With the Holy Month of Ramadan approaching and many schools closing for the summer break Ghada Salem has some ideas and activities to do with your kids to beat the heat and teach them about Bahrain’s culture and traditions.
Sight the moon
Try to see the moon (which is how the start of Ramadan is calculated) from an elevated location in your neighbourhood. You can give your kids binoculars so they can detect it more clearly.
Oreo moon chart
This is an interesting, educational and tasty activity for kids over six years old. The moon has phases which means it looks a little different to us each night during its one-month orbit of our planet. So get a pack Oreo cookies and re-create its phases with the filling. It will be fun!
Ramadan advent calendar
Using recycled paper, old jewellery boxes or colourful papers and a cardboard box, design an advent calendar for the 30 days of Ramadan. Inside each day’s pocket place a good deed note for children to do. For example:
Day1: Share food with the needy;
Day2: Donate a toy to an orphanage or collect coins from around the house, or from your allowance, and buy a toy or food and give it to a needy person at Eid.
Day3: Return someone’s shopping cart at the grocery store;
Day4: Cook or buy someone their Iftar meal – it would be great if this is done for workers and security in your neighbourhood;
Day5: Write down something you are grateful for today;
Day6: Smile at everyone today;
Day7: Write a “Thank you” letter to your teacher today;
Day8: Give cold bottles of water to workers;
Day9: Write a few notes saying “I hope you have a great day” and pass them out at school;
Day10: Make a list “10 reasons I love you” and give it to your mum and dad.
Make a lantern
Take a piece of paper and fold in half lengthwise. After, make some cuts all along the folded length, cut half to two-thirds of the way to the other side. Open your card and roll making a tube shape, use tape to stick the sides together. You can finish your lantern by making a handle with left over paper. This can be a fun group activity. Get a few kids to make paper lanterns to decorate the club house or maybe the TV room in your home.
Join a Gergoan Party
This is a traditional Bahraini celebration. Mums In Bahrain organises a party where its members get dressed up, each in their own traditional clothes, to celebrate a multicultural taste of Ramadan, with fun kids’ activities and a raffle draw.
There is also one at City Centre Bahrain that usually takes place on day 14 and 15 of Ramadan. Follow Mums in Bahrain on Facebook and Instagram for more details about kids’ parties and activities.
www.mumsinbahrain.net
Facebook: Mums in Bahrain
Instagram: @Mumsinbahrain
