Here is the Fasting section of the board.   We discussed why we fast. We discussed what is fasting. We learned the etiquettes of fasting.

Here is the Charity section of the board. We discussed helping others. We created a 'Helping Hands' book - each page lists ways in which my daughter can help others.  We found this idea on a Christian website, but the idea still does apply. To print the 'helping hands' booklet: Click Here We also try to do nice things for others and focus on good behaviors.  These lessons tie in well with the self-improvement section.

 

Here is the Self-Improvement section of the board. We discussed good and bad behavior. We compiled a list of good deeds we should do more of, bad behaviors we should stop doing and our favorite good deeds.   HELPING HANDS TREE An excellent other way to use these ideas is to create a "Helping Hands" tree or a "Good Deeds" tree.  Make a tree design out of construction paper.  Have your child make leaf designs by tracing their hand on construction paper and cutting out the design.  On each leaf - write a good deed that they do for someone else.  You will find the kids competing to do good deeds!

 

Explanation of the Bulletin Board Idea for Ramadan:

Bismillah Ir-Rahmaan Ir-Raheem     Asalaam 'Alaikum,   First of all, please keep in mind that my children are only 3 and 1 - so nothing was really elaborate - but I put this board together as a way for us to start discussions on the different topics and also as a reminder of projects, crafts, etc., we need to do related to each topic, insha'Allah.   The board is divided into the following six sections:   1.  Fasting 2.  Prayer 3.  Dua 4.  Charity 5.  Qur'an 6.  Self Improvement   1.  For the fasting portion of the board, we just have a nice written statement about Fasting.  As far as what we have done regarding fasting - I have mostly spent the time explaining to my daughter about Fasting - why we fast, etc.  Also, every morning I wake the children to eat Suhoor with me and also, when I break fast I also have my daughters come and 'break fast' to feel more connected with Rammadan.  My daughter still does not really understand what Fasting is.  Now, when I ask her to eat something that she doesn't want, she says "No, I'm fasting."  If we break fast at the mosque and she doesn't want to eat because she wants to play with the other kids, she says "No, I'm fasting."  Perhaps your children also did this?  I've tried to explain it to her - but she is very limited in understanding of this topic - although I still believe she has benefitted from our discussions and perhaps it will make her more aware as she gets older, insha'Allah.   2.  For the prayer portion of the board - we just have a simple poster of the different positions during prayer.  This is really just a visual that we have used, however, the most important thing we have done to teach this "topic" is to be a good example to her.  Whenever I have prayed - I ask her to join me and she also sees me making Taraweeh prayers.  This has sparked some interest - and often, throughout the day you can find her stopping what she is doing, puttin on her hijab and making the motions of prayer.   As an idea presented in another group, I also created small cards with all the wudhu stages printed on each card.  THen, I show her each card and we try to put them in the proper order (from beginning to end).  This is more for reinforcement - I'm not expecting her to memorize it or anything.  Then, she always watches while I make wudhu - we have double sinks in our bathroom and sometimes she will be at the other sink trying to copy the motions.   Right now we are learning about the mosque and we have been starting to take her more regularly to the mosque.  Also - we are working on coloring pictures of mosques and decorating other pictures of mosques with glitter, beans, rice, etc.   As side items, I am trying to teach her not to walk in front of someone when they pray, not to speak to someone when they are praying, not to push, shove, etc. a praying person - yes, she can get rather physical with Dad as he is praying (He plays rougher with them than I do).   3.  For the dua section of the board, we posted different duas you can make for different occasions.  Also, throughout the house I have posted different duas for different occasions - such as entering the bathroom, etc.  I hadn't done this previously as I really wanted to post them in Arabic with the English meaning and I didn't have access to the Arabic text.  Each time before she enters the bathroom or we leave the house I ask her to recite the dua after me and then I explain to her what the dua means and why we say it.  I also carry around with me my little dua book and (for example) before we drive off in the car, we recite the dua for mounting your means of transport.  I have her recite it with me word-for-word and then I will tell her what it means and why we said it.  She finds this rather interesting, although she hasn't memorized anything yet.   4.  For the charity section of the board, we made "Sadiqah's Helping Hands".  First we discussed how you can help people every day - then I asked her to come up with ways that she can help others.  So, after making the hands booklet (she colored it), I printed on each page something that she could do to help another person.  Since this discussion, I have actually seen her doing some of these things more than normal, masha'Allah.  When we have had the opportunity, I try to discuss with her that some people are not as fortunate as we are - they may not have a home, they may not have food to eat and that Allah is pleased when we try to share what He has given us with those who are less fortunate.    5.  For the Qur'an section of the board, we have posted the surahs that we are trying to learn - Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq and Al-Ikhlas.  She often says bits and pieces of these but has yet memorized them and recited them without prompting.  She likes to "pretend" she is saying these as she prays.  I also make a habit of making sure she is around when I pray aloud so that she can hear the words.  We have a program on the computer that also has Qur'an recitation that we use together.  At this point, she realizes that the Qur'an is special and whenever she sees any book written in Arabic she believes it is a Qur'an and starts to recite surahs in bits and pieces as she remembers them (as though she is reading).  Also, every evening I put the Qur'an on in their room before they go to sleep - she feels comforted by listening to the Qur'an before she sleeps and always reminds me if I forget to turn it on, masha'Allah.   6.  For the Self Improvement section of the board - we have posted things that one should do to be nice to others.  Some of these items were things that she specifically needed to practice (sharing - definitely!)  I actually asked her to list some ways that a person can be nice to others - these were written on the smaller piece of paper:   a.  GOOD DEEDS WE SHOULD DO MORE OF b.  BAD DEEDS WE SHOULD STOP DOING c.  YOUR FAVORITE GOOD DEEDS   I also try to remember when I see her doing things (either good or bad, but especially positive reinforcement) that I tell her "Allah is pleased when you do ..." or "Allah does not like it when you ..."  I'm hoping this will help her be more aware.   I also found a book of virtues - a book that has different stories covering a certain good or bad behavior (and its consequence) and have used these as a way to start a discussion about these behaviors.  This has worked well also.   Anyway - these are some of the things we are doing so far.  Since she is still young and she is somewhat limited in understanding due to her age - I started to work on other topics that I felt were important such as Tawheed (and I mean this on her level of understanding).  I found some nice books at the library (they were Christian books but they only mentioned God and not Isa (as) and they only focus on Allah's creation) - I have used these to help her understand more about Allah and being a Muslim (what we believe).  She absolutely loves these books - they just say things like "God created the earth . . ." etc.  Now, alhumdulilah, whenever I see a bird in the sky - I say "Masha'Allah look at that beautiful bird - do you know who created that bird?" and Alhumdulilah - she now answers with certainty 'Allah'.   Well - I hope this has made the pictures make more sense to you.   Asalaam 'Alaikum, Sumayyah Umm Sadiqah wa Asma