Eid is just around the corner, and that calls for the preparation of funtastic ideas and activities that you and your kids are sure to enjoy! We've scrubbed through ideas for activities on the web, and have hand-picked our top 5 budget-friendly Eid activities to get you and your kid(s) inspired about our beloved holiday!
As complicated as it may sound, not to worry. This piñata is simple to make and budget friendly as well! Use any pizza boxes or other cardboard boxes laying around the house, and the only additional items you need are tape, tissue paper, a box cutter or scissors, twine, and candy. This makes for the perfect activity to have all the kids come together for a fun activity in which everyone can participate and at the end, win candy!
Use the link below to see how Amnah from Little Life of Mine created this DIY Crescent Moon Piñata!
For the all the gifts our children receive on Eid, we should encourage them to gift their loved ones (including elders) with their creativity. With DIY Eid Mubarak cards! Set up a card making station for them with items usually found at home such as colored pencils and markers, and pick up construction paper and stickers for additional creativity. It’s a win-win situation for both children and adults!
With only three necessary ingredients for rice crispy treats (rice crispy cereal, marshmallows, and butter), the only additional item you need to take these treats to the next level are star and crescent shaped cookie cutters, which are typically available at stores such as Sur La Table or Bed Bath and Beyond for $1-$3. Whip up a batch beforehand and use the cookie cutters to create the shapes (have your children help you with this step to make it a fun experience for them as well). Then, store them in an airtight container and then simply serve them the day of Eid!
Here’s Amnah from Little Life of Mine’s post on how to make these treats: Halal Shaped Rice Crispy Treats
One of the most common gifts on Eid day that we gift those younger than us is money. However, it feels a bit bland to simply hand over money to the ones we love the most. To make gifting Eidi a bit more festive in a budget-friendly manner, pick up $1 balloons from your local grocery store and a bag of tissue confetti from a local Dollar Store. Not only will you enjoy gifting these but the giftees will also love popping the balloons to get their gift!
Check out Modern Muslim Home’s post on how to create these festive balloons here: Eid Money Balloons
Remember those cookie cutters from Activity #3? Well, here’s an opportunity to make further use of them! To keep things quick, simple, and pocket friendly, buy pre-made pizza dough and jarred pizza sauce to assemble your pizza. Use the cookie cutters to create shapes out of the pepperoni and bake it off. Have your children get in on cutting out the pepperoni to make this an activity for them as well! Who doesn’t love pizza after month-long of fasting?
Here’s a similar concept we love from HelloHolyDays.com
Abour Noor Kids
Noor Kids is a Harvard-supported children's activity book series that seeks to build confidence in the religious identity of little Muslims. Our books have now entered into over 25,000 homes across 25 countries! To see a sample, click here.
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The last ten nights of Ramadan are the most blessed, with one of odd nights being Laylat-ul-Qadr. That means we should try to step up our worship each of these last few nights. These nights are a wonderful time to role model behavior for your children, showcasing the importance of the evenings through your own worship.
One activity that we recommend is to introduce small duas to children, with the hopes that they will use them as constant reminders as they continue to grow. Each of the next five nights, focus on memorizing one of these duas as a family.
And, if you can, make dua for us as well :-)
With sleep being an essential part of all of our daily routines, this dua is crucial to memorize. This dua should allow us to rejuvenate our faith in Allah and our conviction in His decree for us.
Sleeping is a form a death, and therefore waking up is a blessing bestowed upon us from the Almighty. Expressing our gratitude to Allah for this great blessing is the best way we can begin our day.
By driving or riding in a vehicle, we take upon ourselves the risk of many different types of harm. Praising Allah for allowing us to control (to the best of our ability) the vehicle is one of the best ways to express our gratitude and refresh our faith in Him and His decree.
Meaning exactly what it’s titled, this dua is a very powerful one. No matter what age, making this dua part of our routine can do wonders for us in this dunya and the Hereafter.
For all that we invest into our children, it feels nice to be noticed and thanked by them. Even better, it would mean the world to us if they remembered us with this dua.
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Umm an-Nu’man provides a beautifully rich and detailed PDF (free to download and print) with top-notch activities and lessons designed to keep kids busy in a good way. This activity book—totaling 75 pages—features highly thoughtful and stimulating lessons, art activities, and games that meaningfully engage the month of Ramadan, while strengthening children’s basic reading, writing, counting, spelling, and critical thinking skills.
(Source: Box)
Ramadan offers a special opportunity to decrease our worldly entertainment (like television shows, movies, music) and tune into more beneficial and spiritual activities. This is true for all ages! In this helpful post, Canadian blogger, The Muslimah Mommy shares her personal playlist of selected Ramadan videos for children, which can be streamed on YouTube. From puppet shows and nasheeds to mini history lessons, each of these videos invites kids to lightheartedly reflect on the meaning of this holy month.
(Source: themuslimahmommy.com)
This is an activity that is beneficial for both younger and older kids! Coloring in the English translation of the Qur’anic command to fast (Qur’an 2: 183-185) is a very simple, yet highly effective, way for parents and teachers to introduce fasting as a pillar of Islam. With appropriate images that accompany each written verse, children learn (and insha’Allah internalize) the obligations and exceptions of fasting.
(Source: tj-ramadan.tripod.com)
GiveLight Foundation is a wonderful organization that cares for young Muslim orphans around the world. In this beautiful community post, GiveLight offers a deep lesson linking gratitude (shukr) and charity (sadaqa)—with an emphasis on children’s involvement in these key activities. Decorating and maintaining a personal “Sadaqa Jar” is a perfect, practical way for kids to engage in the related acts of gratitude and charity. Click the following link to learn more!
(Source: givelight.org)
What better way to improve one’s Arabic and English reading skills than to do so by remembering the divine names and attributes of Allah (swt)? This “99 Names of Allah” flashcard and memory-puzzle activity is doubly beneficial. For children who are not well-versed in the Arabic script, flashcards can be modified to simply reflect English meanings and transliteration—which still allows kids to remember, reflect on, and insha’Allah memorize the 99 names and attributes of Allah (swt).
(Source: imanshomeschool.wordpress.com)
In the category of interactive online games and lessons, this website is an Islamic Studies gem! An excellent resource for children who are comfortable using a computer or tablet, this website features an extensive range of Islamic Studies’ related sources—from Arabic lessons and Prophetic stories, to nasheeds and video games. We especially recommend this for parents keen on introducing more spiritually beneficial videos and videogames to their tech-savvy children.
(Source: muslimkidsville.com)
This Ramadan placemat-making activity by Karima’s Crafts is a subtle yet creative way of introducing and instilling the virtue of saying bismillah before eating and drinking. This website also features a series of other Islamic stencils and worksheets, which can be laminated into placemats too! Be sure to check out the worksheets that feature special Ramadan duas associated with beginning and breaking the fast.
(Source: karimascrafts.com)
Though a purchase is required for this final activity, we believe it’s an invaluable investment. These Qur’an memorization starter kits and flashcards are meticulously well-crafted, featuring surahs in Arabic, English, and transliterated Arabic for ease of recitation. Not only do the kits include surahs, but they also contain important lessons on topics such as the etiquette of recitation, virtues of memorization, reward of teaching Qur’an to one’s children, and tips for Qur’an study.
(Source: Etsy)
Have a favorite from the above? Let us know in the comments below!
]]>To help you manage this tricky balance, we’ve put together a list of great activities that insha’Allah will help you connect with your children and also keep them occupied -- freeing you up to make the most of this blessed month!
Creating and implementing a Ramadan schedule, inclusive of key activities such as prayer, dhikr and volunteering allows families to meaningfully engage in productive efforts and, insha’Allah, instill long-term spiritual habits throughout the year. Noor Janan offers a remarkably rich and detailed sample, free to modify and download in the following link.
(Source: noorjanan.blogspot.com)
A “lapbook” is a portable, self-printed booklet of activities and worksheets, perfect to keep kids entertained and actively engaged, especially on drives and outings. We love Umm Abdul Basir’s curated set of Ramadan-themed lapbook printables that are tailored for children ages 2-5 years. From coloring the lunar phases to answering critical thinking questions, each of these worksheets delivers fun yet substantive Ramadan lessons—whether at home or on the road.
(Source: ummabdulbasir.wordpress.com)
Preparing and printing “What is Ramadan?” and “What is Eid?” leaflets for teachers, neighbors, and colleagues is an excellent form of dawa—or inviting dialogue on Islam and on Muslim practices. Creating these one-page printables (perhaps with accompanying treats!) as a family prepares children to confidently discuss Ramadan with their non-Muslim teachers and peers. Below you’ll find a thorough sample to replicate or to inspire your writing!
(Source: Pinterest)
Sighting the new moon is one of the most exciting and celebrated activities associated with Ramadan and Eid. But how does one recognize the new moon? What is the significance of this ritual in Islam? In this interactive online lesson and printable activity, kids are introduced to the precise phases of the lunar cycle and are given instructions to construct their own lunar calendars to use year-round. This is an excellent resource to supplement a lengthier lesson on the twelve Islamic months.
(Source: sciencenetlinks.com)
Ramadan is the month during which our Holy Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (saw) in the cave of Hira, with the archangel Jibra’il (as). Ramadan is thus a particularly special time to read and reflect on the Qur’an, both individually and in community. The following link offers a list of creative games we can use to foster a “Qur’anic” atmosphere at home with our families.
For more information on how the Qur’an was revealed see here; and for fun and highly engaging Qur’an lessons for young children click here!
(Source: virtualmosque.com)
What is Zakat-al-Fitr? How and when does one pay it? These are questions that are expertly answered in the following blogpost, which details the major facts and purpose of this important Muslim duty. Use this post to help explain Zakat-al-Fitr to your children and engage them in the process of paying it. Insha’Allah it will make Eid all the more special!
(Source: islamawareness.net)
Laylat-al-Qadr is known around the Muslim world (and in Muslim communities) as the Night of Power—a night that is better than a thousand months! But what is the history and significance of this special night? How can we maximize our worship at this time? This brief, but highly informative, one-page poster provides a beneficial lesson for kids and parents alike. For added fun, consider accompanying the lesson with this Laylat-al-Qadr camping activity!
(Source: Pinterest)
Although a considerable amount of Ramadan is spent fasting, Muslims from around the world relish in preparing tasty traditional meals and treats during the daily pre-fast (suhur) and post-fast (iftar) meals, as well as on Eid-al-Fitr. This presents an opportunity to discover the plurality of Muslim practices and traditions! It also offers a way to broaden our horizons (and taste buds) through sampling Ramadan recipes from around the world. Check out some of the meals featured in this article!
(Source: allrecipes.com)
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Its days are the best of days and its hours are the best of hours. The Holy month of Ramadan is departing us. The bitterness is calmed through the celebration of Eid-ul-fitr, the first of Shawaal. While we generally give gifts and love to family and friends, this year, we ask you to think about somebody else -- your neighbor.
The month of Ramadan has been challenging for Muslims around the world. In the midst of this, research for the Pew Research Forum indicates that many of our neighbors have negative feelings towards Muslims. We believe that there is an easy fix to this problem: love your neighbor.
Allah communicates in the Holy Qur'an, “And (be good) to the neighbor who is your relative and to the neighbor who is not a relative" (4:36). In fact, as Muslims we have a religious obligation to assist our neighbors as the Prophet (SAW) mentions, "That man is not from me who sleeps contentedly while his neighbor sleeps hungry." The discussion on Islam and neighbors is beautiful, learn more here.
A small gesture, which we recommend, is to send Eid greetings to your neighbor. We've prepared two items to help: (a) a printable Eid Card and (b) a short note on Ramadan. Print out both documents and give them to your neighbor! If you have some extra sweets or food that you've cooked, drop it off as well!
Links to the resources are included below:
It is the absolute least we can do for our neighbors. In doing so, you'll be taking a step towards building a stronger relationship with those around you, and further eliminating negative perceptions of Muslims.
May Allah (SWT) accept our efforts.
About Noor Kids
Noor Kids is a Harvard-supported children's activity book series that seeks to build confidence in the religious identity of little Muslims. Our books have now entered into over 25,000 homes across 25 countries! To see a sample, click here.
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Iftaar=Futoor, Sehri=Suhoor. Call it what you like, it’s food for all. Eating, or, specific to the month of Ramadan, the breaking of the fast, is universal. Food is an important theme of this Holy month. And, as parents, an important source of teaching. Below are four of the most important lessons we should be taking away from food.
The breaking of the fast is a beautiful concept in its own right. After a (long) day of exercising restraint... of pushing our body and soul to its limit... we feel a comfort when it is time to break our fast. As obvious as it is, sometimes we forget to meditate on this: fasting is a test. It is a challenge. It is not meant to be easy.
But once the sun does set, we claim victory. Our lips taste the sweetness of water. And with it, we are comforted.
Key Lesson: Allah (SWT) promises, Surely, after hardship there is ease (94:7). After a hard day of fasting, food is our comfort. Use this as a teachable moment about God's promise.
It doesn't take a Muslim to understand the toil of fasting; rather, it takes a human. Every time I tell a non-Muslim about fasting, they understand the challenge -- because everyone needs to eat!
Conflicts are the source of war. But as human beings, how different are we? No matter our differences in religion, race, ethnicity, or the like, we are all human. Because of this similarity, we can feel empathy for another in our most innate self. If someone is hungry, sick, or oppressed, we can feel for them. Not because they are Muslim or non-Muslim; rather, because they are human.
Key Lesson: Just as all humans can appreciate the hunger of fasting, so too should we feel the challenges of others. Hazrat Ali illustrates this point in a letter to Malik al-Ashtar on governance, saying "Man is either your brother in faith, or your brother in humanity."
When we pray, we are recommended to pray together. When we go on pilgrimage, we go together, Similarly, when we fast, we are recommended to break fast together. This community orientation is Islamic culture.
Young or old, Egyptian or Persian, black or white, we eat. It is really as simple as that. While some aspects in Islam are contested, the opening of the fast at sunset in Shahr Ramadan is unanimous. Subhanllah.
Culture, as defined by social scientists, is created through shared experiences. In Islam, the shared experience of fasting helps define Muslim culture. We cultivate a Muslim culture through this shared experience of fasting (and breaking our fast).
Key Lesson: As diverse as Islam is, we all share a Muslim culture through acts of worship that we perform together. An example, is breaking our fasts together. The Prophet (SAW) says, "O people! Whoever among you breaks the fast of a believer during this month will receive a reward equal to one who set a slave free, and he will receive forgiveness for all his past sins."
While we often meditate about the spiritual aspect of fasting, that is getting closer to Allah (SWT), we can forget about a physical phenomenon - fasting cleanses the body.
While new research has gone semi-viral this year on the potential cancer-fighting properties of fasting, humans have long known that fasting is a means to purge the body of impurities. Who is it that places impurities into the body? We do.
It is an old adage, but absolutely true -- we are made of what we eat. Perhaps this can be taken literally, with food, but perhaps metaphorically with other items which we consume -- all that which we hear, see, and feel.
Key Lesson: Our body is effected by what we put into it. Consume pure and noble items (not limited to food). The Holy Qu'ran narrates that before Lady Mariam gave birth to Prophet Isa (SAW), she ate food which came from heaven. Subhanallah.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” -Aristotle
Ramadan is to Muslims what New Years is to non-Muslims; we create resolutions to improve ourselves. However, unlike New Years, Ramadan is an entire month to turn those resolutions into habits. Many Muslims, myself included, make honorable and lofty goals that subhanallah sound great. Unfortunately, the majority of us fail to adopt these resolutions.
Let's not make that mistake this year. This Ramadan, we should develop habits that last.
Research indicates that we should: (a) develop macro goals and (b) micro quotas to achieve those goals. Macro goals, essentially, are our priorities. Micro quotas are the activities we must do on a daily basis to achieve those goals. So, for example, this year, if our priority is to develop lasting Islamic traditions with children, then we should develop specific activities to complete on a daily basis to achieve this goal. Having extremely low quotas are actually great. The key is about building consistency.
Below are the three most important daily habits we recommend for your family to begin forming this Ramadan:
While school is in session it is understandable that we do not make our kids take advantage of this time. However, given that school is out of session, make use of this time. Recite Qu'ran, even if it is just a line or two, after fajr prayers with your children. In doing so, it not only introduces the daily recitation of Qu'ran to children, but you role model exceptional behavior for your children, cultivating an Islamic culture within your home.
Habit to Make: After fajr read Qu'ran with children. Let your children each read a couple of lines. If your children do not know how to recite the Qu'ran, then allow them to listen to you. Quantity doesn’t matter; rather, it is just about consistency.
Key Benefit: (a) Begin each day with the Qu'ran, and (b) role model good behavior for your children.
What a wholesome picture: Prophet Mohamed (SAW) praying salaat with Lady Khadijah and their adopted son Ali ibn Abu Taleb behind the Holy Kaa'ba. Subhanllah. You and your spouse will both be performing salaat, why not perform together and create a positive role model for your children in the home? Not only will your salaat be more rewarding, but it will be cultivating a positive culture in your home.
Habit to Make: Perform salaat in congregation as a family once per day. Many of us may have decided that attending the masjid every night will be challenging due to the timing of iftar. If that is the case, then at a minimum, perform salaatul Magrhib or Ish'a together as a family. Be sure to include the children.
Key Benefits: (a) Inculcate a love for salaat within your children, and (b) role model good behavior.
Who was the first in your family's history to convert into Islam? Which prophetic stories made an impact on you as a child? Why is your son or daughter named after the individual whom you've named him/her after? Research indicates that family stories play a critical role in the long-term development of children. If we decide to include Islam into these family stories, children will grow up with a stronger Islamic identity.
Habit to Make: During iftar every night, share one personal story about Islam in your life to your children. If you are unable to remember any of these stories, then share any Islamic story with your child (i.e Stories of the prophets, etc).
Key Benefit: (a) Establish a strong Islamic identity among your children, (b) create a culture of dhikr, or remembrance, of Allah (SWT) at the dinner table.
Your turn: Share some of your resolutions this Ramadan below, such that we can all benefit.
Chaplain Zain Syed is a Research Associate for Noor Kids. Prior to joining Noor Kids, he studied chaplaincy at the Hartford Seminary. He was born in Pakistan but grew up in New York City. After receiving a degree in Political Science, Zain became a certified teacher, living in Indonesia to teach English. He lives with his wife, Sara, in Raleigh, NC. He aspires to improve the quality of parenting in the American-Muslim community to ultimately improve the welfare of Muslim youth.
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