How to Help Your Child Adapt to Fasting During Ramadan

When your child begins to learn fasting for the first time, they may face some challenges, such as feeling hungry or thirsty. This is normal, as your child will be refraining from food and drink for long hours. While fasting teaches discipline and endurance, it can affect their daily activities. Therefore, it's important to train your child to fast gradually and provide some tips to make the experience easier and more enjoyable. Here are some signs that your child may not be able to handle fasting, as well as tips to avoid feelings of hunger and thirst during fasting.

Signs Your Child Is Struggling With Fasting

The main signs that indicate your child might be struggling with hunger or thirst include:

• Constant Complaining: Your child may frequently ask about food or drink, which signals their hunger.
• Restlessness or Irritability: If your child seems anxious or irritated, this could be a sign they are feeling thirsty or hungry.
• Difficulty Focusing: If your child is unable to concentrate or seems distracted, it may be because their energy levels are low due to fasting.

Tips to Help Your Child Avoid Hunger and Thirst During Fasting

Although fasting can be challenging at first, here are some tips to help your child adapt more easily:

1. Have a Proper Suhoor (Pre-Dawn Meal) Eating a nutritious suhoor is crucial for fasting children. While waking up for suhoor might be difficult, explain to your child the importance of eating before dawn to prevent hunger and dehydration throughout the day.

2. Choose the Right Foods for Suhoor The suhoor meal should contain proteins, healthy fats, fiber, and low glycemic foods. Foods like eggs, baked potatoes, cheese, brown rice, fruits (such as apples and bananas), and vegetables (such as carrots and oranges) are excellent choices. These will keep your child feeling full throughout the day.

3. Avoid Strenuous Physical Activities While children may want to play or be active during fasting hours, encourage them to avoid intense physical activity. Instead, suggest quieter activities such as reading, drawing, coloring, or doing crafts that do not require much energy.

4. Encourage Relaxation Children often feel hunger and thirst between 12 PM and 3 PM. To combat this, encourage your child to take a nap during this time. If they refuse to sleep, help them relax by reading a fun story or suggesting calming activities.

5. Involve Your Child in Preparing Iftar (Breaking the Fast) Children enjoy being part of family activities like preparing meals. Take your child to the kitchen and ask for their help in preparing iftar. This will keep them occupied and reduce their focus on hunger.

6. Avoid Sugary and Processed Foods It's best to avoid offering your child foods high in sugar, as they can increase their cravings for food and disrupt blood sugar levels. Instead, offer energy-boosting foods like dates, bread, and homemade cakes.

7. Ensure Sufficient Fluid Intake Make sure your child drinks enough water between iftar and suhoor to stay hydrated. Water is essential to maintain hydration and prevent dehydration. Avoid sugary drinks or beverages containing caffeine, like tea and coffee, as they can increase thirst.

By following these tips, you can help your child gradually adapt to fasting in a positive and smooth way, making their experience more enjoyable and fulfilling.