Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 45
Chapter 3: Toddler and Preschool Years 45 him down and return to the meeting. If you allow him to remain outside and play, he will repeat the behavior again. Hold infants and toddlers in your arms during Salat. If necessary, leave the prayer area with the child and offer your Salat afterwards. When a child is two to three years old, teach him what a mosque is and why quiet behavior is important. Make sure you are setting a good example yourself. Keep your children next to you at all times. It is your duty to watch them. When on the way to the mosque or meeting, remind your child of how you expect him to behave and what the consequences for good or bad behavior will be. Follow t h r o u g h and always reward good behavior when you get home from a meeting. A “ quiet ” bag can be helpful. Have a bag with a coloring book, crayons or small books to keep a preschooler busy, but no musical or noisy toys. Also, it is not a good idea to give a young child your cell phone to play with, because it can be very addictive. Delay the use of such gadgets as long as possible. DAILY LIVING Maintaining a Stable Atmosphere in the Home From the age of two to around five, children undergo great changes in their development. Their motor skills increase; their energy levels shoot sky high and their behavior can change from angelic cuteness to screaming tantrums in minutes. Little wonder, then, that mothers