11 Ways to Cherish Quality Time With Your Kids

Asalaamu Alaykum,

Welcome to the Dadhood newsletter, your companion on this journey of fatherhood as a Muslim dad.

Here’s what you’ll find:

• ✏️ Why Ismail (AS) was ready to die

• ⏳ 11 ways to fit quality time with kids in your schedule

• 🎙️ Muslims CAN challenge RSE legislation in schools

• 😂 How much does a roof cost?

For the past two editions of the Dadhood Newsletter, we've been delving into this Ayah from the perspective of parent and child interactions. The final point I wish to highlight is Ismail’s response to his father's question. Ismail (AS) could confidently express his willingness to proceed and fulfil his father's duty in carrying out the command of Allah, even knowing that it would ultimately cost him his life.

Before we explore the source of Ismail's courage, let's take a moment to contemplate the young men and women within our families. Many of them grapple with fulfilling the basic responsibilities of the five daily prayers and the household chores we assign them, often resorting to numerous excuses to avoid completing them. In stark contrast, we witness Ismail (AS) not only embracing his father's request but also being prepared to risk his life for this divine duty. You’re not the only one scratching his head wondering how this is possible.

The crux of Ismail's (AS) response lies in the Tarbiyyah, the nurturing and upbringing, that his father Ibrahim (AS) instilled in him. Ibrahim instilled a profound love for Allah within his son from a tender age, fostering a deep understanding of his intimate connection with the Creator as he matured. Moreover, Ibrahim (AS) cultivated an unwavering bond of trust, enabling Ismail (AS) to be certain that whatever his father asked of him was firmly rooted in truth and virtue.

Furthermore, Ibrahim (AS) modelled the qualities of determination and patience, attributes he honed through enduring the diverse trials that life presented him. If we aspire for our children to respond to us akin to how Ismail (AS) responded to his father, we must adopt the same framework of Tarbiyyah that Ibrahim (AS) employed to nurture his own son.

11 Ways to Cherish Quality Time With Your Kids Without Disrupting Your Schedule

Every dad understands the importance of giving their children genuine, quality time. And by genuine, I mean truly being present and offering them undivided attention—not merely sitting beside them engrossed in your phone as they play video games. Yet, this doesn't necessarily demand an enormous amount of time. You can seamlessly weave meaningful moments into these segments of your daily routine.

1. Toothbrush Time: Gather everyone to brush their teeth simultaneously. If your children are little, transform it into a game where each person dances amusingly while brushing.

2. Breakfast Bonding: Allocate each child a task for preparing breakfast. For instance, Aisha could toast the bread, while Malik pours milk into cereal bowls. Afterward, gather around the dining table for a device-free meal.

3. Active Family Moments: If you're not hitting the gym, establish a routine for a 10-20 minute home workout with your kids. Older ones can exercise alongside you, while younger ones can partake by assisting with timing or fetching water.

4. Quran Reading: Engage your children in Quran reading. Let them join you with their own Mushafs, reading from the same page. For the younger ones, have them sit next to you, tracing the lines and helping turn the pages.

5. Thoughtful School Drop-Offs: Skip the radio during school drop-offs. Stimulate their minds with thought-provoking questions tailored to their age and interests.

6. Insightful School Pick-Ups: Rather than asking the generic "how was your day," delve into their experiences. Inquire about interesting lunchtime events, whether they brought smiles to anyone's face, or if their friends accomplished their tasks.

7. Errands and Engagement: Involve your kids in daily errands, be it grocery shopping or delivering items to a friend's house. Make them feel important by assigning roles, such as checking off items from the shopping list.

8. Tidying Together: Turn tidying into a joint effort, assigning tasks and setting a collective reward for finishing within a set timeframe.

9. Playtime Participation: Instead of scrolling through your phone during breaks, invest 10 minutes to join your children's activities.

10. Dinner Unity: Like the breakfast routine, gather around the table for dinner, enjoying each other's company without distractions.

11. Bedtime Comfort: Be present during those final moments before your children fall asleep. This offers them a sense of security as one day ends and another begins.

Quality time doesn't have to be an additional burden on your schedule. It's about transforming everyday moments into cherished interactions with your children. By infusing these moments with genuine connection, you're nurturing bonds that will last a lifetime.

This highly anticipated episode features Yusuf Patel, the visionary behind SRE Islamic. In this insightful discussion, Yusuf delves into dispelling the misconceptions surrounding the challenges posed by new RSE legislation in schools. He also shares personal anecdotes from his journey as a father. Follow the link above to listen to the segment where Yusuf skillfully dismantles the prevalent myth that the Muslim community is powerless in the face of RSE legislation. Discover how we can proactively safeguard our children's well-being.

That’s all for this installment of the Dadhood newsletter. You can get back to making the most of the last few weeks of this summer holiday with your children.

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Jazakum Allahu Khayr for reading!