If you’ve experienced the month of Ramadan in a Muslim-majority country, you’ll know that streets come alive with colourful lights, homes are filled with the vibrations of the call to prayer, and a warm blanket of devotion, generosity, and prayer lays itself over your loved ones.

The few times I experienced Ramadan in Egypt, I was astounded by how the month was treated as though it were an honoured guest being welcomed into your home. There were special Ramadan sweets being sold on every street corner, twinkling lights were hung up in the lobby of every apartment building, and the evening prayers were packed with worshipers.

Growing up in Canada, Ramadan was different, but still a beautiful and special time. In the absence of widespread community traditions, many families like my own created their own special Ramadan traditions.

Here are some ways we can create a lovely Ramadan for our kids:

1. Model devotion to worship and prioritize family time

I am a firm believer that simply showing our children our sincere and joyful devotion to the acts of worship that come with Ramadan will instill in them a sense of love and excitement for this beautiful month.

It can be easy to get caught up in the material celebrations of the month, and forget that God has placed blessings in Ramadan that naturally bring us closer to Him, and to one another.

I also have distinct memories of mealtimes with my family during Ramadan, even when I was too young to fast. We would share the joy of breaking our fast together (and the crankiness that comes with waking up before dawn!), going to taraweeh prayers, and iftaar dinners. Ramadan was always a time of genuine togetherness.

Kids thrive when their families come together for meals, prayers, and other acts of worship. Individual devotion and introspection is important – but make sure you carve out some time to include your little ones in these acts.

2. Make Ramadan a month of gifts

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Give gifts to one another, and you will love each other.”

This year I’ll be starting the month off by gifting my daughter a “Ramadan Basket” with a few Ramadan-related items:

• A new prayer hijab from Leena’s Hijabs
• An adorable hand-sewn pillow that reminds her to say her nightly duas, from Handmade Beginnings
• Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets – a wonderful new Ramadan-themed book by Hena Khan
• Blank cards to write “Ramadan Mubarak” messages in for her friends, teachers, and family members.

Image Source: Asmaa Hussein

Some other ideas for a Ramadan basket: new PJs, prayer clothes and prayer mats, new Qurans (for kids who are old enough!), miswaks, mini-dua book, etc.

3. Read with your child

Cuddle up and read with your kids! Here’s a list of recommended Ramadan books you can share with your child.

If you already have all these titles, I suggest getting a copy of the best-selling “Bismillah Soup,” a warm book about a community coming together to share a feast at their local mosque. Check it out here!

Image Source: Asmaa Hussein

4. Decorate!

Party decorations always make kids excited! A quick Google search will show you that there are so many great, customized Ramadan décor options out there now but be sure to check back on the Living Halal site as they will be featuring great Ramadan Décor ideas. But even dollar store streamers and balloons do the trick.

Getting your kids involved in putting up decorations before Ramadan is not only great way to usher in the Ramadan festivities, but it also means family bonding time. Why not try out some hand-made decorations as well?

Here’s my attempt at simple, but beautiful paper lanterns:

Image Source: Asmaa Hussein

And here’s how you can make yours with instructions.

5. Plan ahead to keep them engaged all month!

An advent calendar is a great option for keeping your kids engaged and interested all month. For each day of Ramadan, write down a hadith or Quranic verse you can read together, or good deed your child can perform each day. A small slip of paper can fit into each pocket or compartment along with a small toy or treat to add that extra bit of excitement!

I opted for a hand-sewn, cloth advent calendar from Handmade Beginnings because I want it to last for a few years:

Image Source: Asmaa Hussein

You can also make your own!

Need ideas on what good deeds/content to put into each pocket? Check out these links, with free printables from In the Playroom and Handmade Beginnings:

6. Prioritize yourself, too

As much as you try to include your kids in your acts of worship, they may not have the stamina to take part. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a productive and heart-felt month!

Plan ahead to make sure your kids have age-appropriate crafts and activities to do, or programs they can complete on their own. This will give you some respite to read those extra pages of Quran, or perform that extra unit prayer. In turn, you’ll be able to engage more meaningfully and patiently with your kids.

A special “taraweeh bag” may also be a good idea if you’re planning to take them along to night prayers. Include activities they can quietly complete as you pray. Here are some of my finds that I purchased over the past month!

Image Source: Asmaa Hussein

No matter what you do for your kids this month, make sure your intention is to instill love for Allah (Glory be to Him) in their hearts. Ramadan is a month that makes this easy for us because it’s so inherently full of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Written by: Asmaa Hussein