Wake up kids.

7 Tips for Getting Your Young Child up for Fajr

Having a problem getting your child up for Fajr? Try these 7 useful tips to help your seven year plus child slide out of bed in the morning to devote himself to Allah.

First, make sure your child is getting sufficient rest at night. A well rested child is easier to wake up early in the morning than one who is in need of sleep. Children aged five to ten, need about ten to eleven hours of sleep at night. Youth over ten years need about eight to nine hours a day of sleep. Attempt to get your child to bed on time by ensuring his activities and preparation for the next day, are complete before his bedtime.

Second, use a calm and gentle voice when trying to wake your child. Who wants to be woken by a harsh, gruff voice? If you wake your child in a harsh manner he may feel like turning over on the other side, crawling under the covers, and going back to sleep.

Third, gently remove blankets and sheets from your child so he’s unable to make himself warm and cozy. This makes him uncomfortable in bed so that his sleep is less enticing.

The fourth thing is to make an incentive chart using stars as rewards for getting up for Fajr. Prior to using the chart, be sure to explain to your child how the chart is to be used. Let him know that when he gets up for Fajr, he will get a star on his chart. Focus on your child’s positive behavior and giving him rewards, as opposed to punishing him by taking stars away when he’s unable to get up. When he’s earned a certain number of stars, give him a treat or take him somewhere special. This might encourage him to look forward to getting up for Fajr, before he goes to sleep at night.

Fifth, sprinkle a few drops of water on your child’s face, after having tried several times to wake him up. This is often very effective as the Prophet sallallahu alahi wasalam invoked blessings from Allah for the man and wife who wake each other, when necessary, in this manner, to pray. (This is related by Abu Dawud and others with a sahih chain.)

Although, a man and wife are used as an example in this hadith, there is no harm in others using this method to wake their loved ones, inshaAllah.

Sixth, read stories related to salat from hadith, seerah, and Quran to encourage your child to pray on time. Also, explain to him the benefits of making salat. Let him know that making salat pleases Allah very much and that Allah rewards those who make salat.

The seventh thing to remember is to ensure you make salat regularly. Young children see their parents as role models. This admiration develops a desire for the child to model himself after his parents. Set good examples for your child, like going to bed early with the intention of waking up early for fajr and be patient with your child when encouraging him to pray, so that he will learn to be patient with others too. It is reported that The Prophet (saw) said, “O Ayisha! There is nothing that has gentleness in it except that it beautifies it, and it is not taken away from anything except that it defiles it. (Muslim)

Let’s summarize the points:

ð     Make sure your child is getting sufficient rest.

ð     Use a calm voice when waking him.

ð     Remove his sheets and blankets.

ð     Use an incentive star chart.

ð     Sprinkle him with drops of water.

ð     Provide your child with Islamic references for making salat.

ð     Ensure you make Fajr regulary.

Now, hopefully you’ll have an easier time waking your youngster up for Fajr tomorrow morning when you use these helpful 7 tips, Insha’Allah.

Islam for kids