“Islamic Studies” for Toddlers

“Islamic Studies” for Toddlers

For children at this age, a formal curriculum is, of course, not necessary.  We can teach our children now (and even until adulthood) about Islam naturally.  However , the following is an “outline” of things that I have found appropriate for my  toddlers throughout the years.  Of course, every child is different and it is advised not to push children. The following concepts can be taught to children in everyday living.  Toddlers will not totally understand the implications/meanings of such things as “Where is Allah?” but you can build the foundation for later, insha Allah.

18 months – 30 months or thereabouts

Aqeedah

(you can teach your child to respond with the appropriate answers by asking them the question, inflecting your voice at the end so they know it is a question, and then providing the answer. Repeat often (daily/weekly) and eventually as their speech grows, they can learn to answer the questions. Again, the understanding is not there, but you are building a foundation, insha Allah).

• Where is Allah? (Arabic: Q: Ayn Allah?  A: Huwa fee samaa)

• Who is your Lord?(Arabic: Q: Man Rabbuk?  A: Allahu Rabbee)

• Who made you? (Arabic: Q: Man khalaqak  A: khalaqanee Allah)

                Talk with child about the things that Allah has made.  (i.e, What a pretty tree that Allah made)

(You might try teaching the above questions/answers in Arabic–see above)

Duaas/Sayings

 (teach naturally as the situation occurs by simply saying the duaas yourself and prompting your child to say them after you)

•   When Waking Up

•   When going to bed

•   Before eating (bismillah)

•   After eating

•   When sneezing

•   Greeting

•   When it rains

                             

Quraan

•  Listen to Quraan daily together

•  Let children sit by you while you read/recite Quraan encouraging them to repeat after you

•  Work on fatihah (even if just one ayaah)

Adab/Akhlaq (Etiquette/Manners/Morals)

• Saying Shukran/Thank you

• Eating and drinking with right hand

• Teach child not to show private parts or let others look at them.

Only let siblings see them undressed if they take part in their care (diaper changing, toilet help) and only if absolutely necessary; teach them to always make sure they are covered and not naked during diaper changes/using the restroom longer than necessary.

Be sure to “praise” child when they share or do something nice. Make a big deal out of it. Tell them that Allah likes when they……..

 History/Seerah

• Read stories of the Prophets and companions:

• Online downloadable copy/software: http://www.2muslims.com/divineislam/ProphetsStories1.exe

• Read short  ahadith that are like stories

• Read stories from the Quraan:

List of some stories from the Quraan: http://talibiddeenjr.wordpress.com/2006/05/12/stories-from-the-quraan/

                 

Ibaadah

• Let child see you pray and pray near you if interested (fortunately, kids often do this automatically, masha Allah)

• Teach the etiquette of not walking in front of those who are praying

Do you have some special  activities that you do with your toddler? If so, please share!

 

Islamic Studies for Younger Children

At young ages, most children are really interactive.  They can’t sit still for very long and have short attention spans.  Insha Allah I wouldn’t personally worry about too structured teaching at really young ages. One can teach his/her child very naturally about Islam.

Some ideas:

Teach duaas naturally. When you eat have him/her say Bismillah. When he/she goes to the bathroom have them say the duaa. Let them hear you say duaas throughout the day.  Sometimes they amazingly pick up duaas (and some quraan) without formal instruction, by hearing them repeatedly, consistently.

Teach simple adab/hygiene.  Eat with your right hand.  Make istinja after using the bathroom, etc. From experience, I have learned that it is easier to teach these skills while they are young. When they are older, they get set in their ways and it is more difficult to correct “bad” habits.

Children love to be read to. Read the Quraan, Stories of the Prophets, ahadith and talk about what they mean.  Ask them questions about what you read. Answer their questions.  Try to paint pictures in their heads about what you are reading.

Teach them basic aqeedah.  At 18 months I started teaching my youngest daughter and now my youngest son to respond to “Ayn Allah?” Where is Allah. Of course they don’t really  understand the meaning at this point, but when I ask him where Allah is, he points to the sky (well, if he is laying down he may point off to the side, but the foundation is being set for when he is older, insha Allah.

Just take your daily routines and remember Allah much and teach them how to do things Islamically.  Explain why you do this and that.  (e.g. We start putting on our shoes, brush our hair with the right because the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) did this.  When you see them eating with their left hand, respond with the quraan or ahadith, like, ash- shaytaan yakul bis shamail. The shaytaan eats with his left).

Those are just some of the ideas that I had. Life is full of lots of “teachable” moments that don’t require worksheets and textbooks.  Take advantage of them! (I am saying that to remind myself as  well).

I have lots of posters and printables for Islamic Studies for older children at http://talibiddeenjrtoo.amanahwebs.com/is_home.htm