Raising Healthy Children

Assalamu alaikum, to all our Maarif Community!
We pray this post finds you and your families and friends healthy and safe. We also pray that Ramadan is going well for you and that you are gaining all the blessings of this most holy of months.

Governor Murphy announced earlier this week that no NJ schools will reopen before the end of the school year. We all miss our students very much and pray that in'sha'Allah we are all reunited in the fall semester.

In these strange and unprecendented times, we want to make sure that our children are not unduly affected by the uncertainty and fear that surrounds the pandemic. As adults, it is out job to comfort and guide our children. Here is an article from the Healthy Children blog to help us all navigate at home.

Here are some of the highlights of the article:

Since our children look to us for answers, it's vital that we talk to them honestly about the pandemic. Whatever they can imagine may be far worse and scary than the truth. Remind them that although the virus is hurting people, we can help avoid it by washing our hands and staying at home. 

Aknowledge your child's feelings and allow them to speak openly about their fears. It is disappointing to miss out of graduations, weddings, and other events. Help them stay in touch with friends and family. 

Video chat with grandparents, cousins, and other loved ones. It will help to alleviate everyone's fears and loneliness. 

Talk about how you are handling your feelings. This is a good chance to model faith in action for your children. Share duah with them and encourage them to read Qur'an and seek the nearness of Allah especially now. 

If you are leaving the house for work or groceries, explain to your children where you are going and how long you plan to be gone. 

Explain that we are not sure how long things will continue, but that scientists and researchers are working to find ways to keep people safe. 

Say I love you even more often. 

Structure your day so that your children have a routine. If it's a week day and they have live sessions or school work to complete, make sure everyone knows the schedule. 

Ensure a reasonable bedtime. With Ramadan, many families are staying up late to read taraweeh. Try to get children to bed or have them take naps in the afternoon to make up for lost sleep. 

Try to be extra patient, especially now. We are all worried and stressed. Young children may not be able to express their feelings. Teens may be irritable because of the social events and friends they are missing. 

Keep kids busy.

Encourage children to draw, read or play board games. If you have a yard, have them play outside for some time each day. 

Notice good behavior and praise your children for it. 

Give your children 10 to 20 minutes of your undivided attention to talk or play. Have them learn to cook with you in the kitchen, or spend time telling family stories from when you were a child. 

Limit screen time and phone time. 

Remember to take care of yourself and take breaks to destress and do some deep breathing to manage  your own stress at this time. 

We are all in this together. In'sha'Allah, Allah SWA will give us the benefit of the situation and keep the harshness away from us all. Ameen.