Parenting Perspective 

During Ramadan, the family table often becomes the very heart of the home. While children eagerly anticipate the excitement of Iftar and Suhoor, they can sometimes feel like spectators instead of active participants. Involving them in the meal preparations helps build a sense of ownership, strengthens family bonds, and teaches them that Ramadan is about service and togetherness. The aim is to give them a role that is both purposeful and manageable, allowing them to feel proud of their contribution without feeling pressured. 

Assign Age-Appropriate Tasks 

Younger children can help with simple tasks like placing dates on a plate, filling water glasses, or arranging napkins. School-aged children are capable of washing fruit, stirring drinks, or preparing bread baskets. Teenagers can be trusted with light cooking duties, such as making simple beverages or plating salads. By matching tasks to their abilities, you ensure their safety while also showing that you trust them. 

Connect Tasks to Spiritual Rewards 

Gently remind your children that even the smallest efforts carry immense reward during Ramadan. For instance, as they place dates on the table, you might say, ‘You are helping everyone break their fast, and Allah Almighty loves and rewards this.’ This practice of linking chores with faith beautifully transforms routine tasks into meaningful acts of worship. 

Establish Meaningful Rituals 

Consider creating a consistent family tradition around meal preparation. Perhaps one child is responsible for serving the dates at Iftar, while another gets to choose a fruit for the Suhoor table. These small, repeated rituals help children feel personally involved in the joy of Ramadan, rather than simply observing the adults. 

Promote a Spirit of Service 

Encourage them to serve others at the table, whether it is pouring water for a grandparent, passing a dish to a sibling, or handing a plate to a guest. These simple acts of service teach humility and compassion, anchoring their sense of belonging not just within the family, but also to the wider community. 

By giving children responsibilities they can manage, you foster both independence and empathy. Ramadan thereby becomes a month defined by contribution, not just consumption. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, feeding others and serving one’s family are regarded as deeply blessed acts. When we teach children to help with Iftar and Suhoor, we instil in them a sense of gratitude and a love for service, allowing them to share in the spiritual rewards of Ramadan. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Insaan (76), Verses 8: 

‘And donate food, despite their own desire for nourishment, to the needy and the orphans and those held in captivity.’ 

This verse reminds us that providing food for others is a profound act of selflessness. By helping with meals at home, children are able to practise this generosity in its most simple and heartfelt form. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 807, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will have a reward like theirs, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.’ 

This beautiful hadith teaches us that the act of preparing or serving food for Iftar carries immense reward. This makes every small contribution from a child deeply meaningful in the sight of Allah. 

By weaving your children into the preparations for Iftar and Suhoor, you teach them that Ramadan is not only about abstaining from food but also about serving others with love. They learn that every plate set and every drink poured can be an act of worship, strengthening both family unity and their personal connection to Allah Almighty.