Ramadan can be a difficult time for children – getting to grips with the upheaval of their usual schedule, trying to understand what the adults around them are experiencing through fasting and prayer, and, in some cases, undergoing a part-fast for the very first time. Whether your child is old enough to partake in some of your family’s Ramadan activities, or a non-Muslim just curious about what’s going on around them this month, use these tips to make the experience a healthy and positive one for them.
Help them understand the fast
Young children are not expected to follow a full dawn-to-dusk fast, but many families allow their kids to abstain from one of their regular meals, or forego certain foods during the Holy Month. This is partly to make them more aware of the meaning and purpose of Ramadan and educate them about its significance, and partly to prepare them for the years ahead when they will do a full adult fast. Dr Richard Stangier, internal medicine consultant for Al Rawdah German Medical Center says, ‘Muslim families encourage their children to partake in fasting (even for a few hours for children under 12). It is perfectly safe for healthy children to fast over the age of 12, however the same precautions for adults are recommended, such as keeping up fluid intake after the fast has broken, and avoiding physical exertion and exposure to the heat.’
Keep an eye on what they eat
It’s hard enough controlling what goes on your own plate at Iftar sometimes, but when you’re bringing children to all-you-can-eat buffets you need to keep a very strict watch on what they are filling up on, or you might find they’ve sneaked off to the dessert section quite a few times without you noticing. So to avoid your kids piling on weight, or living off a diet of baklava for the next few weeks, encourage them to choose a balanced plateful and fill up on healthy food. Failing that, just make sure they don’t hit the buffet without you.
Make sure they get enough sleep
With the grownups in the household often keeping very late hours during Ramadan it can be hard to get kids to bed at a reasonable hour, and since they will often be spending the days quietly, it can be impossible to get them to sleep at all at night. The result? Very cranky, overtired children that never seem to want to go to bed. In some ways an upheaval of their usual sleeping patterns is inevitable, but you can ease the strain by at least keeping their schedule regular whether this includes late nights or not. Their bodies will adjust quite quickly to a new pattern. Try to make sure they get to burn some energy and take part in energetic activities during their waking hours too so they don’t get sluggish and bored.
Motivate your kids during the Holy Month
If you’re looking for a little treat for your kids that will help them understand the values of Ramadan, why not pick up a Ramadan Countdown Calendar? Kids can open a new window each day throughout the Holy Month, and find a chocolate inside. There are two designs to choose from, one with suggestions for good deeds for the day printed on the back of each door, and one left blank so families can choose one themselves. The final 10 days of the month are highlighted in silver to reflect the special significance of the period.
Dhs49.50. Available at branches of Spinney’s across town.
View our comprehensive Ramadan guide here
