Kindness. Empathy. Integrity. They say that these are the things you need to nurture in a child to make them better citizens of their community and nation. However, raising children with a strong sense of faith and values in this fast-paced economy is undeniably challenging and hard as life pulls you in so many directions. And if you feel like you are having a hard time, don’t worry, as we gathered some tips to help you guide your child’s education at home that enriches the Islamic education values holistically.
Celebrate religious occasions together. Make holidays like Ramadan and Eid memorable by creating family traditions. Even the simplest tasks of preparing meals for these special days or doing something for others can help create a memorable, shared experience for everyone, especially the kids, that in turn can make them feel proud of their heritage and faith.
Incorporate faith into everyday conversations. This is one of the best ways to teach your children, as you can directly align Islamic values in situations that they encounter everyday. This also makes your kids realise that faith is something that is alive and that is embedded in their lives.
Emphasise good character over rules. You might wonder why imposing rules doesn’t work on us, adults, and it is because it does not resonate with any one of us. And this does not only happen to adults but to children as well, because it makes them feel restrictive. In a diverse background like your own communities and their school community, teaching them good character allows them to interact meaningfully where collective sense of humanity is fostered, and different cultures are respected.
Encourage questions and curiosity. Children are naturally curious about how the world works, and while you cannot really answer everything they ask, don’t discourage them as well. Embrace their curiosity and create for them a safe space where they can open a dialogue or discussion with you about what they want to say. You might be surprised just how children can be so knowledgeable about the world because of the sheer innocence they have, and showing them that you are willing to explore with them creates a religious journey for the both of you to share.
Lead by example. Children learn best by watching the adults, not just you as their parents. And while you can integrate faith in your daily lives, encourage the people around you to lead by good example as well. This will not only develop as habits for your children but also for the people around them.
Teaching Islamic values at home doesn’t require grand gestures.
Faith is not only about preserving the religious identity of an individual but also being a good individual who understands their identity and the identity of others regardless of differences in culture. And teaching these values at home is the best way to instill in them how valuable they are as they grow and become responsible adults in the future.