Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 39
39 CHAPTER 3 TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL YEARS Hazrat ‘ Abdullah bin ‘ Umar (ra) relates: I heard the Holy Prophet (saw) say: “ Each one of you is responsible and each one of you will be asked about his (or her) dependents. ” 3. 1 INTRODUCTION These are the most important years in which to lay the foundations of Tarbiyat , ranging from about two years to until the children start kindergarten, around five years old. Everything taught during this time will have a lasting effect and it will make the job much easier in later years; so, mothers should be aware that these are critical years. If parents think that they have plenty of time and can start the training of children when they are older, they are making a huge mistake. At this age, children spend most of their time with their mother, therefore she can take advantage of this period and teach them Islamic values before the influences of the environment begin to take effect. Thus, it is very important to establish an Islamic environment in our homes so that toddlers and preschoolers are introduced to Islamic practices at a young age. Remember, at this young age the child is like a sponge and will absorb the atmosphere around him and copy the behaviors around him; in fact, he is like clay, which can be molded with care and attention. So it is vital at this stage for the atmosphere at home to be filled with remembrance of Allah Almighty and is permeated with the love of Allah Almighty. The creation of such an atmosphere is beautifully described by Hazrat Khalifatul - Masih IV (r h ) :