7 Ways to Deal with Fussy Children during Fasting, Parents Must Know

When children grow up, parents begin to teach children to fast in the month of Ramadan. However, your little one’s ability to withstand hunger and thirst is certainly not the same as adults. Not infrequently, children become fussy during fasting. Check out the various tips to overcome them below.
How to Deal with Fussy Children during Fasting
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the obligations of Muslims around the world. Therefore, it is only natural for parents to train their children to fast from an early age. This action can help him get used to it when he grows up.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy to inculcate the habit. Children can become very fussy when they start learning to fast.
Confused about this fussy attitude? You can try some of the following tips:
1. Divert Children’s Attention from Hunger and Thirst
Hunger and thirst for a long time can make children cranky. If your child starts to get fussy, you can distract him by playing or doing his favorite activity to distract him. However, avoid doing activities that are too strenuous because it will make the child more hungry and thirsty.
2. Provide Support to Children
Tips for dealing with fussy children during the next fast is to provide support for children. The reason is, your little one’s fussiness can arise because he wants to be given appreciation.
If the child shows that he is hungry and wants lunch, you can tell him “Wow, you are great at holding hunger until lunchtime. Try to continue until this afternoon, OK?”
By giving praise and support, children will feel that their efforts to fast can be appreciated.
Also Read: 10 Tips for Teaching Children to Tidy Up Toys
3. Invite Children to Tell Stories and Instill the Meaning of Fasting
The next step that parents can take when their child is fussy while fasting is to instill the meaning of fasting. Invite children to tell stories, then insert stories that contain wisdom in them, especially stories related to fasting activities.
This action can help children better understand the reasons behind the importance of fasting in Ramadan.
4. Teach Children to Fast Gradually
Teaching a full fast in one day is not easy. Therefore, you should try to train it gradually.
For example, in the first week, you can invite your child to fast until lunchtime. Then the second week, the fasting time can be extended into the afternoon, and so on until the full fast of the last week.
5. Make Some Deals with Children
So that children are not fussy during fasting, try to make several agreements beforehand. For example, let them know that you will reward them if they manage to fast until 12 noon. The length of fasting time depends on the age of the child.
There is nothing wrong with giving rewards to children if the child manages to complete his fast well.
Also Read: 11 Causes of Children Not Wanting to Eat that Parents Should Watch Out for
6. Invite Children to Prepare Iftar Dishes
One of the interesting ways to reduce fussiness during fasting is to ask him to choose and prepare a dish to break the fast. This method can create its own preoccupation and help distract him.
By being directly involved in preparing the iftar menu, children will be more enthusiastic about holding back until it’s time to break the fast.
7. Do not impose will on children
One thing that is important for parents to pay attention to is to avoid forcing children to fast.
Most parents start teaching their children to fast when their children are 4-6 years old. However, this age cannot be a benchmark. This is because the stages of development and readiness of each child are different.
If the child looks dehydrated or feels excessively lethargic, do not force the child to continue fasting and break the fast immediately.
Now, there are several ways you can do to deal with fussy children during fasting. Athe child’s finger gradually by providing support and gifts that have been previously agreed upon as motivation. I hope this information is helpful.
- Meraki, Zebah. Ramadan and Kids: The Do’s and Don’ts of Introducing Fasting to Children. https://sg.theasianparent.com/kids-dos-donts-introducing-fasting-children. (Accessed February 15, 2023).
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