Blogger and mum of two, Safeeya Habaik shares some of her favourite Eid activities to do with your young children during this time of celebration.
The Muslim celebration of Eid Al-Fitr starts this week, the day after the new Moon is seen, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Eid is an exciting time for little ones. I have fond childhood memories of dressing up to attend Eid prayer and seeing all the other colourful cultural clothing being worn. Then there were always the big family get-togethers spent running around with cousins.
Now, as a mother of two young children myself (a 2-year-old and a 7-month-old) I鈥檓 keen to create new Eid traditions with them. Things that will spark that Eid joy and create happy memories for years to come.
Eid gives us the perfect opportunity to spend quality time together, and perhaps try out new activities that encourage gentle learning in a play-based manner.
Here鈥檚 my list of top activities to do in the run-up to, and on, Eid day. You鈥檒l also find ideas for alternate Eid gifts at the end.
1. Decorate your home together
Nothing gets little ones more excited than the anticipation of a celebration. Putting up decorations is a big part of that.
Feeling the different textures and bright colours of the decorations can be great tactile, sensory play for younger ones. Whilst older children can get involved by creating DIY decorations.
Whether it be starry bunting, paper lanterns or creating a special Eid den.
2. Get crafty with Eid cards
The great thing about making cards is that it鈥檚 easily adaptable for any age group.
It can be a fun family activity but equally can encourage focused time and independent play in older children. And you can always spread the Eid spirit by dropping your homemade cards through a neighbour鈥檚 letterbox.
Why not try finger painting a night sky or creating a collage mosque with different paper and fabrics? And if you鈥檙e feeling really creative you could even make gift tags.
3. Bake and share Eid treats
Depending on your child鈥檚 age they can either help bake the sweet treats or just have fun decorating them. And if you鈥檙e short on time, shop-bought treats do the trick just as well.
Check out this 91热爆 Food Eid collection for a whole range of sweet treat inspiration.
Wrap them up for friends and family. You could even turn it into a fun feelings game, asking your child how they think someone might feel to receive this gift.
And if you鈥檝e made homemade gift tags, don鈥檛 forget to add them to the gift baskets.
4. Thank you for鈥
Celebrations of any kind can often be hectic and a little overwhelming for children (and sometimes parents too).
Take a moment during the busy celebrations be mindful and give thanks. Why not start by telling your little ones the thing you are most excited and thankful for this Eid? And then ask them to do the same.
Children are usually great at coming up with their own suggestions.
5. Singing Eid takbeer as a family
A big part of Eid is singing the Eid takbeer (a song of thanks and praise to God). This is a lovely activity to get the whole family involved with.
Singing and music are great for your child鈥檚 development.
Even young babies can pick out rhythms in a piece of music and singing together can help with their memory and listening skills.
6. Giving and sharing
Eid is a great opportunity to encourage children to think of others and learn to share.
Why not explain to your child that there are children that don鈥檛 have many toys or new clothes.
Encourage them to pick out a toy from the shops, or from their own collection, that they would like to give away. Then wrap them up and donate them to your local mosque to be given out on Eid.
7. Eid day treasure hunt
This is always a family favourite and a nice way to gather the children together for a group activity.
It can be lots of fun outdoors but is equally great indoors (or a bit of both!).
Once you've hidden the treats you can make clues, draw a map, or if you鈥檙e short on time just point in the direction of the hidden treats and play the hot and cold game. Adapt the clues based on the age of your child.
8. Make your own sun catcher
An Eid twist on a classic craft. Not only are crafty activities packed with sensory experiences to inspire your child, but they are a fun and relaxed way to spend time together.
You don鈥檛 need to be super artsy to get creative and don鈥檛 worry about making a really beautiful sun catcher 鈥 just focus on having fun and celebrating the occasion.
You will need:
- Clear vinyl / sticky back plastic or some card (optional)
- Tissue paper
- Scissors
- Pen
- Tape
There are two versions of this craft. One that uses the sticky back plastic and one that uses cardboard.
Version one
Peel back the cover film from the vinyl. Draw a crescent moon or star shape.
Encourage your child to rip up pieces of colourful tissue paper and place them onto the sticky vinyl.
Then stick a second layer of vinyl on top and cut out your decorated shape. Then you鈥檙e ready to tape it onto a window for a pretty stained glass effect.
Version two
Cut out the outline of your chosen shape in the card. You will also need to cut out the middle, leaving only a border.
Do this again, so that you have two versions of this shape.
Ask your child to choose their favourite colour of tissue paper and lay a sheet of it in between the two cardboard outlines. Cut the tissue paper to size, so you can only see it inside the cardboard border.
You can stick this together however you want, using either glue, tape or staples.
Eid is a time for giving, but who says it has to be bought gifts?
I鈥檓 a firm believer that Eid presents don鈥檛 have to be expensive. In fact, spending quality one-on-one time with your children is the most precious gift you can give.
Here are some alternative gift ideas that won鈥檛 break the bank:
An experience
Why not create your own unique gift token with a list of possible activities for your little one to choose from? These could include camping out in the garden, a picnic outing, or experiencing nature together.
Something homemade
Make a craft bundle. It could include coloured paper, stickers, petals, finger paints and socks (to make sock puppets).
Something from nature
Pick a pretty Eid bouquet from your garden or a treasure basket full of natural items for your little one to explore.
This is great for their sensory development. Chat together about the different textures, smells and colours that you've found.
