There are many parents who welcome more relaxed Ramadan in summers but at the same time they also worry about how to keep their kids entertained in their free hours and their own weakness because of fast. Carrying bored children from one activity to another while you are exhausted from fast and heat is neither spiritually health nor necessary. Following are these ways to balance parenting and fasting in the heat this Ramadan:

Have Your Children Fast With You If They Are Old Enough

This will help for future when your kids will start observing fast and it will also create great memories for them. Plus point is that once they understand how tired and hot you are from summer fast, they will stop asking you to entertain them and play with them in sympathy.

Try to Take Afternoon Nap

Taking nap is not only Sunnah of Holy Prophet PBUH but it is also a healthy habit that enhances the learning capacity and memory of your brain. Taking nap also gives everyone the downtime which is always needed to avoid getting on each other’s nerves because of heat, fast and constant family closeness due to summer vacations.

Share the Load

If neither an afternoon nap nor shared fasting is an option for you then try to split up the childcare responsibilities with other family members or friends. This will reduce your little bit burden of constantly handling your kids alone. Just avoid leaving your kids in front of television or computer. Engage them in Ramadan-related arts, readings and crafts etc.

Attend Kids-Friendly Taraweeh Prayers

One of the greatest blessings of Ramadan during summer is the fact that you can attend Taraweeh prayers without the tension of sending children to school next morning. Main problem is keeping the children busy when they are not praying with you.

So this year, try to attend taraweeh prayers at Mosque where there are organized programs for kids or they are given a space where they can play quietly. This way you can pray in peace and can also build bonds of friendship with mothers of other kids.

Plan Outings Early in the Day

Try to take your kids to classes, parks etc immediately after breakfast and before lunch. With day still relatively cooler and stomachs full, kids will be less cranky and will also have more energy to play and perform other activities efficiently.