Islam n children help asap!!!

[Reptile]

As Salamu alaikum


kinda need help, maybe abit late, but im doing this thing for my 5 year old cousin talking about islam to his class, im not sure what should i say, what would be appropiate for their age, what kind of things could that they conceptually grasp, any ideas need it realllly soooon

Jazakallah khair

~R

[sunrise]

maybe just the 5 pillars of islam..and what countries have the most muslims?...kepp it simple as they r only 5

[Reptile]

maybe just the 5 pillars of islam..and what countries have the most muslims?...kepp it simple as they r only 5

i know i will babble on n confuse them

[dhakiyya]

Keep it concrete for five year olds...... tell them about how you pray - demonstrate would be good, better still get your little cousin to demonstrate the actions as you describe them - even get the whole class to copy the actions if there's enough space.

Teach them all how to say "as salaam alikum" and "alikum as salaam" as a class. if they're really good at it, teach them "bismillah" as well - say how you say bismillah before eating.

talk to them about all five pillars, what you do. Keep it short and try to make it interactive - get them to imagine doing stuff, like imagine not eating or drinking from when it first starts to get light in the morning until sunset. Get them to imagine going on a long journey to Mecca - describe what its like - desert etc.

Also teach them a little about the Prophet :saw: - keep it very simple, say how he taught people to worship one God and be nice to people, and how the pagans didn't like him and did horrible things to the Muslims but they carried on trying to teach about Islam anyway.

Keep all explanations short and simple, don't use long words in your explanations, or too long sentences, but you can teach them new words (however long) cause they like learning new words (not too many though)

try to relate everything to themselves (like getting them to imagine doing stuff) and anything interactive is good (like getting them to do actions if there is enough space) - also have things to look at, bring in a prayer mat, maybe bring in a couple of head scarves for the girls to try on at the end (best to have something for the boys to try on too e.g. those little hats - forgot what they're called!)

I wouldnt' advise sceduling in a question time for five year olds, but if anyone does have a question you can answer it anyway.

[dhakiyya]

i know i will babble on n confuse them

practice it beforehand. Have a sheet of paper with notes, even the entire script if it will help. Look at them when you speak, speak slowly and clearly, in short sentences. Modulate your voice (like when you read a kiddie book to a little kiddie) this will keep their interest. Smile at them.

[Reptile]

Keep it concrete for five year olds...... tell them about how you pray - demonstrate would be good, better still get your little cousin to demonstrate the actions as you describe them - even get the whole class to copy the actions if there's enough space.

Teach them all how to say "as salaam alikum" and "alikum as salaam" as a class. if they're really good at it, teach them "bismillah" as well - say how you say bismillah before eating.

talk to them about all five pillars, what you do. Keep it short and try to make it interactive - get them to imagine doing stuff, like imagine not eating or drinking from when it first starts to get light in the morning until sunset. Get them to imagine going on a long journey to Mecca - describe what its like - desert etc.

Also teach them a little about the Prophet :saw: - keep it very simple, say how he taught people to worship one God and be nice to people, and how the pagans didn't like him and did horrible things to the Muslims but they carried on trying to teach about Islam anyway.

Keep all explanations short and simple, don't use long words in your explanations, or too long sentences, but you can teach them new words (however long) cause they like learning new words (not too many though)

try to relate everything to themselves (like getting them to imagine doing stuff) and anything interactive is good (like getting them to do actions if there is enough space) - also have things to look at, bring in a prayer mat, maybe bring in a couple of head scarves for the girls to try on at the end (best to have something for the boys to try on too e.g. those little hats - forgot what they're called!)

I wouldnt' advise sceduling in a question time for five year olds, but if anyone does have a question you can answer it anyway.


:jkk: that sounds fantastic, i know my cousin would love that

[sunny_skies]

It's difficult to hold the attention of a class of five year olds for very long :) Keep it upbeat, have lots of things you can show them and hand around, hijabs for the girls to try on, prayer mats, etc.

There are many good Islamic storybooks around now, choose a colourful, interesting one that maybe tells a story about Eid or Ramadhan?

Ask for volunteers to stand up and hold things up for you to show the rest of the class, kids love this sort of thing!

Will try to think of a few more pointers...

[Reptile]

:jkk: you guys this helps alot, i dont think i would have done anything like this

[Fais]

Maybe get them all to say the Shahada as a class and make it sound fun .. ect. (Fun, meaning make it enjoyable ... Obviously not mocking)

Start off with that and then he can tell them a little about it and then maybe the 5 pillars like sis sunrise said ..?

[Reptile]

yea, i have like 15 mins, so i'll bring a prayer mate, hijab, tupee, thowb maybe, quran, pictures to show different times we pray, pictures of hajj, etc, :jkk: not so scared now

[dhakiyya]

if you have just 15 mins, do a rehearsal first. You'll be surprised how quickly 15 minutes goes. Plan exactly what you want to do, have lots of variety and keep each bit short and sweet, and have some optional extras just in case you get through everything and still have time left. :up: (although most likely it'll be slower on the day) - there's more than enough ideas on this thread to fill fifteen minutes mashaAllah.

May Allah make your talk a huge success and plant the seeds of faith in the minds of the children inshaAllah :love:

[Reptile]

if you have just 15 mins, do a rehearsal first. You'll be surprised how quickly 15 minutes goes. Plan exactly what you want to do, have lots of variety and keep each bit short and sweet, and have some optional extras just in case you get through everything and still have time left. :up: (although most likely it'll be slower on the day) - there's more than enough ideas on this thread to fill fifteen minutes mashaAllah.

May Allah make your talk a huge success and plant the seeds of faith in the minds of the children inshaAllah :love:


Ameenn Jazakallah khair sissss :love:

[sunny_skies]

if you have just 15 mins, do a rehearsal first. You'll be surprised how quickly 15 minutes goes. Plan exactly what you want to do, have lots of variety and keep each bit short and sweet, and have some optional extras just in case you get through everything and still have time left. :up: (although most likely it'll be slower on the day) - there's more than enough ideas on this thread to fill fifteen minutes mashaAllah.

May Allah make your talk a huge success and plant the seeds of faith in the minds of the children inshaAllah :love:

Ameen.
What you are doing is fantastic, and the fact that you are putting so much effort into planning the whole thing shows how much you want to get it right. May Allah reward you for your efforts, Insha allah. Ameen.

By the way, kids love asking questions too, so maybe let them ask a few towards the end? Bear in mind they will ask you ALL sorts, deviating from the topic and all :)

A song always goes down well, or a rhyme of some sort, I can't think of a simple one right now but I'm sure there are many books and websites that may help. If it's one you and your cousin can practice beforehand, you can sing it together. Kids pick these things up soooo fast, Alhamdulillah :)

[Reptile]

:jkk:

I'm worried if i do let them ask a questions they will ask something i might not be able to answer

[dhakiyya]

:jkk:

I'm worried if i do let them ask a questions they will ask something i might not be able to answer

with just 15 mins you won't have time for "question time" - also five year olds don't really get "question time" - although if you did do question time, expect bizarre questions, completely unrelated to the topic, and if you don't know the answer, just say so. (doubly so for wacko off topic questions) Keep the answers very short and simple. e.g. "why do you pray five times a day" "because that's what God told us to do" - "what do angels look like" "well, the one that Muhammad - peace be upon him - saw was very big with wings that were so big, if he stood over there on that (name an object they can see on the horizon) the ends of the wings would be (point to 108 degrees opposite) - but angels can look different, they look like how God wants them to look" - if you do do questions you'll have to do off the cuff answers - my advice though, given just 15 mins, is don't do question time. If a kid has a really really burning question, let them ask it afterwards, when they are doing their next activity, or at playtime (or when appropriate for their class teacher)

[sunny_skies]

:jkk:

I'm worried if i do let them ask a questions they will ask something i might not be able to answer

Maybe so, but five year old's really won't ask you difficult questions. They are more likely to wander off onto a completely different topic, which could present problems in itself. Maybe as sis said, don't do a question time unless a child has a burning question which you could answer if you have time at the end?

Kids love trying clothes on though, take some of your cousin's thawbs too :)

[Reptile]

Maybe so, but five year old's really won't ask you difficult questions. They are more likely to wander off onto a completely different topic, which could present problems in itself. Maybe as sis said, don't do a question time unless a child has a burning question which you could answer if you have time at the end?

Kids love trying clothes on though, take some of your cousin's thawbs too :)

I'm not sure if he has ne thats the prob

[sunny_skies]

Just remembered, take some large colourful posters with you if your cousin has any. There are great ones around both in Arabic and English. You can pick the best-behaved kids to stand up and hold up the posters :)

[sunny_skies]

borrow some? when is your presentation?

[ibn suleman]

u cud get them to close theri eyes....and then let their minds flow away with the fact they can have everything in jannah..

i dunno if it works with five yr olds..but it worked with adults :D

[dhakiyya]

I'm not sure if he has ne thats the prob

use adults clothes. Kids like dressing up in adults clothes, plus they would find it funny to see their friends at the front in much too big clothes. Also, its very easy to get much too big clothes on and off. Five year olds need help getting dressed and undressed usually (buttons etc can be difficult for them)

[Reptile]

yea i will steal my brothers, its tomorrow im so last minute :o

[Reptile]

u cud get them to close theri eyes....and then let their minds flow away with the fact they can have everything in jannah..

i dunno if it works with five yr olds..but it worked with adults :D

:jkk: that sounds like a good idea, i hope we get onto the topic of hell, i dont want the parents coming after me if i say something :nervous:

[Reptile]

The teacher aswell seems really excited by it insha'allah something will come of it for her

[heaven2002]

As Salamu alaikum


kinda need help, maybe abit late, but im doing this thing for my 5 year old cousin talking about islam to his class, im not sure what should i say, what would be appropiate for their age, what kind of things could that they conceptually grasp, any ideas need it realllly soooon

Jazakallah khair

~R

take in lots of things for them to look at and try on
like a musallah, a scarf, topee, prayer beads, maybe arabic text

[sunrise]

take in lots of things for them to look at and try on
like a musallah, a scarf, topee, prayer beads, maybe arabic text


sounds like a good idea...children love props and objects

[heaven2002]

and pictures/phtos of mosques
and eid cards
lots of visual stuff
when ever i take a musallah into school if im covering islam for R.E the children always gasp:inlove:
even the muslim ones!


i also have a recording of the adhaan which they like and big posters of makkah , medina

[Reptile]

whats a musallah :o

[ibn suleman]

whats a musallah :o

a prayer mat....i thiink people in saudi called it a "sajadah"

[Reptile]

oh ok :jkk: ohh do u think if i bring some beads, n itr they will like it?

[ibn suleman]

oh ok :jkk: ohh do u think if i bring some beads, n itr they will like it?

sorry, i have no idea :embar:

[Reptile]

neither do i lol

the other sisters will know insha'allah

[.: Anna :.]

masha allah all the ideas are really good, especially bringing in all the prayer mats hijab n stuff. i actually remember from yr 1 in my school one lady came n did a little talk like this abt islam, i think she brought some prayer mat :)
insha allah it will go really well :up:

[sunny_skies]

This may be too late, but I don't think Itr is a good idea. You know, allergies and health and safety and all that. Children with excema and other skin conditions cannot use perfumed products so just play it safe.

[Reptile]

nah im doing it 2moro tho im not looking forward to it anymore, tried it on my cousins, and well i think im going to leave out the reason for wearing the hijab out, i couldnt really articulate in a way that would make sense, n he started looking around, so im not sure its coz he was tired or i was boring him :o

[.: Anna :.]

yeh for their age u mayb dnt need 2 explain all why we wear hijab, also as i dnt think age 5 will understand abt lowering gaze they are too young for that!! jst show them it and let em try it on :p

[sunny_skies]

nah im doing it 2moro tho im not looking forward to it anymore, tried it on my cousins, and well i think im going to leave out the reason for wearing the hijab out, i couldnt really articulate in a way that would make sense, n he started looking around, so im not sure its coz he was tired or i was boring him :o


Hmm, just get them to try on Hijabs, theyre too young for explanations on why we wear it. Dress-up is something 5 year olds love. Insha allah just trying on something like this will be ingrained in their memories and who knows, one day they may look up Islam as a result :)

[Reptile]

I did it :D

was soo nervous, legs went like jelly, but alhamdulilah i think i did ok, she said she wanted me back another time, to speak about islam :hidban:
Although i did one stupid thing i forgot to mention the masjid :smack: i was so focused on other things

I got them to do the wudhu actions which was fun, oh n i got to salaam to eachother, that was my favorite part :D

lol although one of the kids said to my cousin, here comes your poopy sister :rotfl:

[.: Anna :.]

masha allah glad it went well :love:
lool the kid called u poopy? how mean :p

[Reptile]

yea n he was muslim, lol but that made me laugh

[sunny_skies]

lol, glad it went well :)

[Reptile]

:jkk: yep couldnt have been done without everyones help here :) Alhamdulilah