https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-ramadan-light-on-top-of-table-2233416
Eid is just around the corner, so if you’re looking for some fun inspiration on how to celebrate with your young children, you’re in the right place! These ideas help your children to learn about Eid in an engaging way, as well as allowing you to spend quality time together.
Do Sensory Play
Firstly, if you have very young children, then sensory play can be a great way for them to start engaging with different colours and textures. Cut out stars and moon shapes, ideally in two different textures and colours, so maybe you have one foam choice, then could make the stars out of pipe cleaners, or ruffled paper. You could also spell out their name in Arabic letters. Then, mix some rice with food colouring, let it fully dry and place it in the bottom of a tub.
Encourage your little one to feel the different shapes, show them how to spell out their name and you can start to talk to them about the importance of Ramadan and why you celebrate Eid together as a family. You can tailor this to suit any age, from babies through to toddlers and young children.
Bake Eid Treats
Another great activity is to bake Eid treats together. Whether you want to make some family favourite recipes, or you want to try something completely new, this is a great way to get the whole family involved. Choose things that your little ones can be fully involved in, like chocolate and almond ghriba cookies, tahini and chocolate dates, sheer khurma, or baklava. Get your kids involved with weighing out the ingredients, mixing and then they will feel so much pride both eating them and giving out to friends and family.
Gratitude/Good Deed Bunting
Something else you can do to help teach your kids about the values surrounding Eid, including spending time with family, giving to those in need and showing happiness and gratitude to Allah, is to create good deed bunting. Get some beautiful paper, cut out star and moon shapes large enough to write on, then ask your little ones to write things that make them happy, things they’re grateful for or messages to people they love. You can then use a hole punch and thread ribbon through it to create a beautiful decoration that is covered with meaningful messages.
You could also do the same thing but with good deeds towards the beginning of Ramadan. Instead of writing messages, you can write down different deeds to do throughout Ramadan, and when they’re complete, you can take them off the bunting! Things like decorating the house for Ramadan, going to the Mosque, pray everyday, giving dates to friends and family, visit and look after the sick, be kind to everyone around you, help your parents with chores, helping family prepare Iftar, making cards for friends and family, taking donations to a local food bank or doing an activity to raise money for charity.
Choose Gifts For Family Together
Last but not least, you should choose Eid gifts for your family together. Sit down with them and write a list of everyone you’re buying gifts for and a budget for each person. Then, talk through the different options for each person, talk about the things that they like and discuss what they might like! This will get them thinking about how to give meaningful gifts, as well as the benefit of them getting used to budgeting.
For example, if you know someone really values meaningful gifts, consider something like Arabic name necklaces, or if someone really loves food, you could handmake some gifts in a hamper for them. If someone really likes scents, you could go together to pick a candle or a scent diffuser.