Islamic Activities for Kids: Learning Islam Through Play

Teaching children about Islam from an early age is essential. This exposes them to the truth of our existence and our purpose for living. It provides them with a solid foundation to build their faith. Having guidance from the start puts our children on the path to success. There are too many distractions to contend with.

Extraneous forces are constantly influencing children. If we do not teach them about Islam and Islamic values, they may go astray. Nothing is more hurtful than seeing our children lack belief and fail to internalize the values we hold. The Holy Quran mentions the significance of teaching our children. Surah Luqman, in particular, contains multiple verses related to the guidance of children.

Some of these verses are as follows:

“(Remember) when Luqman counselled his son: 'O son, do not associate any one with God. To associate others with God is a grievous wrong.’" [31:13]

And:

“O my son, fulfil your moral obligations, bid what is known to be right and forbid what is wrong, and bear with patience what befalls you. These are indeed acts of courage and resolve.” [31:17]

Learning about Islam, however, does not have to be tedious. It is difficult for young children to concentrate and grasp challenging ideas. We should not expect kids to exhibit interest in Islam at once. It is our duty as parents to teach them interestingly so they can understand what is being taught.

Why is Learning Through Play Important?

Kids are naturally inquisitive, but they also lack patience. It is impossible to teach a child in a manner that adults are taught and expect them to retain that learning. Making learning interesting through activities and play is a much more effective way of imparting knowledge to children. Playing games and doing activities is interactive and engaging.

The fun makes it easy for children to remain focused, and this significantly improves their ability to learn. Schools’ curriculum is designed to reflect this reality. Kids, especially those in preschool, are taught employing activities like storytelling, drawing, and crafts. We can do the same with Islamic education.

Activities to Help Kids Learn About Islam

A basic understanding of Islam is important, along with the traditional learning of language and numbers. The essential facts about Islam, which you can find by clicking here, can be taught easily through play and other activities. These include:

Storytelling of Islamic History

All kids love listening to stories. A bedtime story is a tradition in most households. Stories are a great way to teach children new lessons without making learning boring. Characters and narratives always fascinate us. You can tell children real-life stories from the life of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) and other blessed Messengers (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Events from the life of our beloved Prophets (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teach kids about patience, truthfulness, virtue, and the importance of leading a morally upright life.

Instead of just telling kids about always speaking the truth, we can tell them about the life of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) and how he never lied. We can also tell them stories about Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ so they can become familiar with the Creator (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎. Stories make it easy for children to grasp difficult concepts, and they are fun.

Craft Time Centered Around Islam

Arts and crafts are also fun activities. It is interactive and requires children to pay attention and learn by making something independently. You can ask the children to draw things that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ has created, such as trees, mountains, the sun, the moon, and everything else. They can even make these objects out of clay. Doing this will give them an idea of all the different creations of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎.

You can make a cardboard cube and have your kids paint it black to make the Holy Kaaba or create a prayer mat using fabric and paint. Kids can even make tasbih for themselves using some string and beads. There are tons of craft ideas, and the possibilities are limitless. Aside from being a learning experience for kids, art is a great outlet for expressing themselves.

Maintaining a Record of Good Deeds and Conduct

Children should be taught to live a pious life. We naturally have a moral compass within us. Even children are aware when they do something terrible, like telling a falsehood. As parents, we must strengthen that moral compass. We can do so by making children record the good and bad deeds of the day or week.

Every good deed, like praying salah or helping someone, must be rewarded and appreciated. You can discuss the bad deeds with your children and why they did what they did. Journaling or record-keeping in this manner will teach your child to become self-aware of their actions from a young age. It will also teach them accountability and the consequences of our actions.

Puzzles, Quizzes, and Card Games

Not only are puzzles fun, but they also challenge the mind in a way that improves cognition and problem-solving abilities. You can make fun quizzes, like matching the Arabic name of a Surah with its translated title. Crossword puzzles and word search puzzles are also great options.

You can make these yourself since the difficulty level is low. There are online resources that you can access as well. Card games are also engaging. Use cards to teach children about the five obligatory prayers, the five pillars, or facts about the life of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ). All these games and puzzles are a good way to teach your children and bond with them at the same time.

The Art of Teaching

We are quick to send our children to school and become complacent by outsourcing their education to an institution. However, we are our children’s first-ever teachers. They look for guidance from us as we nurture them. There is a deep level of trust, and this makes us the most effective teachers as well.

So, the process of learning should begin at home and never stop. We should actively engage with our children so we can impart in them our values. Islamic knowledge and teaching, especially in non-Muslim countries, is usually difficult to acquire in a formal educational setting. Additionally, matters of belief and faith are best taught by those we trust.

This is why teaching children about Islam as soon as they can make sense of the world around them is so important. It is a worthwhile effort, one that you will succeed in with the help of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎. Just make the learning process fun and suitable for their level. Use activities and creative ways to provide knowledge so they can retain information better and become better human beings. 

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This post is written by Mughees Qureshi, a versatile copywriter and content creator with experience across various topics, including Islam & Quran.