Enjoy Eid with Your Kids-- without Emptying Your Wallet by: Grandma Jeddah

Enjoy Eid with Your Kids-- without Emptying Your Wallet

Eid is a day of celebration! But it doesn’t have to be a day of excessive spending.  With many families suffering economically these days, here are a few ways to keep the joy in your Eid without going broke.

Have your children’s friends over for a special Eid breakfast.  Remember it’s Eid. . . so it’s O.K. to feed your sweet tooth.   How about waffles with strawberries, whipped cream and syrup a la IHOP style.  Or, what about fried chicken wings and waffles a la Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles.  What about a Southern plate of biscuits, hash browns, eggs and turkey bacon?  Let your child join in on designing the menu. Here are a few other inexpensive bun fun ideas.

Bring back memories! Make some homemade games for you and your kids to play.  You probably already have everything you need in your home. 

·         Make and decorate paper airplanes and have airplane races.

·         Make and decorate a homemade bingo game.

·         Make and decorate a homemade tic-tac-toe game.

·         Make a Bean Bag Toss using old rolled up socks and a laundry basket.

·         Record funny conversations on a cassette tape player or cell phone.

·         Hide small wrapped pieces of candy throughout the house to find.

·         Design a treasure hunt.

Use your imagination for more ideas or search the internet.

Grandma Jeddah is the author of Discipline without Disrespecting: Discover the Hidden Secrets of How to Effectively Discipline your Muslim Child—And Keep your Peace of Mind While at It. Subscribe to her free newsletter at www.grandmajeddah.com.

Minimizing Discipline Problems on Eid by: Grandma Jeddah

Minimizing Discipline Problems on Eid

Eid-ul-Fitr is a special holiday for us.  It’s recommended that we attend the Eid prayer, eat delicious foods and enjoy the day. 

On Eid we often involve ourselves in activities that are out of the norm as part of the celebratory activities.  We get up before dawn to prepare for the Eid prayer, which may be a change in your child’s sleeping pattern. We indulge in delicious sweets which, which can add to hyperactivity and be perceived by the child as unusual permissiveness. We visit or receive family and friends to enjoy their company which is a change in routine. 

These added activities and changes in habit can make your child anxious, excited and even stressed. When your child is experiencing these heightened emotions, she may not be on her best behavior.    Simply realize this and be more tolerant of your child’s impulsive or uncharacteristic behaviors.  To reassure your child this Eid try the following:

·         Look in your child’s eyes when she’s talking to you.

·         Take time to listen to what she has to say

·         Hold your child’s hand when shopping or visiting—it can be comforting

·         Explain to your child the daily schedule or plans.

·         Try to take your child where she can run, jump and play, such as the park or other  fun venue—activity gets those endorphins (fun chemicals) working in the body.

·         Allow a little extra fun-time freedom –It’s Eid!

Grandma Jeddah is the author of Discipline without Disrespecting: Discover the Hidden Secrets of How to Effectively Discipline your Muslim Child—And Keep your Peace of Mind While at It. Subscribe to her free newsletter at www.grandmajeddah.com.