Now that Ramadan is over and Eid-al Fitr is here, a time in which we all celebrate and reflect upon the Holy Month with our friends and family, we have compiled a few ways to encourage important values of charity, reflection and donation with your children.
1) Encourage Giving –
It’s easy to want to spoil our children during Eid, as many traditions include giving gifts or giving children money to buy toys or electronics. One way to encourage giving would be to give the child a 50 note, but say that 20 of it belongs to them and the other 30 needs to be spent in a way in which it might help someone else. Share with your child the importance of helping others, and tell them about a few local charities. Many charities this time of year are collecting money to buy gifts, food or supplies for families in need, and that’s a great way to encourage your child to help someone else. Go with them to the charity and have them donate the money themselves. The sense of fulfillment of helping someone else will become a value, and then part of their character later in life. Also, encourage your child to give the gift of their time and talents by asking them to contemplate gifts they could give family members or siblings that are non-tangible. Things like creating little coupons for a free back rub or help with dishes will also teach children that giving is important, and isn’t always in material form. Another way to give would be to ask children to donate toys, books and clothing items that they no longer use to families in need. Various organizations are collecting these items for Syrian refugees and Palestinian families in Gaza, so let your children know that sharing these items will make another child feel happy during Eid.
2) Volunteering Time –
Along with your children, volunteer to help clean up the prayer area at the mosque after everyone has left. It is a good time to teach the value of community service, and allows them to understand how important it is not to litter. When religious or public areas are littered with trash, the whole community is affected. In the Middle East, littering is a huge issue, and a great way to make your children realize that is to have them pick up after others.
3) Remembrance –
It is wonderful that we are able to celebrate this holiday with our families and children, but we cannot forget all the other people around the world, and even close to home here in the Middle East, that are not able to celebrate. Talk to your children about the importance of being grateful and for appreciating every blessing we have, and encourage them to pray and make Dua for those who are less fortunate this year. Awareness and gratitude are two very important traits to instill in children from a young age, and talking to them about it in a time of holiday is a great way to make sure it becomes something they always consider.
Eid Mubarak! Do you have other ways of teaching important values to your children during Eid? Share them with us at Editor@Barakabits.com!
