Keeping the Muslim Culture Alive Full Book W.Pdf

The Multicultural Inter-Agency Group of Peel (MIAG), Peel Community Connections (PCC) and project partners have been working with the Muslim community to develop this resource book. Funding for this book has come from the Ontario Early Years Challenge Fund. As part of our “Diverse-city: A Strategy for Change” project, songs and stories from the Muslim community have been collected, translated and compiled into this book.

BOOK FORMAT

Keeping the Muslim Culture Alive has been designed to reinforce the importance of culture and tradition in the lives of our children. It has been designed to include songs and stories from various countries as well as to include some child rearing information for parents/caregivers. Countries have been sectioned off by continent to appear in the following order: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. General parenting tips are found after the songs.

A SPECIAL NOTE Although there is a great diversity in infant care practices in the different societies, babies are considered precious in every one. Appreciate Multiculturalism: Children are usually open to different cultures. Most of them have gone to fully integrated schools from the beginning. They have been provided a wealth of life experiences that are just not available to children living and studying in predominantly mono-cultural societies.

Multicultural Inter-Agency Peel Community Connections (PCC) We recognize the Group of Peel (MIAG) 3034 Palstan Rd. Suite M3 Government of Ontario 3034 Palstan Rd. Suite 201 Mississauga, ON L4Y2Z6 for its financial support of Mississauga, ON L4Y2Z6 Tel: 905-270-2295 Fax: 905-270-6263 “Diverse-city: A Strategy Tel: 905-270-6252 Fax: 905-270-6263 [email protected] for Change”. [email protected] www.miag.ca www.peelcommunityconnections.com Page Title Parenting Tip 1 The Prophet Muhammad & Muslim Celebrations 2 Gifts of Parenthood 3 North America: Sing, Children of the World Link the Child to Allah 5 North America: The Things We Want To Say (The AGE: 0-1 Year Arabic Alphabet Song for Children) 6 South America: Trinidad – Allah’s Unfolding Rose AGE: 1-3 Months 7 South America: Trinidad – Allah Knows Best AGE: 4-7 Months 8 Europe: I Look, I See AGE: 8-12 Months 9 Europe: Bosnian Lullaby AGE: 1-2 Years 10 Europe: Bosnian Lullaby - Uspavanka The Shy Child 11 Africa: Egypt - Hajji, Hajji The Aggressive Child Mama Will Be Home Soon 12 Africa: Months in Islam Self-care 13 Africa: Somalia – Prior Life Affects Later Truth 15 Africa: Swahili – This My Day AGE: 2-3 Years Palm Branch of Coconut Leaves 16 Africa: A Letter to My Father AGE: 2-3 Years 17 Asia: Turkey – Hope of Tomorrow When Your Child Lies Story of Nasrettin Hoca 18 Asia: To My Mother Nutrition 19 Asia: Palestine (Middle East) – Muhammad’s Family AGE: 3-4 Years Saudi Arabia –In Praise of the Prophet

20 Asia: Urdu – Riddles Preparing for Kindergarten AGE: 4-5 Years 21 Asia: The Prayer of a Child AGE: 5-6 Years The Importance of Dad 22 More Parenting Tips 24 Bibliography (Parenting Tips) 25 Acknowledgements 1

-Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) appreciated motherhood and childhood; he treated his children -and grandchildren with extraordinary compassion. He said “Heaven is at mother’s feet”. -Once Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) extended his prostration while praying. When he completed his prayer someone asked him why he did that. The Prophet replied that his grandson was playing on his shoulder and he did not want to upset the child’s enjoyment

EID is a special holiday because it is not about getting but about GIVING

Everyone Inspiration Delicious On Eid, Muslims have their Eid is a celebration that Eid is a time for sharing blessings with everyone no inspires us to be a better delicious foods and treats matter what their colour or person: kind, caring, from all over the world as religion. We are all children of generous and helpful to Muslims celebrate Eid all Adam and Eve and God loves everyone. God is most kind over the world. us all. and He wants us to be kind to everyone.

RAMADAN Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. In Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink during the daylight hours. Staying hungry enables one to feel the hunger of the poor. By staying hungry we realize what a great blessing food and drink is. While Muslims are fasting they cannot lie, speak ill of others or use bad language. Fasting teaches Muslims to be humble and patient, to thank God for all they have, to feel for and share with the poor and the needy. EID UL FITR Eid Ul Fitr is a festival that lasts for 3 days and comes and the end of Ramadan. On the Eid, children receive presents and gifts. Everyone dresses in their best clothes and goes to the mosque to pray to God. Prayers are made for world peace and happiness and for the poor and underprivileged. Families and friends gather together for delicious food and desserts. It is a great day of happiness and joy. EID UL ADHA Eid Ul Adha is the second feast celebrated by all Muslims after the seasons of pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. It is a four day celebration. In the morning of the first day, Muslim families meet each other and go to pray in the mosque. Children receive gifts and treats, and families get together for special holiday meals inviting friends and families. 2

Your child is the greatest gift you will ever receive. From the moment you first hold this miracle of life in your arms; your world will be broader and richer. You will experience a flood of feelings, some of wonder and joy and others of confusion and of being overwhelmed and wondering whether you can ever measure up to the needs of your new baby

THE GIFTS YOU GIVE YOUR CHILD

Unconditional Love Love lays out the core of your relationship with your child. It needs to flow freely in both directions. Just as she/he loves you without question, you must give her your love and acceptance absolutely. Your love shouldn’t depend on the way she looks or behaves. It shouldn’t be used as a reward or withheld as a threat. Your love for your child is constant and indisputable, and it’s up to you to convey that, especially when she misbehaves and needs to have limits set or behavior corrected.

Self Esteem One of your most important gifts as a parent is to help your child develop self-esteem. It is not an easy or quick process. Self-confidence, and belief in oneself, which are the building blocks of self-esteem, takes years to become firmly established. Your child needs your steady support and encouragement to discover his strengths. He needs you to believe in him as he learns to believe in himself. Loving him, spending time with him, listening to him and praising his accomplishments are all part of this process. If he is confident of your love, admiration, and respect, it will be easier for him to develop the solid self-esteem he needs to grow up happy and emotionally healthy.

Values and Traditions Regardless of whether you actively try to pass on your values and beliefs to your child, she is bound to absorb some of them just by living with you. She’ll notice how disciplined you are in your work, how deeply you hold your beliefs, and whether you practice what you preach. She’ll participate in family rituals and traditions and think about their significance. You can’t expect or demand that your child subscribe to all your opinions, but you can present you beliefs honestly, clearly, and thoughtfully, in keeping with the child’s age and maturity level.

Values and Spirituality Values like loyalty, honesty, truthfulness and love are the foundation for healthy child development. Alcoholism, drug-addiction, obesity or compulsive shopping are sometimes due to a lack of spirituality. The intention is to fill an emptiness with the non-essential while creating instead an unhealthy dependency. Teach your child to make decisions based on analysis and reason, considering the positive and negative impact of their act and ponder the value of their decisions. The belief on a superior power, defined as you decide, will allow the child to trust in that infinite power of Love and Gratitude. 3

Walking through the crowded streets, of a market in Morocco Sitting on a smiling camel, in the desert of Arabia Chasing ’round the bamboo trees of Bandung, Indonesia Gathering brightly coloured leaves, in a forest of Canada

Napping beneath the date palm shade, under blue skies of Tunisia Freeing kites into the night from a roof-top in Pakistan. Planting rows of beans and maize, on a small farm in Uganda Laying back to count the stars, from somewhere in Afghanistan Sing, Children of the World! Come together and hear the call. Sing, Children of the World! Our youth will unite us all. Sing, Children of the World! Come together and hear the call. Sing, Children of the World! The truth will unite us all. Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wallahu Akbar Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wallahu Akbar

Splashing through the pouring rain, in a village of Guyana Nibbling cakes from picnic plates, on a mountaintop in Switzerland Tending to a flock of sheep, down under in Australia Greeting morning with a prayer, on the golden Egyptian sand Sing, Children of the World! Come together and hear the call. Sing, Children of the World! Our youth will unite us all. Sing, Children of the World! Come together and hear the call. Sing, Children of the World! The truth will unite us all. Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wallahu Akbar Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wallahu Akbar LINK THE CHILD TO ALLAH Linking the child to Allah is a very important and continuous process for Muslims. It starts at birth. The prophet has instructed us to say the adhan (the call to prayer) in a newborn’s right ear and the iqamah (the second call to prayer) in its left ear immediately after birth. Thus the first words the child hears are the call to prayer. From then on, ensure that your child is hearing the name of Allah. Parents, it is important to present Allah to your child as positive protective, and loving, and not as threatening and frightening. Young children get frightened easily. Talk to them about Allah positively. For example, say, “Allah loves you because you helped your sister” or “Allah loves you because you perform your prayer”. 4 ﺀﺀ يي وو ﻩﻩ نن مم اا The Things We Want To Say (The Arabic Alphabet Song for Children) بب Words and melody: D.Wharnsby ©Copyright 2002 Sound Vision.Com لل There're only 28 letters that we really need and we mix them and we match them, making words so carefully. The words we put together, help us make our way تت .with the things we want to say, every single day كك Alif, “Allah”, one god to whom I pray Ba, “Bismillah”, In God’s name each step of the way قق ثث Ta, “Tilawa”, words of Qur’an I will say To gain Tha, “Thawab” reward only Allah can pay. Jeem , “Jama`ah” shoulder to shoulder toe to toe جج .Ha, “Halal & Haram” good and bad things we must know ف ,Kha, “Khutbah” I listen quietly in the row ف and make dal, “dua” calling upon Allah alone. There're only 28 letters that we really need حح .and we mix them and we match them, making words so carefully غغ The words we put together, help us make our way with the things we want to say, every single day. Dhal, “dhikr” think of Allah everywhere خخ And ra, “ruku’”bow to God in prayer عع za, “zakat” we give and learn to share and seen, for “sajdah” to show Allah we care. Sheen, “shukr”, thanking God is only right د .God gave us sawd, for “salat” prayers we make day and night ظ ظ God gave us daad, “duha” the Guiding Morning Light And Ta, “tawaf”around the Ka’ba, such a stunning sight. ذذ رر زز سس شش صص ضض ط ط 45 ﺀﺀ يي وو ﻩﻩ نن مم اا .The sun so bright above, Dha, “dhuhr” prayer is near Ain, Joy and celebration “Eid” comes twice a year. بب .Ghain, “ghusl” wash our hearts and bodies pure ل .And Fa, “Al-feel” a splendid story you should hear ل There're only 28 letters that we really need تت and we mix them and we match them, making words ك .so carefully ك The words we put together, help us make our way ثث .with the things we want to say, every single day قق Qaf, “Quran”, holy words from Allah’s grace, Kaf, “kabah”, the holy mosque that we all face, جج .laam, “labbayk” to answer Allah’s call we’ll race ف ف meem, is for “masjid” the whole world’s a worship place! Nun, “noor” is light in our souls from Al-Rahman, Ha, “hilal”, the smiling moon which welcomes Ramadan حح .Wow, “wahid”, is One. One God for woman and for man .And Ya, is for “yasin” the very heart of God's Qur’an غغ There're only 28 letters that we really need خخ and we mix them and we match them, making words عع so carefully. The words we put together, help us make our way with the things we want to say, every single day. د Enter Into Peace 2004© ظ ظ ذذ رر زز سس شش صص ضض ط ط

AGE: 0-1 YEAR Early Brain Development As a parent, you know that your actions affect your child. You laugh, she laughs. You praise him, he gloats. You frown at her misbehavior, she saddens. You are at the center of your child’s universe. Research shows that during the first three years of a baby’s life, the brain grows and develops significantly and patterns of thinking and responding are established. What does this means to you as a parent? Trinidad 6

Allah’s Unfolding Rose

A young, new ustadh (teacher) was walking with an older, more seasoned teacher in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what Allah had for him to do, he was asking the older teacher for some advice. The older teacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young teacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young teacher looked in disbelief at the older teacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possible have to do with his wanting to know the will of Allah for his life and Deen. But because of his great respect for the older teacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact… It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the younger teacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older teacher began to recite the following poem…

It is only a tine rosebud, a flower of Allah’s design; But I cannot unfold the petals, with these clumsy hands of mine. The secret of unfolding flowers, is not known to such as I. ALLAH opens this flower so sweetly, then in my hands they die. If I cannot unfold a rosebud, this flower of Allah’s design, Then how can I have the wisdom, to unfold this life of mine? So I’ll trust in Allah for leading, each moment of my day. I will look to Allah for His guidance, each step of the way. The pathway that lies before me, only Allah knows. I’ll trust him to unfold the moments, just as He unfolds the rose.

AGE: 1-3 MONTHS Give consistent, warm, physical contact- hugging, skin-to-skin, body-to-body contact-to establish your infant’s sense of security and well-being. Talk or sing to your baby during dressing, bathing, feeding, playing, walking, and driving. Use simple, lively phrases and address your baby by name. Respond to his gestures, as well as to the faces and the sounds he makes. Be attentive to your baby’s rhythms and moods. Learn to read her cues and respond to her when she is upset as well as when she is happy. Babies cannot be spoiled. Your face is by far the most interesting visual object at this age. Play peek-a-boo with your baby Avoid subjecting your baby to stressful or traumatic experiences, physical or psychological Trinidad 7

Allah Knows Best

ALLAH knows what is best for us, so why should we complain We always want the sunshine, but He knows there must be rain.

We always want laughter, and the merriment of cheer, But one heart will lose their tenderness, if we never shed a tear.

ALLAH tests us often, with suffering and sorrow He tests us not to punish us, but to help us meet tomorrow.

For growing trees are strengthened, if they can withstand the storm And the sharpness of the chisel, gave the marble its grace and form.

ALLAH tests us often, and for every pain He gives us Provided we are patient, is followed by rich gain.

So whenever we feel that everything is going wrong It is just ALLAH’S way to make our spirit strong.

AGE: 4-7 MONTHS Many connections are being made in your baby’s brain during this time in her young life, reflected in her behaviors, such as showing strong attachments to you and others who regularly take care of her, she is becoming more interested in the world around her and is more able to communicate her emotions and desires- all the while developing new skills such as grasping, rolling over, and sitting up. Without over stimulating your baby, try these activities to help strengthen the connections in her developing brain: Provide a stimulating, safe environment where your baby can begin to explore and roam freely 8

I Look, I See Yusuf Islam © 2003 Mountain of Light Productions Ltd. I look, I look, I look, I see I sleep, I sleep, I sleep, I dream I see a world of beauty I dream I’m in a garden green I touch, I touch, I touch, I feel I wish, I wish, I wish, I pray I feel the world around so real I pray to be here every day And everything I do And everything I do I dedicate to you I dedicate to you Cause you made me Cause you made me I am for you I am for you I listen, I listen, I listen, I hear I work, I work, I work, I stride I hear the words of god so clear To make something of my life I read, I read, I read, I know I seek, I seek, I seek, I find It helps my knowledge grow I find another hill to climb And everything we do And everything we do We dedicate to you We dedicate to you Cause you made us Cause you made us We are for you We are for you I listen, listen, listen, I hear I look, I look, I look, I see Chorus Chorus He sent the prophet to show us the way Peace be upon him, upon him we pray He made religion perfect that day Salatu Allahi wa s-salamu alayhi Peace be upon him, upon him we pray Salatu Allahi wa s-salamu alayhi

AGE: 8-12 MONTHS Bilingual babies If you speak a second language in your home don’t be concerned that your child is going to become confused by hearing two languages. Thousands of Canadian families speak not only English but also another language in their daily lives. Research and parental experience show that when children are exposed to two (or even more) languages at a very young age, particularly when they hear both of them consistently, they are able to learn both languages simultaneously. Provide age-and developmentally appropriate toys that are safe and inexpensive. Toys do not need to be costly- ordinary household objects will do fine. Remember, it’s much more important to give your child more attention than more toys. Bosnian Lullaby 9

Spavaj mi djetesce ti! You sleep little baby! Znas lid a ovcica spi? The lamb is already asleep. Usnuo cijeli je svijet. The whole world is asleep. Utihnuo pcelica let. The bee’s flight is calm. Srebrnog mjeseca sjaj The silver Moon’s shine Pada na polje i gaj. Shimmers upon the field and the wood. Spavaju misici svi. All little mice are asleep. Spavaj mi djetesce ti! You sleep little baby too!

AGE: 1-2 YEARS Your baby enters her second year and becomes a toddler, crawling vigorously starting to walk, even talking a little. As she becomes more and more independent. Encourage your child to interact with his peers, but keep in mind that egocentric behavior is normal for this age. Do not overreact to selfishness or disregarding the feelings of others. Just reinforce that he should be sensitive to the feelings of other children. Keep in mind that this period of self-confidence will taper off by the age of three. Nurture his self esteem at every opportunity, but not at the expense of others Repeatedly tell your child how special he is to you. Tell him how important your time together is to you. Bosnian Lullaby 10 Uspavanka Lullaby Tiha pjesmo, išarana You, my silent song paunovim sjajnim krilom, By glorious peacock feather spotted, paučinom izatkana, By a spider’s web woven opsivena žutom svilom, With a yellow silk bordered tiša nego voda plava, Over blue water silent uspavaj mi malog mrava! Lull my little ant to sleep.

On je danas, pjesmo vita, Today, hear my fair song, he was rolling kotrljao zrnce žita. A little grain of wheat.

Mala pjesmo, ispunjena You, my little song slavujevim toplim dahom, With warm breath of a nightingale filled na usnama zatvorena, On the lips silenced obasuta cvjetnim prahom, With flower dust showered zažubori poput vrela, Let bubble as a well and nek´ umorna zaspi pčela. Lull a weary bee to sleep.

Ona je sred cvjetne paše Today, in the middle of a flower field, sakupljala med u čaše. she was collecting honey in to jars.

Laka pjesmo , uhvaćena You, my gentle song na plamenu plavog svoda, On the blaze of a blue firmament caught tračkom sunca pozlaćena, By the gleam of sunlight glided od srninnog meka hoda, By the soft step of a doe lightened kao dašak vjetra laka, As a breath of a soft breeze uspavaj mi mog dječaka. Lull my little boy to sleep.

On je danas, kao lane, Today, like a fawn, he was running pretrčao tri poljane. Across three meadows.

THE SHY CHILD Some children are naturally fearful about new people and situations. They hold back, watching and waiting before joining a group activity. If pushed to try something different, they resist, and when faced with someone new, they cling. The best solution is to allow your child to move at her own individual pace. Give her the time she needs to adapt to new situations and let her hold your hand when she needs some extra assurance. If you take her behavior in stride, outsiders will be less likely to ridicule her, and she’ll develop self-confidence much more quickly. Egyptian 11

Hajji, Hajji (adapted from an Egyptian children’s song) Hajji, Hajji House of Allah And the Ka’ba and the Messenger of Allah I wish to visit you, Oh Prophet Muhammad! Your land is so far away In this land are Ahmed and Hamida Hamida has a baby boy! She named him Abdul Samad

Mama Will be Home Soon (adapted from an Egyptian children’s song) Mama is almost home, She’ll be home very soon. Guess what she’s bringing She’s bringing a bag Inside the bag there is a goose and a duck They say “quack, quack, quack.”

THE AGGRESSIVE CHILD Some children are naturally aggressive in ways that begin to show during the second year. They want to take charge and control everything that goes on around them. When they don’t get what they want, they may turn their energy toward violent behavior, such as kicking, biting, or hitting. Some parents spank or hit the child as punishment. However a child treated this way can begin to believe that this is the correct way to handle people when you don’t like their behavior, so this reaction may just reinforce his aggressiveness toward others. The best way to teach your child how to hold his aggressive impulses in check is to be firm and consistent when he misbehaves. Also, give him a good example to imitate with your own behavior and that of his siblings. South Africa 12

Months in Islam (Rashid A. Bhikha ©2003 Mountain of Light Productions Ltd.) Muharram, Sufar, Rabie Al Awal, Rabie Al Thani These are the months in Islam Jamadi Al-Aula, Jamadi Al-Aukhra Rajab and Sha’aban Ramadan, Ramadan, Ramadan, and Shawal Thi Al-Qada and Thi Al-Hija These are the months in Islam.

SELF CARE Did you know that… Children that learn self-care and personal hygiene skills at an early stage, not only look and smell better, they get sick less frequently and are more accepted by peers. This results in the formation of adequate social and interactive skills and the development of more stable and long-lasting, effective relationships. Suggestions Show your child how to: • Develop adequate personal hygiene habits, such as washing their hands before any meal and after going to the bathroom. • Brush their teeth after each meal and before going to bed at night. • Take a bath, change into clean clothes and develop self-grooming practices on a regular basis. Somalia 13

Beenta Hore Runta Dambe Ayay U Daran Tahay Wiil ayaa tuulo yar riyo u raaci jiray. Waxay hawshiisu ahayd inuu riyaha daaq geeyo subaxdii, ka ilaaliyo bahalaha, oo uu soo hooyo fiidkii. Maalin maalmaha ka mid ah, ayaa goor duhurkii ah dadkii tuuladu maqleen wiilka qayladiisii. Ammin yar ka dib, ayey arkeen wiikii oo ku soo ordaya tuulada oo leh, “Waa shabeel. Waa shabeel.” Dadkii tuulada, oo aha kuwo is taageera isna jecel ayaa si degdeg ah u boobay warmahoodii, gudmahoodii iyo ulahoodii waaweynaa si ay wiilka iyo riyahaba ugu badbaadiyaan waxa soo weeraray. Wiilkiina waxay u gaadeen cunto iyo biyo, waxayna ku yaaceen meeshi riyuhu u daaqtageen. Markay meeshii tageen, riyihii oo dhammi si nabadgelyo ah ayey u daaqayeen iyaga oo ann waxba qabin midna ka maqnayn. Wilkii baase u sheegay in shabeel soo weeraray laakiin markii dambe uu cararay. Dadkii tuulada waxay raadiyeen shabeelkii, laakin ma helin raadkiisii iyo ruuxiisii midna, markaas ayey wiilkii siiyeen cuntadii iyo biyihi oo ku noqdeen tuuladii. Maalmihii dambe, wiilkii wuxuu caadaystay inuu sidii oo kale sameeyo, inkasta oo dadkii tuuladu aanu ka shakiyi jirin inay u dhegafududaadaan wiilka iyada oo aan halisi kaga iman shabeelka uu sheegayo. Ugu dambaystii dadkii waxay lumiyeen kalsoonidii ay wiilka u qabeen, waxayna go’aansadeen, inaan loo dhaqaaqin codsigiisa mar dambe. Maalintii dambe, shabeel ayaa soo weeraray wiilkii iyo riyihiiba. Baqdin ayaa ku dhalatay wiilkii. Wuxuu u cararay tuuladii isago oo qaylinaya oo leh, “Waa shabeel. Waa shabeel,” laakin qofna dheg uma dhigin wixii uu lahaa. Waa shabeel . Waa shabeel, “laakiin qofna dheg uma dhigin wixii uu lahaa. Wiilkii wuxuu tegay guri kasta oo tuulada ku yiil isaga oo ku dedaalaya, inuu ka qanciyo dadka waxa u sheegaya inay run taha, laakin dadkii tuuladu ma dhegaysan waayo- aragnimo hore ee ay kala kulmen darted. Fiidnimadii ayaa dadkii tuuladu ogaadeen in rihiyaii oo dhan shabell laayey, waxayna wiilkii ku eedeeyeen inuu mas’uul kay yahay gumaadka riyahoodii ku dhacay, waayo haddii un markii hore run sheegi lahaa, way rumaysan lahaayeen marka shabeelka runta ahi soo weeraray. Somalia 14

Prior Life Affects Later Truth A boy used to take care of a herd of goats from a small village. He was primarily responsible for driving the herd to their grazing land in the morning watching them against any attacks by wild animals and bringing them back to the village in the evening. One day in the afternoon, the villagers heard the boy shouting and a few minutes later they saw him running towards the village saying, “the tiger, the tiger.” The villagers, who were cooperative and nice to each other promptly took their swords, axes and big sticks to save the goats and the boy from the tiger. They also took food and water for the boy with them and rushed to where the goats were grazing. When they got there, they found all the goats pasturing peacefully and none missing or hurt. In the mean time, the boy informed them that the tiger had come his way but afterwards he had ran away when he saw them coming. The villagers went all over the place looking for the tier, but found neither the tiger nor its footprints. Villagers gave the food and the water to the boy and returned to the village. The following days, the boy repeated the same. The villagers never hesitated to respond to him quickly despite no sign of danger posed by the tiger. At last they lost their trust in the boy and decided not to react to his request for help next time. Finally, the real tiger attacked the boy and the goats. He became frightened and ran to the village shouting and saying, “the tiger, the tiger.” The villagers ignored him. He went to every home in the village trying to convince the villagers that it was the real one. The villagers, however, ignored him because of their past experience with him. Later in the evening, the villagers found that all the goats had been killed by the tiger. They accused the boy for the loss of their goats. Had he told the truth earlier, they would have believed him when the actual tiger attacked him. Swahili 15

Aliyomi This My Day Al yomi aliyomi alimsabaha This my day, this my day, I saw this morning ilyomi, day. Kuna mnazi mmoja wapanda There is a coconut tree, three people are watu watatu climbing it Akianguka mmoja, Hamadi If one falls down, poor someone’s son. mwana wa watu. Bird fly, bird fly with the letter in your beak. Ndege ruka ndege ruka na barua When you reach, drop it on his lap mdomoni Do not see me so thin and think that Ukafika ukafika mbwagie I don’t eat at home. mapajani. I eat one pint of rice and Usinione nimedonda ukadhani half a pound of meat. kwetu sili Nala mtele kibaba na nyama nusu ratili Kitoria baa kitoria baa Kahela kahela.

Ukuti wa mnazi Palm Branch of Coconut Leaves Ukuti ukuti Palm branch, palm branch Wa mnazi wa mnazi Of coconut leaves, of coconut leaves, Ukingia upepo When the wind blows, Wan ‘tetema Wan ‘tetema It shakes, it shakes.

AGE: 2-3 YEARS Some Golden Rules of Preschool Discipline Always encourage and reward good behavior and discipline the bad. Whenever you have a choice, take the positive route. Map out rules that help your child to control his behavior. If your rules are overly restrictive, he may be afraid to explore on his own or try out new skills. Always keep your child’s developmental level in mind when you set limits, and don’t expect more than he’s capable of achieving. Set the discipline to your child’s developmental level. For example, if you decide to send your toddler to his room for misbehaving, don’t keep him there for more than about five minutes; any longer, he’ll forget why he’s there. Swahili 16

Barua kwa baba A Letter to My Father Napeleka barua kwa baba, I was sending a letter to my father, Ikanipotea ndiani But I lost it on the way. Napeleka barua kwa baba, I was sending a letter to my father, Ikanipotea ndiani But I lost it on the way. Si wewe, na si wewe, ni wewe! It is not you, And it is not you, But it is you!

AGE: 2-3 YEARS More Golden Rules of Preschool Discipline Don’t change the rules or the disciplines at random. That will only confuse your child. Make sure that all the adults in the house and other caregivers agree to and understand the limits used to discipline your child. If one parent says something is OK and the other forbids it, the child is bound to be confused. Remember that you are a key role model for your child. The more even-handed and controlled your behavior the more likely your child will be to pattern himself after you. If, on the other hand you hit or spank him every time he breaks a rule you’re teaching him that it’s okay to solve problems through violence. Turkey 17

Yarinin Umudu Hope of Tomorrow Yarinin umudu, Hope of tomorrow Cucuklariz biz. Children we are, Dunyanin en guzel, Most beautiful flowers Cicekleriyiz. Of the world. Kevin ve koruyun, Love us and take care of us Bici insanlar. Oh you people. Sevgi dolsun kalpler, Let the hearths fill with love Umut yesersin. And let the peace grow. Sevgi cicekleri, Let the love of flowers Bizde acilsin. Bloom with us, Yayilsin dunyanin And let them spread Her tarafina. All over the world.

Nasrettin Hoca Hikayesi Story of Nasrettin Hoca Hoca aksamleyin eve dogru One evening Nasrettin Hoca was walking yururken, baklava seven bir to this house. Once of the villagers said: koyluyle karsilasir. Hoca, kisa bir “Oh Hoca, I saw someone carrying a big sure once bir adam buyuk bir tepsi tray of sweets.” Hoca said: “It is not my baklava gotururyordu… Beni business.” The villager said: “But he was ilgilendirmez! taking the tray to your house…” Hoca Fakat adam tepsiyi sizing eve said: “Then it is not your business.” goturuyordu. O zaman seni ilgilendirmez!

WHEN YOUR CHILD LIES Lying at this age is very common. Preschoolers lie for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s because they’re afraid of punishment, or it may be because they’ve gotten carried away with their fantasies, or perhaps they’re imitating behavior they see among adults. Before you punish your child for not telling the truth, make sure you understand the motives. Turkey 18

Anama To My Mother Dokuz ay koynunda gezdirdi Nine months in your womb, you carried me beni What kind of pain suffered oh my mom, Ne cefalar çekti ne etti Anam Sleepless nights, tired days Aci tatli zahmetime katlandi At the end you made me fly oh my mom. Uçurdu yuvadan yürüttü Anam I cannot pay back anything to you Analarin hakki kolay ŏdenmez That’s why is the Heaven beneath your feet Analara ne yakişmaz ne denmez Please forgive me, I didn’t know any better Kan uykudan gece kalkar Just pray for me oh my mom, because your gücenmez prayers are always answered… Emzirdi salladi uyuttu

NUTRITION Did you know that… A diet high in carbohydrates, fat and sugar, generates a feeling of heaviness and weariness resulting in poor attention and lack of sleep. On the other hand, a diet made of vegetables, fruits and cereals will keep the body energized and alert. Suggestions Keep in mind that the lactic acid found in foods such as yogurt promotes concentration and enhances the learning process. A yogurt by mid morning or right before a school test will facilitate better results. Soy products provide the body with vegetable protein which is of better quality than the protein found in meats. Palestine – Middle East 19

Muhammad’s Family Muhammad is our prophet His mother is Amina His father is Abdullah He died before seeing him Abu Talib is his uncle He’d been relieving his greaves The lady Khadija Was his caring wife And the lady Halima Was his gracious nurse Saudi Arabia In Praise of the Prophet The full moon (the Prophet) is approaching us From the steps of the Wida’a We must be thankful As long as there is a believer raising supplications to God Oh, the Messenger that is being sent to us You’ve come with (a message) that must be obeyed You came and Medina is now shining with light Welcome, You the Best of Preachers

AGE: 3-4 YEARS At age three your child will be much less selfish than he was at two. He’ll also be less dependent on you, a sign that his own sense of identity is stronger and more secure. Now he’ll actually play with other children, interacting instead of just playing side by side. As he becomes more aware of and sensitive to the feelings and actions of others, he’ll gradually stop competing and will learn to cooperate when playing with his friends. He’ll be capable of taking turns and sharing toys in small groups. You’ll also notice that, throughout the day, your preschooler will move back and forth freely between fantasy and reality. At times she may become so involved in her make-up believe world that she can’t tell where it ends and reality begins. Her play experience may even spill over spill into real life. From time to time, try to join your child in her fantasy play. By doing so, you can help her find new ways to express her emotions and even work through some problems Pakistan 20

Riddles

1. Oh prince oh queen tell me the story about a pitcher that contains two colours of water. Answer: An egg 2. He comes in summer nights and sings county songs in various styles. Answer: A mosquito 3. A bowl has a bowl inside and the son is whiter that his father. Answer: A coconut. 4. What kind of box contains 32 beads? Answer: Teeth in mouth

PREPARING FOR KINDERGARTEN As your child near school age, you can start the preparations by talking to him about going to kindergarten. Explain how his routine will change when he starts school, and get him involved in choosing his back-to –school clothes. It also will help to drive or walk by the school occasionally and even go in and show him the classrooms before school begins so you can take your child in and introduce him to the teacher. All this preparation will help builds his enthusiasm and lessen his anxiety about taking his next big step away from home.

AGE: 4-5 YEARS By age four, your child will have her unpredictable emotional responses somewhat under control, but still won’t be able to manage her feelings of defiance. Sometimes your child won’t be able to explain her anger, and it will be up to you to help her learn to express her emotions through words instead of violent actions. This can be a real test of skill and patience, but is well worth it. Usually the problem will be fairly obvious if you examine the situation from her viewpoint. Pakistan 21

The Prayer of a Child Author: Allama Iqbal

This prayer often becomes a dream wish on my lips Oh God mighty please make my life like a candle My noble work will break the world’s darkness Each place will get brighter due to my contribution Please make me such a pride for my home land Same way like a flower that decorates the garden May my life should be like that fire fly Who is in love with Candle of knowledge? Grant me the courage to help poor people To help needy and old people in pain My load gives me the power to refrain from evil Please help me to choose the right and noble path!

AGE:5-6 YEARS Your child growing independence. When he / she insists on buttoning his own sweater rather than accepting your help, the motive is definitely to show off to you how big he’s become. No matter that the buttons don’t line up quite right. He’s still anxious to strut before you, showing off his accomplishment. Your approval and acknowledgment of this feat means the world to him. He is not just proud of himself. He’s proud of your pride in him.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DAD TO EVERY CHILD From infancy on, your child has been acutely aware of his dad’s “otherness”. He knows that Dad responds differently to his questions, holds him in a different way, plays differently, is perhaps more physical and less verbal with him. An active and positively involved dad is a good boost to both a boy’s and a girl’s sense of identity and s elf-esteem. Boys and girls both learn from Dad what it means to be male, something even the best mom can’t teach. They learn how to handle emotional, intellectual, and physical challenges in ways that are likely to differ somewhat from Moms way of doing things. They learn that there is more than one way to approach problems, more than one way to interact with the world. Between what they’ve learned from Mom and what they are studying now about Dad, they can find their own way to act in relation to ideas and to people. Most importantly, Dad lets your child move away from mom, while maintaining the closeness and security of family. 22

FAMILY ATMOSPHERE The family is the child’s first environment and has a great impact on his personality. The relationship between the parents sets up the pattern for all other relationships in the family. If the parents are respectful, loving, and merciful to each other, if they tolerate each other, if they show care and gentleness toward each other, the child personality will reflect these beautiful qualities that are common to all the family members. Dealing fairly with all children, not favoring one of them over another contributes positively to your children’s personality and is important to a healthy family atmosphere.

A CHILD’S POSITION WITHIN THE FAMILY A child is continuously searching to find his or her place in the family. For example, in a family composed of a husband, wife, and one child is always receiving and enjoying attention from his or her parents. When a second child arrives, it presents a threat to the first child. The dynamics are now different for the first child. With the birth of every consecutive child, the family dynamics change and each child has to reestablish his or her position. Cooperation between the parents is essential to ensure that every child his or her place within the family peacefully. 23

HELPING YOUR CHILD LEARN FROM HIS/HER MISTAKES In the course of developing and learning to live by moral code, your child will make some mistakes. Punitive responses do little at this stage to help a child develop a sense of morality, which is your goal now. When your child has misbehaved in a manner that goes against your moral code: -Discuss why the behavior is unacceptable. Emphasize how her actions affect others as well as herself -Never label by her mistake. Calling her a “bad girl” makes her think of herself in those terms rather than as a person who is capable of redeeming herself. Focus on her actions, saying, for instance, “I don’t like what you did. You shouldn’t take something that is not yours”. Such a statement lets your child know that its behavior, not her whole being, that needs to change. -Give your child the chance to take responsibilities for her action. Teach her to speak in the active voice, saying, for instance, “I broke the bracelet” rather than “It broke”. -Most Important, Help Her Find Ways to Amend. If she’s been hurtful to a friend, help her think of ways to apologize. If she’s taken something that isn’t hers, help her to return it.

AVOID GENDER STEREOTYPING Few parents set to limit their children potential, yet subtle forms of sexual stereotyping do just that. Parents of boys, for instance, may be less patient if their sons show fear when learning to swim. Parents of girls may be less encouraging of their physical prowess. To give both boys and girls the best chance of developing full: - Watch what you say. Statement like “Big boys don’t cry” or “It’s not ladylike to get dirty” limits a child’s sense of who she is and what she can do. - Watch how you play. All kids need exposure to lots of types of play. Nonsexist toys such as art materials, blocks, and board games give all children opportunities to create and to work together - Don’t focus on Girls Appearance. All children love to hear that they look good. However, regularly praising girls for their petty hair or nice outfits sends the message that they are valued more for their looks than for their action - Don’t assume. Don’t assume that your daughter will help out in the kitchen while your son assists in washing the car. Offer all children a chance to approach what’s before them without trepidation 24

TO BE AVOIDED Boosting your child’s self worth is a very important objective of nurturing, therefore we need to avoid these three concepts:

Perfectionism Perfectionist parents tear down their self-esteem by never being satisfied with their accomplishments. Yes, it is good to fine-tune some of the children’s actions and it is desirable when parents are sure the child’s self-esteem can handle it. However it is important that children’s efforts be applauded. Overprotection There is a thin line between protection and discouragement. Yes caution is necessary sometimes, depending on the circumstances, but children may think they are incapable. Parents should remember that bruised knee will heal, but low self-esteem can last a lifetime. Humiliation This applies to everyone. Even more, so when we deal with our children, humiliation destroys a child’s self-esteem. If your style becomes extreme, your child’s self-esteem may possibly be scarred. Although most parents fall between permissive and controlling, you should know the strengths and weaknesses of your style as a parent and make adjustments that move you toward the ideal

MIAG and PCC would like to thank the following individuals and groups for their valuable contributions to the development of this resource:

Funder: We recognize the Government of Ontario for its financial support of "Diverse-City: A Strategy for Change"

Songs & Stories: The Muslim community in the Region of Peel

Outreach: Naima Adan

Coordination & Child Development Information: Huda Abbas

Translation & Editing: The Muslim Advisory Group ( Abdul Rashid Taylor, Sharon Douglas, Dr. Salha Jeizan, Rukhsana Asghar, Amira Younis, Naima Adan)

Format & Design: Liliana Gallardo, LG Consulting

Cover: Aiya Al-Siaudi