Prayer Logs for Children

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Here are two Prayer Logs for teachers/parents to use when teaching children the different positions of the salat:

The first log (the largest) is for children to colour. Each row shows each position of prayer. As they learn and master how to correctly make sujood, rukoo, etc. they can colour in each corresponding row. When they have successfully learned all of the positions of the salat, there is a space for parents/teachers to give children a star sticker.

The second log (the smallest) is for parents/teachers to check off children's progress as they learn the positions of the salat.

Click on the links above to download each log insha'Allaah.

May Allaah accept your efforts and work!

Basic Salat Sequencing Cards for Toddlers

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

The salat (and wudhu) sequencing cards from Learning Roots are excellent and beautifully crafted masha'Allaah. For children three years and older these cards are a wonderful way to teach the sequence of the salat (and wudhu).  

But as many parents will tell you, many older infants and toddlers begin to show an interest in praying with their parents before they turn three. Admittedly, they often exit the salat quite early and perhaps skip a few steps *smile* but they seem to really put their heart into it (especially the sujood masha'Allaah!). 

I thought for the little ones (under threes), we certainly want to encourage this early interest in the salat. This interest is also a great way to include a bit of math and cognitive work for them by letting them work on simplified salat sequencing cards. With simple language to help them understand ordinal words (first, next and last) we can teach them the basic sequence of a rakat of salat insha'Allaah. The cards can also be used with infants as well. If you print them in black and white you can show each card to the infant one at a time and simply name the position of salat (i.e. Qiyam, Ruku, etc.).

I made four large cards (I did not make the pictures on the cards) showing the four basic steps in a rakat and an answer key for the child(ren) to self-correct if needed.  

 Using very simple language you present the activity to the child in the following manner insha'Allaah:

1). Ask the child to bring a work mat to the area you'd like to work in insha'Allaah.


2). Bring the tray containing the sequencing cards and answer key sheet to the work mat. 


3). Sit on the child's right hand side. Explain that together, you will learn how to make salat insha'Allaah. Take out the cards and place them on the mat. Make sure the cards are not in the correct sequential order. 


4). Show the child the card that shows the first step in the salat and explain, using as few words as possible, what we do during this step and when we do this step (i.e. this is the qiyam. This is the first step we do in the salat. We stand like this and then make the takbir -  i.e. say "Allaahu Akbar"). 


5). Place the card in the first spot in the upper right hand side of the work mat, starting from the child's right hand side.


6). Complete each card this way, moving from right to left, until you have shown and very briefly explained all four cards and they are on the mat in the correct order. Take out the answer key sheet and set it underneath the cards and show the child how you check to make sure you have put each card in the correct order (i.e. place the key under the cards and point to the first card and then point to the first position on the key. Alternately, you can even take the each card and place it next to the first, second, third, etc. positions on the key to compare them).


7). Mix the cards up and invite the child to try by himself or herself insha'Allaah. When the child is done, invite them to check (and self-correct if needed) their answers against the answer key. When the child gains proficiency, you can add cards (i.e. another qiyam, ruku, etc.) to show more steps of the salat as it progresses.

  Here the sequence of cards was not done properly.

 Provide the answer key and allow the child to compare and self-correct insha'Allaah.

Self-corrected activity

Leave this activity out on a low shelf for the child to access and play with as often as he/she would like insha'Allaah.

I printed the cards on cardstock and then mounted them onto poster board just to make sure they can withstand frequent handling insha'Allaah. I would even suggest that after those two steps, the cards be laminated if possible, especially if they will be used in a classroom insha'Allaah. 

Here are the cards pictured and the key. You can download the same cards in black and white here and the black and white answer sheet here insha'Allaah.

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Last Minute Hajj Story Board/Game

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

This is a game I thought up because I can use a story to teach math (subtraction) with it. I once read a picture book that had a cute rhyme so I adapted it to fit this story board:

Put the picture out and set five hujjaj on the board (see below)

Then read the rhyme (see below) and take away a hajji each time you finish the rhyme and then start again until all hujjaj have left the haraam.

Here is the rhyme:

Five Hujjaj went out one day,

Down to the Haraam because they wanted to pray.

The guide soon called for them to come pack,

But only four hujjaj came walking back.

**Continue changing the numbers in red until all hujjaj have left the haraam.**

Then read,

The worried hajj guide went on his way,
down to the haraam where the hujjaj went to pray
He called and called for the hujjaj to come pack
And all five hujjaj came walking back!

Then place all of the hujjaj back on the board if the child(ren) wish to play again insha'Allaah

Download Hajj Counting Story here insha'Allaah

Download Hajj Counting Story without boxes around the hujjaj here insha'Allaah

Download Hajj Counting Story without boxes or numbers on the hujjaj here insha'Allaah

(I put ten (10) hujjaj in the file just in case)

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Oh! If you haven't already entered to win these

click here to do so. This giveaway closes this Monday, November 15th, at midnight (Google Time).

Small Book About Charity: Your input please

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Dear sisters, I put together this small book about charity for Ramadan. I would appreciate it if you can give your (and your children's) constructive criticism to help me make it its best insha'Allah. I have an idea for it but I want it to be in top form first *smile*. Your advice/input/suggestions are appreciated and welcome. Also, if you would prefer to tell me what you think of the book privately, you can email me your input insha'Allah *smile*. Jazakum Allahu Khayran!

Click here to download the colour PDF book insha'Allah.

Download the black and white version here insha'Allah.

Our Muslim Paper Dolls

Assalamu aliakum,

Dear Sister Umm Danyal who has kindly illustrated several book covers for me has designed some adorable paper dolls for me. So many children enjoy playing with paper dolls; such a wonderful activity to inspire the imagination.

So you can imagine how happy I was when I opened my email and there they were! After some careful cutting and colouring we will be ready to have imaginary play time insha'Allah. We decided that they are brother and sister and that there are lots of adventures to be had with them insha'Allah.

Hopefully I'll come back and update this post because I'd love to share these with you all insha'Allah. So check back later this evening and insha'Allah, the file will be here to download.

Here they are alhamdulillah!

Little Muslimah Paper Doll

Little Muslim Paper Doll

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Sunny Days, Slow Week

Assalamu aliakum,

The sunny weather has me antsy and I've been a bit relaxed and keen to get outdoors. So a trip to the library was first on my list:

I only put 3-4 books on the shelf at a time. This way children have time to focus on the books and not be overwhelmed by the sheer number of books presented to them. Doing this, I find the books get read again and again and children have the opportunity to really enjoy the books alhamdulillah. From this stack, there are sure to be a few 'Recommended Books' posts coming soon insha'Allah.

Indoors, we've been blessed to witness the spouting of 4 of our plants alhamdulillah:

We then had some lunch time learning as well. In Montessori education, the teacher usually eats with her/his students at the same table. In this setting children have an opportunity to learn and practice courtesy, grace, manners and, as I learned, other practical life skills too! The activity below was borne of a lunch time experience late last week. As I sat eating my own lunch I noticed a small spoon make its way over to my bowl and in a very natural and nonchalant manner, take some of my food and transfer it to the plate of my toddler neighbour. "Well", I thought, "this can only mean one thing: this child may benefit and enjoy a transferring activity insha'Allah".  So I sat out an activity to help practice transferring and mentioned nothing of my missing piece of food (smile).

A regular sized teaspoon was initially put out with the activity but I quickly realized my mistake and replaced that adult teaspoon with a toddler spoon.

The toddler was successful having been given a spoon they could handle with ease alhamdulillah.

I've also been noticing that the salat (prayer) is quickly becoming a favourite here alhamdulillah. Of course, I want to encourage this so I provided a mini prayer rug and we read the book, "My Blue Prayer Rug". You can imagine how much the miniature prayer rug was enjoyed (smile).

My Blue Prayer Rug is a simple book I put together for my Kindergarten classroom but it's a hit here too masha'Allah. I did one for the colour green as well. The clip art is the same for each book as the main focus is repetitive text with many sight words and helping students learn the colour words. I have a bound copy for classroom use but you can download the books below insha'Allah.

My Blue Prayer Rug

My Green Prayer Rug

If the weather remains sunny, I think it will be increasingly difficult for me to focus on crafts and not want to just go for a walk insha'Allah...hehe.

Enjoy insha'Allah!

2010 Colouring Calendar

Assalamu alaikum,

I'm happy over here alhamdulillah! I made you all something - a small gift from me to you insha'Allah (smile). Well, it's a gift for your children and your household insha'Allah. It's a 2010 Calendar that your children can colour and then you can hang it up or send it off to family as a gift insha'Allah (I'm working on a hijri calendar too insha'Allah).

Front cover of the calendar

A Sample Page

Another sample page

So this is a small gift from me to you insha'Allah. It cost me about $3.00 to get the coil binding on it. This version (pictured) does not print front and back (I'm going to work on designing one that does to save paper insha'Allah). In the meantime, please enjoy this calendar insha'Allah.

2010 Colouring Calendar

I forgot to mention: there are many ways that your child can decorate the calendar (i.e., colour the pictures) insha'Allah:

• make or buy sparkle paint and allow your child to paint the pictures insha'Allah
• use liquid glue to fill the inside of the picture (i.e., spread it around the inside of the picture) and invite your child to use different colour sand to colour the picture (if you do this you will need to print your calendar on fairly thick paper insha'Allah)
• for different texture (visually), invite your child to dip a cotton ball into the paint to paint the picture (you will need a separate cotton ball for each colour paint insha'Allah)
• place a piece of sandpaper under the picture you child is going to colour and invite him/her to colour the picture insha'Allah. The sandpaper gives the picture a different look that many children enjoy. *Allow your child to do a test page on a piece of scratch paper just in case he/she is not among the children that like colouring on sandpaper*

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Hajj Felt Story Board

Assalamu aliakum,

This is a Hajj Felt Story Board File Folder Game (isn't that a long name!) that I made to teach the rites of Hajj insha'Allah. I did this felt story as a file folder game because I really like the versatility of file folders. I didn't realize how much you could do with them until I was introduced to lapbooking alhamdulillah. I keep thinking (when doing these activities), 'this can be put into a back pack and taken along on a trip so easily insha'Allah!'. So I made the story board and I made a pouch/pocket to store all of the felt pieces and well....here it is insha'Allah :

The Ka'aba came out much better this time alhamdulillah!

Safa and Marwa

Muzdalifah (getting stones for the Jamarat)

Mount Arafat

I ran out of blue felt so I have to get some more because when in Mina and for Jamarat, the sky is visable so I want to include that insha'Allah. I also can't (as of this moment) find a template to make a tent. I did the other pieces free-hand (except for the Ka'aba) but I don't want to attempt a tent (too geometrical for me...hehe). I also need to do a Pillar for the Jamarat insha'Allah.

To make this as a file folder game, all I did was take a file folder, cut off the top (lable part) and staple it so it would not open. I then glued the flannel to this and then glued this to the inside of another (new) file folder. For the pocket, all I did was take part of a file folder that I had used for the Hudhayfa lapbook and fold it to make a pouch and glued it onto the other side of the file folder. Easy alhamdulillah! I left the tab that says, "name" visable because I'd like to make more felt story boards this way and when I store them insha'Allah, if I write what the felt story is (i.e. Hajj Rites) on the tab insha'Allah, it will be easy to flip through later to find the one I want insha'Allah.

Now all I need to do is write a brief story or poem to go with the story board insha'Allah. I want to use this this week insha'Allah so I'd better get started writting insha'Allah.

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Islamic Memory Game Activity

Assalamu Alaikum,

An old favourite with an Islamic twist. Memory games are known for their many benefits for toddlers. Memory games help toddlers develop not only their memory skills but their thinking skills as well. They also help children work on their concentration skills.

Perhaps one of the best benefits that memory games have is that when played with a family member, toddlers learn to work on their social skills and continue building a bond with their parents and/or siblings. Allah said in the Quran:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا

O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife, and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship) . Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you. ( سورة النساء , An-Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse 1 ).

Let us maintain and strengthen the ties of kinship by spending time with our children in Islamic, fun, and developmentally beneficial ways insha'Allah.

This Islamic Memory game can be played with toddlers 18 to 24 months old but you know your child best. Your toddler who is younger or older than the stated age range may benefit and enjoy the game as well.

Make the atmosphere relaxed and allow the child to simply enjoy the game with you. If he/she makes a mistake do not correct or criticize the mistake, simply explain why the two cards do not match and point out the differences in the pictures insha'Allah.

With that said, enjoy insha'Allah! Islamic Memory Game: 1 of 2 & Islamic Memory Game: 2 of 2 (Due to the size of the file I had to divide it into two files).

Athkar an-Nawm

Assalamu alaikum,

This activity is for newborns until three years old (and beyond insha'Allah). The importance of reciting the athkar an-nawm cannot be overstated. Even at birth the foundation for language is being laid so reading the athkar nightly has this added benefit and Islamically, is something not be neglected insha'Allah.

Some nights you may be tired (or perhaps exhausted is more accurate) but do your best not to forgo this important activity that benefits your child in dunya and in akhira...may Allah reward you.

Here are the athkar to be recited and there is a link at the end that provides more information (unfortunately, it is only in Arabic but I'm working on finding something in English too insha'Allah). Jazakillahu Khayr to my co-blogger for locating this information!

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ : ( كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُعَوِّذُ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ وَيَقُولُ : إِنَّ أَبَاكُمَا كَانَ يُعَوِّذُ بِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ : أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ ) رواه البخاري (3371)

Ibn 'Abbaas (radhi-yAllaahu 'anhumaa) related that the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) used to commend al-Hasan and al-Husayn to Allaah’s protection, saying:‘I commend you two to the protection of Allaah’s perfect words from every devil, vermin, and every evil eye.’ (U'eethukumaa bi kalimaat illahi al-taammah min kulli shaytaanin wa haammah wa min kulli 'aynin laammah).

You can also read the mu3awathaat (surat al-ikhlas, al-falaq, and an-nas) and blow in your palms and wipe over your child's/childrens' bodies.

Here is a fatwa for further reference but again, unfortunately it's only available in Arabic : Fatwa from Islam-qa.com