Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 43
Chapter 3: Toddler and Preschool Years 43 other. Be careful to let the child hear and repeat the correct response as well, that is, Wa ’ Alaikum Assalam. Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim : encourage the child to recite this before beginning anything, and especially before meals. JazakAllah wa ahsanal jaza : reminding the child to say JazakAllah upon receiving anything helps to create good manners. Alhamdulillah: encourage the child to say Alhamdulillah when something good happens. Also, say it for them when they sneeze. Astaghfirullah : this can be said if one makes a mistake. Many toddlers easily memorize the Kalima and other short prayers but every child is different and it is up to the mother to teach the child according to his ability. Love for Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih (aba) Anyone who watches MTA will have observed the excitement and love that children display towards Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih (aba), whether they are welcoming him on a tour, or interacting with him in a program. Young children are instinctively attracted towards goodness and so this is the best time to introduce the child to Huzoor (aba) through photographs, MTA, and personally, if possible. Look at Huzoor ’ s (aba) photo regularly with your child and point him out on MTA. When children see their parents listening intently to Huzoor ’ s (aba) Friday Sermon, they will begin to realize that this is an important person. Let your child know when you are writing to Huzoor (aba); tell your child that you are writing to him for prayers and ask your child for a message to send to him.