Ramadan arrives fast. Families who prepare a few weeks ahead have calmer, more meaningful months.
The Sunnah of Sha’ban
‘A’ishah said she never saw the Prophet ﷺ fast more in any month, other than Ramadan, than in Sha’ban (Sahih al-Bukhari 1969).
A 4-week countdown
| Weeks before | Action |
|---|---|
| 4 | Set one Quran goal per child. See Ramadan Quran goals. |
| 3 | Practice fasts: older children try a half-day or a Monday fast |
| 2 | Adjust bedtimes; agree Ramadan lesson times. See lesson times in Ramadan. |
| 1 | Decorate, make a charity box and a 30-day chart |
By age
- Under 7: stories, decorations, a “good deeds” chart.
- 7–10: practice fasts, a small Quran goal, helping with iftar.
- 11+: full fasts where healthy; Tarawih; a bigger Quran goal.
See what age to start fasting.
School
Tell the school which children are fasting, especially around PE and exams.
Teacher’s tip: let each child choose their own Ramadan goal. Children work much harder for goals they set themselves.
Related: Explaining Ramadan and Ramadan words.
