Medina Arabic for Infants & Toddlers Flap Book Extension Activities

Assalamu alaikum,

The flap book for the Medina Arabic book for infants and toddlers was such a success here alhamdulillah that I made a quick and simple extension for it insha'Allah. I did this based on what I observed here: the flap that had the masjid under it is the one that has enjoyed being lifted over and over and over again alhamdulillah. So I made a simple flap book containing different colour masaajid. This flap book extends the learning to include colour words in Arabic insha'Allah. This book is called 'Hatha Masjid' (This masjid).

I also added another element to this little flap book based on another observation: the board books that have touch and feel aspects to them are very popular and when a board book is read that does not have that feature, the little hands feel the page searching for something to touch and feel. So this book has a sensory aspect to it as well insha'Allah. You can expand on this idea to include things that you notice about your infant/toddler insha'Allah. For example, the masaajid in this little flap book are made out of foam but you can include felt, velvet, flannel, sandpaper, etc. or whatever other safe material you feel will offer your child a sensory experience insha'Allah.

This little flap book is made in much the same way as the Medina Arabic Book for Infants & Toddlers and because it is basic, it takes less time to construct insha'Allah. Here is the Arabic text (with English translation) that I used in the book.

An additional extension to the Medina Arabic Book for Infants & Toddlers is to gather objects that are represented in the pictures under the flaps. For example, a small wooden house, a real key, a small wooden chair from a doll house, etc. Place 3 items on a tray along with the book Ma Hatha? (What is this?). After reading the book to the infant or toddler, take the three items off of the tray and place them from right to left (not left to right if you are trying to teach the child to read Arabic) on a work mat (read about how/why work mats are used in Montessori education here insha'Allah). Ask the child, "Please give me the house." Continue asking for objects until the child successfully gives you the object you ask for with ease and accuracy insha'Allah. If the child hands you an object that you did not ask for, simply say, "Jazakum Allahu Khayr. That is a (key for example). Please hand me the house insha'Allah." Increase the number of objects once the child acquires skill and proficiency insha'Allah.

Enjoy insha'Allah!