Eamadan not just Lor adults
THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS FOR CHILDREN TO CELEBRATE HOLY MONTH
ISTILL remember my excitement as Ramadan approached when I was growing up in Damascus, Syria. The sights and sounds of those times are vivid in my mind.
There was the drummer who walked the streets of the ancient city before dawn, calling for people to wake up for suhoor, a pre-dawn meal. As the sun set, the bustling streets emptied; people gathered inside their homes preparing to break their fast.
The doorbell rang every evening with neighbors dropping off some of their meals to share, then the sunset call to prayer would ring out from every corner of the city. It was time toeat.
My last Ramadan in Syria was more than 30 years ago. I try to hang on to every memory because, given the situation there, I’m certain I’ll never have one in Damascus again, or that my children ever will. But their American Ramadan is different and lovely in its own way.
This year my 5-year-old son declared he wanted to fast. Of course, Fareed is too young to go without food and water for so many hours; children are not expected to start fasting until they have reached puberty.
One day he insisted, so I told him he could fast the last hour before dinner. But it wasn’t long before I heard the sound of crunching coming from inside the pantry. I found him sitting on the floor with a bag of tortilla chips and applesauce. We’ve all been there: The moment we decide we aren’t going to eat something, it becomes much more appealing. He looked up at me and said, “I’m still fasting, Mama.”
Treat box fundraiser
Luckily, there are other ways to get children involved and excited about the month, which this year ends on June 24 and is about so much more than fasting.
The Iftar Treat Box is the Ramadan version of the Christmas advent calendar: 30 days and 30 treats kids can enjoy as their parents break their fast each evening, bringing them closer to the end of the holy month and to the Eid El Fitr celebration. Part of the box’s sales profits are donated to the International Red Cross.
Baltimore radiologist Fauzia Vandermeer created this gift only recently. The artwork for it was created by a Baltimore artist, and the chocolate was stuffed by friends and family. She has sold more than 700 boxes — impressive for a project that came together just a few weeks before Ramadan, and whose only marketing was word of mouth.
Vandermeer tells me her goal was simply “to reflect American Muslims, and in particular American Muslim
children, so that they could feel included in our shared culture and feel pride and joy in connecting with others in celebrating their religious heritage.” She began selling the calendar in Washington-area stores, then offered them online. She said she wanted her kids to see themselves represented the same way other children do during Christmas, Easter and Hanukkah.
My son’s favorite part of the treat box is the chocolate, of course. Mine is the beautiful art inspired by Persian miniature paintings, representing children of different races and backgrounds. Most images of Muslims these days are negative. This was a refreshing reflection of who we really are, a diverse group of people who love to eat.
Another fun and educational way that parents are explaining Ramadan to their kids is through literature. It used to be that finding good, engaging books on the topic was like going on a scavenger hunt.
But in the past few years, a number of well-written, beautifully illustrated books have been published and have made their way to people’s bookshelves, public library displays and classroom presentations on the Muslim holy month. Some of my favorite titles: “It’s Ramadan, Curious George,” “Night of the Moon,” “Lailah’s Lunchbook,” “My First Ramadan,” “Under the Ramadan Moon” and “Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns.”
‘Good-deed jar’
Doing good deeds is an integral part of Ramadan for adults and children alike, and creating a “good-deed jar” is a fun way to get children excited and involved. Decorate a container as simply or elaborately as you like, then fill it with strips of paper upon which a good deed is printed — “Give an extra smile,” or “Call Grandma.” Every day, a child can select a deed from the jar. Keep the tasks simple, especially for younger children.
Charity is an important pillar in Islam, and encouraging children to be more generous is a great way to celebrate the holy month. Many mosques hold toy drives throughout the month, or you and your older kids can spend a day at a local soup kitchen. The most important thing is to find a way to increase the number of those good deeds.