My six years old nephew tugged at my elbow with his little nose twitching and took the scent trail straight to coffee-scented bakeries shop at the entrance of GIANT Margo City. He whispered to me, “Bulik, bau rotinya sedap…” (Auntie, the aroma is so tantalizing). He couldn’t resist the smell of food obviously. That was enough to make any child break his first fast. I smiled mischievously at him and said, “Mau gak Bulik beliin? Tapi dimakan sekarang ya?” (Do you want any? I buy you some if only you eat them now). I ruffled his cropped hair and grinned widely. He looked at me with his thoughtful eyes, and then pursued his lips and frown. I burst into laughter. He dragged me away from the counter and headed for the supermarket. I teased him and asked why he refused to eat. He glared and said “Zaki puasa, Bulik.” (I am fasting auntie). Atta boy…that’s just my sweet little darling, lol. We are just proud of him. And I can be sometimes his devilish guardian….lol.
Ramadhan 1433 H is indeed a totally new experience for us, as our six years old Zaki is also fasting. Today is his 11th day of fast. It is his first time to complete a full day fast from dawn to dusk. Last year, he occasionally fasted half day. During weekend he would come to my home and ate milk and cookies I preserved in my fridge. Alhamdulillah, this year, his parents had encouraged him to fast full day from day 1. It had been also supported by his Islamic school that promoted the students in 1st grade to start to fast depending on their strength. It wasn’t easy on the onset. He kept whining of being hungry and thirsty. Initially, his parents planned to make him fast half day just but he seemed okay and no further complains afterwards. At times, we were tempted to let him break his fast, seeing his small lean posture weakened during the day. It’s a bit tricky to distract his attention from the gnawing hunger after school. His parents had to keep him occupied, playing games at his PC, racing his toy cars, drawing, and so son. Once, he got tired, he fell asleep immediately. When he woke up, he would look at the clock and counted how many hours left before iftar. Then, his parents would let him kill the time by playing. His steeled his determination more when his parents promised to buy him the thing he wanted if only he could complete a full month fast. He was all excited to take up the “challenge”. Honestly, we didn’t put any high expectation on it but so far only on 3rd day he broke his fast at noon.
From my observation on my nephew, I take some notes on how his parents succeeding in encouraging him to fast full day at his age.
1. First and foremost, instilling a desire to fast. Compulsion is without a doubt out of the question. Forcing him will only weaken him to succumb to temptation.
I kept asking him, “Zaki, why do you fast?” He said, “I want to get IPAD from Allah.” I chuckled hearing this.
“And how Allah will give it to you?” I questioned further.
He smiled sheepishly and looked at his mother. Then his mother intervened and said that Zaki was fasting to get rewards from Allah. They constantly told him the blessings and rewards that a fasting person received and the wisdom behind fasting.
I know the concept of rewards from Allah is still too abstract for him so his parents relates the prize to describe such reward.
2. Explaining the purpose of fasting in simple language.
Once, we took a drive. His parents asked him to look at the traffic light intersection with some little children begging in the scorching heat. Then his mum said, “Look at those less fortunate children. Instead of playing, they have to make money to eat. Now, tell me how do you feel when you go hungry like this?”
He looked bewilder, rubbed his stomach and said “It’s bad feeling hungry.”
His mother smiled and hugged him. “Yes, being hungry is miserable. Therefore, we are obliged to fast in order to feel what it’s like being hungry. Thus, we want to share our food with those less fortunate. Sharing and giving is a good way to help those in need.”
Well…it’s not completely the purpose of fasting, but I believe with such language, children are easier to grasp the idea. In the end, he dived in his pocket to find some small change, and gave the money to a child with a guitar. His mum then added extra money.
3. Offering positive reinforcement.
When breaking his fast after Maghrib, his parents would praise him. They gave him his most favorite food and drink. “Wonderful, that’s my boy, smart boy” are among praises uttered by his parents. Or when he was on the verge of giving up, his mum would gather him in her arms and said it was only a couple more hours to go before he could eat. Then, she would stay with him playing puzzle.
Further, they would tell him that at the end of Ramadhan, we would all celebrate the feisty day with Eid gifts and new clothes.
4. Keeping him occupied.
It helped him staying away from food and drinks. It offered distraction. Whenever, he whined, his parents would tell him stories, or let him play his favorite games or let him just doze off to sleep. As long as he was doing things he likes, he would easily forget his hunger.
Fasting is certainly more difficult and tougher for children than it is for adults in its most basic notion of absenting from food and drinks from dawn till dusk. Children who are extra active in their play may also have trouble fasting. Nevertheless, the parents should not be lax in the matter. It is important to introduce children on the importance of fasting in their early age. As long as a child is in good health, the child can be introduced to fasting in some manner or another. After all, children are like a sheet of white paper. It depends on how we write on that blank paper. It is during his early age, a child is easier to be instilled with good values and religious piousness.
Children who have a weak constitution might not be able to fast on the onset. Likewise, those who normally need to eat frequently can find fasting difficult. Children who are extra active in their play are also among those who have trouble fasting. It is the job of the parents to determine whether their children are ready to fast. They know their children's health...
Ramadhan 1433 H is indeed a totally new experience for us, as our six years old Zaki is also fasting. Today is his 11th day of fast. It is his first time to complete a full day fast from dawn to dusk. Last year, he occasionally fasted half day. During weekend he would come to my home and ate milk and cookies I preserved in my fridge. Alhamdulillah, this year, his parents had encouraged him to fast full day from day 1. It had been also supported by his Islamic school that promoted the students in 1st grade to start to fast depending on their strength. It wasn’t easy on the onset. He kept whining of being hungry and thirsty. Initially, his parents planned to make him fast half day just but he seemed okay and no further complains afterwards. At times, we were tempted to let him break his fast, seeing his small lean posture weakened during the day. It’s a bit tricky to distract his attention from the gnawing hunger after school. His parents had to keep him occupied, playing games at his PC, racing his toy cars, drawing, and so son. Once, he got tired, he fell asleep immediately. When he woke up, he would look at the clock and counted how many hours left before iftar. Then, his parents would let him kill the time by playing. His steeled his determination more when his parents promised to buy him the thing he wanted if only he could complete a full month fast. He was all excited to take up the “challenge”. Honestly, we didn’t put any high expectation on it but so far only on 3rd day he broke his fast at noon.
From my observation on my nephew, I take some notes on how his parents succeeding in encouraging him to fast full day at his age.
1. First and foremost, instilling a desire to fast. Compulsion is without a doubt out of the question. Forcing him will only weaken him to succumb to temptation.
I kept asking him, “Zaki, why do you fast?” He said, “I want to get IPAD from Allah.” I chuckled hearing this.
“And how Allah will give it to you?” I questioned further.
He smiled sheepishly and looked at his mother. Then his mother intervened and said that Zaki was fasting to get rewards from Allah. They constantly told him the blessings and rewards that a fasting person received and the wisdom behind fasting.
I know the concept of rewards from Allah is still too abstract for him so his parents relates the prize to describe such reward.
2. Explaining the purpose of fasting in simple language.
Once, we took a drive. His parents asked him to look at the traffic light intersection with some little children begging in the scorching heat. Then his mum said, “Look at those less fortunate children. Instead of playing, they have to make money to eat. Now, tell me how do you feel when you go hungry like this?”
He looked bewilder, rubbed his stomach and said “It’s bad feeling hungry.”
His mother smiled and hugged him. “Yes, being hungry is miserable. Therefore, we are obliged to fast in order to feel what it’s like being hungry. Thus, we want to share our food with those less fortunate. Sharing and giving is a good way to help those in need.”
Well…it’s not completely the purpose of fasting, but I believe with such language, children are easier to grasp the idea. In the end, he dived in his pocket to find some small change, and gave the money to a child with a guitar. His mum then added extra money.
3. Offering positive reinforcement.
When breaking his fast after Maghrib, his parents would praise him. They gave him his most favorite food and drink. “Wonderful, that’s my boy, smart boy” are among praises uttered by his parents. Or when he was on the verge of giving up, his mum would gather him in her arms and said it was only a couple more hours to go before he could eat. Then, she would stay with him playing puzzle.
Further, they would tell him that at the end of Ramadhan, we would all celebrate the feisty day with Eid gifts and new clothes.
4. Keeping him occupied.
It helped him staying away from food and drinks. It offered distraction. Whenever, he whined, his parents would tell him stories, or let him play his favorite games or let him just doze off to sleep. As long as he was doing things he likes, he would easily forget his hunger.
Fasting is certainly more difficult and tougher for children than it is for adults in its most basic notion of absenting from food and drinks from dawn till dusk. Children who are extra active in their play may also have trouble fasting. Nevertheless, the parents should not be lax in the matter. It is important to introduce children on the importance of fasting in their early age. As long as a child is in good health, the child can be introduced to fasting in some manner or another. After all, children are like a sheet of white paper. It depends on how we write on that blank paper. It is during his early age, a child is easier to be instilled with good values and religious piousness.
Children who have a weak constitution might not be able to fast on the onset. Likewise, those who normally need to eat frequently can find fasting difficult. Children who are extra active in their play are also among those who have trouble fasting. It is the job of the parents to determine whether their children are ready to fast. They know their children's health...
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