The best gift you can ever give your little ones is guiding them closer to Allah.
As parents, it’s our duty to guide our children on the path of faith; part of this involves teaching them how to pray (salah). It’s the second most important pillar, helping children develop a deeper understanding of the Islamic faith and constantly reminding them of Allah’s presence in their lives.
As important as Salah is to everyone, getting kids to learn it, let alone form a habit of practising it, can be a bit challenging. However, there are many stress-free ways parents can adopt when navigating this phase. Read on to learn more!
Tips to Help Your Children Learn and Enjoy Practising Salah
Create a Warm and Inviting Prayer Friendly Environment
This goes without saying. Creating a welcoming and comfortable environment can help set the tone, capturing their attention and making them eager to engage with you. So, where do you start?
First, you must choose a designated area away from possible distractions. Next, you want to incorporate meaningful elements to make the room feel special and pure. You can do this by adding Quran verses and Islamic artwork related to Salah.
Don’t forget about comfort. If your child is not comfortable during the lesson, they will have a hard time concentrating. For a seamless experience, ensure youbuy a Musallah prayer mat online from a leading Islamic lifestyle store.
Lead by Example
Children are visual learners. They will often imitate what their peers are doing. That said, you need to pray together as a family.
Don’t get us wrong; we don’t mean to say you do it for the sake of them watching. It’s more likely to be effective when you engage with them. Create a warm and supportive environment where they can comfortably ask questions and share their experiences.
Start Early and Be Consistent
According to Hadith, children should start practising Salah from as early as 7 years. It’s always wise to let your kids learn how to pray earlier. The perfect age for teaching your children how to learn Salah is 6. Such an early age gives room for kids who might be slow to catch up by the age of 7.
Keep in mind that consistency is key, especially when it comes to memorising, so make it a part of their daily routine. For motivation, ensure you provide them with the essentials you use when praying. For example, you can invest in a top-qualitykids' prayer mat to help your little ones perform their prayers diligently.
Tell Stories and Use Visuals
Just as you read your kiddo interesting stories before bed, consider switching that to stories from Islamic history.
You don’t necessarily have to do it at night, but make it a habit. For example, you can read inspirational stories like those of Prophet Muhammad to help develop a deeper understanding of Salah. Using visual aids such as flashcards can also help make the learning experience more engaging and fun.
Every Small Achievement Counts
Whether it’s memorising a new surah or mastering a new prayer, recognising that small achievement and rewarding them with small gifts or privileges can help motivate them to stay consistent and devoted to the teachings of Allah.
It is important for parents to be patient with their children. Rushing the process may create a hostile environment for the kid, which may not be advantageous.
If your child is about to turn 6, we recommend you start preparing for the learning process. Gather all the relevant prayer books, download catchy visuals andbuy Musallah online to enhance comfort. You can visitJLifestyleand explore all the valuable elements that can make a difference in your child’s learning process.
Image Source - Photo by Ramin labisheh on Unsplash
