Teaching Islamic Values to Kids: Fun Ways to Integrate Key Islamic Terms into Daily Life

Children are naturally curious and open to new ideas. Their brains are still developing and this allows them to absorb more knowledge. They are also more flexible in their views, which is necessary to gain more knowledge and discover new ideas.

Young minds are impressionable, which means that we must instill in them the knowledge and values we want them to engender from an early age. This is why Islamic values must be introduced as soon as a child can make sense of the world around them.

Language Acquisition and Usage

Research indicates that language acquisition starts early as infants babble and respond to language cues before they turn a year old. They can make sounds that resemble common words, such as ‘mama,’ ‘baba,’ or ‘dada’ fairly quickly. Language acquisition increases exponentially, especially after the child is five years old. Their vocabulary bank grows and they can speak in complete sentences.

Language is a basic skill, from an evolutionary point of view, as it allows humans to communicate and collaborate when necessary. Our ability to communicate distinguishes us from all other living things. We are far superior in our use of language, as well as speech, as compared to any other species.

It is through language that we not only communicate our thoughts and feelings but also our cultural values. The way we express ourselves is a projection of our inner self. Furthermore, the relationship between language and beliefs is not a one-way, linear relationship. Belief impacts language, but language, in turn, also affects our beliefs. Words hold great power and they shape our values and personality.

Learning Key Terms in Islam

Based on the principles of early language acquisition and the significance of language in human development, it is clear why teaching children key Islamic terms is so important. Just like we teach children polite terms like ‘thank you,’ ‘welcome,’ and ‘hello,’ they need to be introduced to key Islamic words and phrases as well.

Not only should we teach our children to learn these terms, but use them in their daily lives. Terms like ‘MashAllah,’ ‘InshaAllah,’ ‘JazakAllah,’ and ‘Alhamdulillah’ are easy and have varied uses. Learning these terms provides a basic pedagogical framework for introducing our children to Islamic teachings and values.

Practical Ways of Teaching Children

There are many different ways of teaching children new concepts and ideas. Due to their specific temperaments, teaching methodologies must be tailored to children’s needs. Children have lower attention spans and are easily distracted. We must consider these attributes when designing ways to teach children new terms.

Here are some practical and exciting teaching methodologies that you can adopt with your child:

● Show Don’t Tell

Instead of telling your child and making them learn certain concepts, it is best to show them through practice. Social mimicry is an effective technique in childhood learning. Children as young as 3 and 4 years old can imitate those around them.

Frequently use Islamic terms in your daily life and your child will automatically incorporate these in their language acquisition without much effort. Often-heard words have an exceptionally positive impact on learning. This is why repetition and continuous practice are touted as the best way to acquire a new skill.

● Make Use of Stories

Children love stories. A good narrative is not just easy to follow but exciting enough to keep your child engaged. Tell them a story with characters they can relate with and make them use Islamic terms. Children imitate people they like, regardless of whether they are real or not. Make the stories come to life with pictures so children can connect with the characters.

You can even sing to them and use rhyming words to make the story even more interesting. Rhymes are great for memorization because similar-sounding words can be recalled easily. For example, ‘MashAllah’ and ‘InshaAllah’ are rhyming words.

● Teach through Playing Games

Games are even more interactive and fun for children. It allows them to learn new skills without feeling too burdened. Game-based learning is a proven technique employed by teachers as it improves cognition through enhanced motivation and the ability to concentrate.

Both traditional games and electronic games are suitable for this purpose. You can customize an existing game to incorporate Islamic words and phrases. For instance, instead of saying ‘peek-a-boo,’ you can say ‘MashAllah.’ This way your child will get exposure to a commonly used Islamic phrase, even if they do not know its meaning.

Children become fascinated by games very quickly. So, there is no better way to teach them than to use a methodology that resembles a game. Many children fail to learn concepts because they are presented boringly and the motivation to grasp them is not there. With games, it is the opposite and children are more motivated to learn because they do not view it as learning.

● Use of Multimedia

Related to games, especially electronic games, is the use of multimedia. Multimedia, like audio-visual tools, has been employed by teachers for a long time. Educational institutions regularly use flashcards, picture books, audio recordings, and videos during teaching.

The difference now is that with the digital revolution, anyone and everyone has access to these tools. Parents can easily get videos and other forms of media for their children on any topic. Islamic video and audio tools are readily available. You can even get media free of cost to help your little one.

● Reward as Reinforcement

Reinforcement is the key to continuous improvement and long-lasting results. Children are always seeking appreciation and approval, which makes positive reinforcement so effective. Encourage your children to use the terms you have taught them regularly and reward them with a treat.

The reward can be a beautiful sticker, candy, or even a small toy. It is better to keep a points system so children know they can earn the reward after they use the Islamic words and phrases multiple times.

Teaching Our Children Islamic Values

We must teach our children Islamic values and traditions. While schools are there to inculcate knowledge of the world around us, Islamic values and beliefs must be first taught at home. Most children are not lucky enough to go to Islamic schools and many Muslims do not live in Muslim-majority areas where they get exposed to the culture. It falls on the parents to introduce Islam to the children.

Exposure to Islamic beliefs should be done as early as possible. This will enable them to become aware of Islamic beliefs from an early age. All of this will help them become practicing Muslims.