instil a sense of community: Islam places a strong emphasis on community and helping others. Teaching children about Islam can help instil a sense of community and encourage them to be active and engaged members of their community.
Teaching Islam to children doesn’t have to be boring. Here are a number of creative ways to look to:
- Use hands-on activities: Children learn best through hands-on experiences, so consider incorporating activities that allow them to actively engage with the material. For example, you could have them make their own prayer beads or prayer rugs following a lesson or conversation on salah
- Tell stories: Children love stories, and they are a powerful tool for teaching about Islam. Consider sharing stories from the Qur’an, Hadith, or the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to help children understand the teachings and principles of Islam.
- Use multimedia resources: There are many great multimedia resources available that can help children learn about Islam in a fun and interactive way. Consider using videos, podcasts, or online games to engage children and help them learn about Islam.
- Practice Islam together: Children learn best by example, so consider incorporating Islamic practices into your daily routine. There is so much they can get from your modeling. For example, you could pray together as a family, or participate in Ramadan activities together. This can help children understand the importance of these practices and feel more connected to their faith.
- Use games and activities: Children love to play, and there are plenty of games and activities you can use to teach Islam. For example, you could play a memory game with Qur’an verses, do a craft project related to a story from the Qur’an, or play a game that teaches about Islamic values.
- Use storytelling and role-playing: Children are naturally drawn to stories, and they love to play pretend. You can use these interests to your advantage by telling stories from the Qur’an or Islamic history, or by encouraging your children to act out stories or scenarios related to Islam. There are also a number of story books these days that teach many things. A few vendors have amazing collections, feel free to shop at The Dotted Pearl, Nurture Village, Meenas Muslim Art and Hadiya.
- Use Nasheeds: Children love to sing and dance, and you can use nasheeds to teach Islam in a fun and engaging way. For example, you could create a playlist and keep on repeat. There are songs about Eid and The five pillars too.
- Use technology: Children are growing up in a digital age, and there are plenty of educational apps, websites, and videos that can help teach Islam in a fun and interactive way. Just be sure to monitor your children’s screen time and choose age-appropriate resources.
- Make it interactive: Children learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process. Consider incorporating activities that allow children to participate and interact with the material, such as role-playing, art projects, or discussions.
- Use real-world examples: Children can better understand and relate to concepts when they see how they apply in the real world. Consider using examples from their own lives or current events to help them understand the teachings and principles of Islam.
- For instance: Imagine that a group of young children are playing at a park and one of them falls and gets hurt. The child is crying and upset, and the other children are unsure of what to do. One way to teach the children about Islam in this situation is to use it as an opportunity to discuss the importance of compassion and kindness in Islam. You could explain that Muslims are encouraged to help others in need and to show compassion towards those who are suffering. You could also reference the ayah that says “and do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good” (2:195). You could also encourage the children to offer comfort and support to the child who is hurt, such as by offering words of encouragement or a hug. You could also suggest that the children pray for the child’s recovery. This can help the children understand the importance of compassion and kindness in Islam and develop a sense of empathy and concern for others. As such, you can help the children understand the teachings and principles of Islam and develop positive character traits. You can also help the children learn to be kind and compassionate towards others and to offer support and comfort when needed.
- Another example: Imagine that a child is playing with his friends and it is time for zuhr salah. The child is hesitant to stop playing and go to pray because they don’t want to be different from their friends. You could also suggest that the child invite their friends to join them in praying salah. This can help the child feel less isolated and can also be an opportunity to educate their friends about Islam and salah. It is a good time to talk about the importance of salah and the benefits it brings. By using this real-life situation as a teaching opportunity, you can help the child understand the importance and benefits of salah and develop a consistent prayer habit. You can also help the child learn to be proud of their faith and to share it with others in a respectful and inclusive way.
- Encourage questions: Encourage children to ask questions and explore their own understanding of Islam. This can help them develop critical thinking skills and feel more connected to their faith. Sadly, questions make us uncomfortable. It is okay to take a minute and come back to the question when you are feeling less triggered.
- Make it fun: Children are more likely to engage with and retain material when they are having fun. Consider incorporating games, songs, or other fun activities into your teaching to keep children interested and engaged.
- Seek help and support: If you feel stuck or overwhelmed, it is okay to lean on others. A good course to take is Tarbiyah at home – which is specifically designed to help Muslim mothers teach tarbiyah to their children in a meaningful and effective way.It covers a variety of topics, and gives you tips and ideas based on the ages of the children, and it provides practical tips and strategies for teaching tarbiyah at home. Register here and get complimentary one-on-one coaching!
Children have different learning styles and may respond better to certain teaching methods over others. Consider using a variety of methods, such as lectures, videos, games, or hands-on activities, to reach all learners. It is important to consider the age and development of the children when choosing teaching methods. For young children, hands-on activities, games, stories, and other interactive methods may be effective in helping them learn about Islam. As children get older, you can incorporate more traditional methods of instruction, such as reading and discussing texts and participating in group discussions.
Teaching children about Islam doesn’t have to be a traditional lecture-style lesson. By using creative and interactive methods, you can help children learn about Islam in a way that is engaging and meaningful to them. There are endless ways you can teach children about Islam. Be creative and think outside the box. You can use art, drama, sports, or any other activity your children enjoy to teach Islam in a fun and engaging way
Whether you use hands-on activities, stories, multimedia resources, or other methods, the key is to find what works best for your children and their individual learning styles..
With a little creativity and effort, you can help children develop a strong foundation in their faith and a love for Islam.Over all, the best approach will depend on the individual needs and learning styles of the children, as well as the goals and objectives of the teaching. It’s important to be flexible and adapt your approach as needed to ensure that the children are able to understand and engage with the material.
Ultimately, teaching children about Islam helps them develop a strong foundation in their faith and helps them become compassionate, engaged, and well-rounded individuals.
