Prophet’s Birthday: 10 Meaningful Activities Families Can Do With Kids

The Prophet’s Birthday, commonly known as Mawlid al-Nabi, can be a meaningful opportunity for families to help children learn about the life, character and teachings of Prophet Muhammad. Instead of celebrating, parents can also have the chance to teach values related to kindness, generosity, patience and compassion.

These lessons can be more accessible for children if they’re combined with a storytelling element for content and understanding, and a creative project component with some charity and family reflection for remembering.

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1. Read Stories From the Seerah

Make a time for family storytelling, in the appropriate books relating to the life of the S.W.S. Parents are able to talk about stories that showed them how to be honest, kind to their neighbors, compassionate towards animals, and patient, and then discuss with them what they’d learned from these stories.

2. Create a “Sunnah in Action” Chart

Create a weekly chart for each week on which to post easy good habits that can be coloured in such as having a warm conversation with others, saying Bismillah before eating and assisting with household tasks. Children are able to put stickers on when they practise their pick of habits and make learning a fun family challenge.

3. Cook and Share Traditional Foods

Cook a family meal using date, olives, figs or honey as ingredients and foods that are associated with Islamic tradition. Children can assist with washing up food ingredients, making basic food dishes, setting up food for relatives, friends or neighbours.

4. Prepare Care Packages

Instill the importance of giving by making small care packages of useful food/household items for kids to give. Families may give them to a recognized charity like Iftekharan or the community in the event of local arrangements.

5. Learn Salawat and Nasheeds

Families may spend time learning simple Salawat and/or age-appropriate devotional nasheeds. It allows children to be involved, and to learn expressions of love and respect for the Prophet.

6. Take a Nature Walk

Make an Outing with the Family a Learning Opportunity about caring for creation. Children learn about animals and plant life, pick up some litter from a safe public area or make a mini bird habitat at home.

7. Attend a Community Gathering

Families may contact local mosques or Islamic centres for appropriate Mawlid programs, educational talks and/or Quran recitations or community meals. These meetings may give children the opportunity to learn the valuable lessons of community and fellowship.

8. Try Arabic Calligraphy

Have a small craft corner set up and let the kids practice some of the phrases Bismillah, or Alhamdulillah. Cards can be decorated by younger children and basic Arabic calligraphy may be practiced by older children.

9. Write Gratitude and Character Notes

Request kids to pick one attribute of the Prophet, honesty, humility, or patience. Younger children can draw a picture that depicts an act of kindness, and older children can write a short reflection.

10. End With Family Reflection

Take time at the end of the day to have a peaceable family conversation, a reminder and personal prayer. Parents can question every child about the lessons he has taken, and which good habit he would like to develop after Mawlid.

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