Summer vacation and kids' education

Summer Vacation and Tarbeyyah of Kids

As soon as the heat rises in the summer, parents want schools to be closed. That’s because they want to protect their kids from the heat of the summers. School holidays, while a necessaity, also signal the advent of new problems. Now that school’s out, it feels like it would have been better if the kids had continued going to school even in the summer. They were learning so many new things at school and their lives were so organized. Let’s take a look at the main problems faced by parents in summer vacation and try to find solutions.

The Problems:

• Everything at home gets disorganized.
• Mothers feel overburdened with work.
• Budget deficit (Causes: guests, utility bills and demands of kids)
• Kids do not want to study
• Kids sleep all day long and wake up all night, TV and Computers being the main culprits for this problem.

The Role of the Parents:

Parents must not forget that they play a vital role in tarbeyyah of the kids, be it school days or vacation. It is a fact that children who are given a clear vision and a disciplining environment at home bear an excellent character. Parents usually feel the increased burden of responsibilities on their shoulders in summer vacation; yet if they think of this time as a blessing from Allah and follow some basic rules, then this is the ideal time to do some serious character-building of their kids.

The Solutions:

• The first thing to do is planning. Keep in mind your budget, arrival of guests, requirements of the home, and demands of your kids.
• Discuss all these things with your kids in a sitting. Ask them their demands and let them know your budget and other concerns. This will involve them in brainstorming suggestions and they will come out of their own little worlds and start thinking about the needs of others.
• Jot down all the planned things on paper and put it up on a place where everybody in the house can see it. This will serve as a reminder for all.
• Make the kids realize that if they want to spend summer vacation according to their wishes then they must follow a regular routine.
• Parents should keep in mind that the activities they plan for kids must have an aspect of learning and training, and should not be only fun-based time wasters.
• Make a library for all the kids in your area. Make a committee of kids and put them in charge of it. Kids will not only develop good reading habits, but also a sense of responsibility and neighborhood.
• Identify kids with particular skills and ask a group of them to teach that particular skill to other kids, for some money or prizes. This will save the kids from sitting in front of the TV all day, it will inculcate a feeling of well wishing for others and will also boost their self confidence.
• Subject-related activities, such as science experiments, can also be done with the kids.
• You can also arrange competitions for kids, such as declamations, spelling bee, quizzes etc.
• Make kids pray five times a day. Wake them up at fajr time and take them for a morning walk. Allow them to rest after that.
• Apart from praying ask the kids to be in a state of wudu all day. It can be easy and fun in summers.
• Ask kids to practice one sunnah each day, like doing charity, cleaning the home, being patient, controlling anger etc.
• Tell them story of a sahabi daily. After that, ask them what they have learnt from that sahabi and give them tarbeyyah based task for that day.
• Talk to kids about Muslim battles. Draw or print a map on a piece of chart. Make the kids learn about Muslim countries with the help of that chart.
• Make kids memorize some part of the Quran daily.
• Assign cleaning duties to kids and schedule everything around their chores.

Key Tarbeyyah Focus Points:

If every year in the summer vacation we make kids do some of these tasks in an organized fashion, then they will not only develop new skills but they will also learn to follow rules even outside of school. This will go a long way in giving them a strong character and a strong sense of their Muslim identity.

Teaching Strategies

Strategies for Teaching Children (8 – 14 year olds)

In my six to seven years of teaching children ages 8-14, I have not only grown in experience but also in knowledge. Sometimes we seek and learn information ignorant of any sense of responsibility. When you have to teach, however, it is incumbent upon you to know what it is that you are teaching and then be able to communicate it with wisdom to people at their level. I have taught various subjects ranging from Tajweed to Muslim Heroes to Seerah to Quran and so on, and in doing so I have developed a greater understanding than I would have otherwise.

When teaching kids of this particular age group it must be understood that the kids are like CD-RWs. They are completely blank and you can burn as many concepts and knowledge as you want and they will soak them up like sponges; it does, of course, depend upon on the frequency of classes being conducted.  If you are running a Sunday school, the once a week instruction would only aid as a reminder. Lessons must be prepared and taught in a manner that leaves an impression on the children that would sustain them with knowledge throughout the proceeding week. On the other hand if you are teaching on a daily basis, then one must be well prepared. Children must have notes based on the lesson that you are conducting. Homework assignments should be given, which are corrected and graded, and hard work and diligence should be expected and rewarded.

1. SET THE RULES
   At the beginning of a new session, it is always best to explain the rules to the kids, introduce yourself and also allow them to introduce themselves.
2. WHAT’S YOUR NAME?
   The importance of remembering the names of kids cannot be stressed enough. It gives you power like that of a spell over the kids. Children feel honored that you remember their names when addressing them and this develops a bond that aids in communication.
3. BREAKING THE ICE
   If you notice that the kids are in isolated groups and are not interacting with each other it is good to break the ice with a group art activity to allow them to discuss, plan, design and present their work.
4. EGO BOOST
   Some kids have an inferiority complex which can be easily handled if you ask them questions that are so easy they feel a boost in their ego when they get it right. Do make sure that the other children are not aware that you are intentionally giving easy questions to such a child.
5. HYPERACTIVITY
   Some children may seem hyperactive in your class. They talk and distract other children during lessons. It is best to ignore them and not draw too much attention to their behavior and if all fails there are always other ways.
6. TUNE THE TONE
   It is important to realize that the tone you use in class sets the tone of the environment. If the teacher is loud so will the kids be and if the teacher is soft in tone so will the kids.
7. I NEVER KNEW THAT!
   The teacher must bring exciting and interesting info. Much of the stuff, kids already know from Islamiat courses taught at schools. It is much more fun for the kids to learn things not already known or to cover them from a different angle.
8. FUN LEARNING
   Kids always enjoy workshops and art activities more than lecture style classes. Do not focus on the children being able to memorize names of places and people and dates etc —this isn’t history class!
9. STRENGTHEN THE FUNDAMENTALS
   Focus on teaching basic points and concepts. The fundamentals must be made strong rather than focusing on other details.
10. ONCE UPON A TIME…
    The most interesting topic to teach is Muslim Heroes because they are full of stories and everyone loves stories.
11. SMILE, YOU’RE IN CLASS!
    If the teacher is too strict the class will not last long. Therefore the teacher must have a happy disposition, smiling and welcoming, that encourages the children to be friendly in their communication with you. This will prove to be much more affective in imparting knowledge than being an authoritarian figure, where the children are afraid to participate and interact with their views and thoughts.