Salam Alaikum sisters🌸 Hope you are all doing well.

Today about HABITS. And how to integrate good habits for ourself and kids much more quicker and easier.

The secret is: START DOING SOMETHING SLOWLY AND STEP BY STEP INCREASE VOLUME.

What does it mean?
Example you want to start exercise in the morning, but each morning it’s just a thought 😊 You are having 7 sec to start exercising after first though came to you “ go exercise”. So count till seven and start doing it. Same with everything: a thought came to wash dishes now, count till 7, go and do it. Because second thought will be : “ maybe later”, “ I’m still having time”, “ tomorrow” ect. This is how we starting procrastinate.

So first morning when you waking up do 1 push up, 1 sit up, 1 squat. Keep repeating it for 1 week each morning. Second week increase till 2 of each, third week do 3 of each exercise, fourth week 4 of each and so on. Till you reach 10 min. of doing these exercises in the morning.

Same with everything: going for a walk, riding bicycle, reading and even praying.

Example you or your kids are lazy to pray. Start praying exact minute when prayer time is starting. For that you can set up a reminder on phone, or clock with azan.
Start example Dhuhr to pray on time for 1 week. Then add Asr to pray on time on second week. Then Maghrib third week, and Isha the fourth week.
After 4 weeks you formate a habit to pray on time these all prayers. Then start adding Fajr to pray on time on firth week and then keep repeating.

Many parents scolding their kids/ teenagers and forcing them to pray. But it’s only formatting a habit to cheat, hate religion, hate prayers. It should be an internal motivation and a habit to pray by himself, not a forced religion. That’s why habit of prayers we should formate for kids earlier.
And the best is to invite to pray together. Fathers can take boys to the mosque.
Talking and discussing about religion, watching historical movies, reading about prophets ect will gives more clarity and motivation.
I totally agree that western countries are not friendly in terms of practicing religion. Child who attending UK school, can’t simply say to teacher it’s my pray time I need to go. So it’s becoming more heard to establish habit.

Slapping, bribing, forcing won’t bring peace in their heart and it’s a manipulation using power. Rather teach your kids do small steps, example pray Isha on time or Maghrib on time as a family.
Small steps means a lot. And prayers together formatting unity.

My personal opinion -from a child who is not having a habit and understanding/ feeling the value of prayer or adult who is not very much practicing muslim, or revert to make straight away a good practicing muslim is hard.
Always better to establish habit to pray on time, to pray slowly, to pray all 5 daily prayers by not pressurising but doing it step by step and better together with someone.

Kids and adults not having motivation or loosing it because feeling tired, are mentally exhausted and can’t cope with tasks and stress. So good rest, daily routine , natural food is very important in formatting a new habit.

I can see that muslim parents are focused on kids good marks at school and also they putting kids to after school Quran classes and pressurising them to be good at it too.
And where all the rest demands from parents and at school? Homework, house chores, playing…ect
It’s way too much for kids brains.
That’s why kids are overwhelmed and misbehaving, or opposite having neurosis and feeling depressed. Stressed, anxious, tensed brains can’t accept any information.

Engaging with a child, doing things together helping kids better to understand and learn skills. So we adults are responsible to help kids to formate good habits by being an example and supporters.

I’m encouraging everyone to see your own kids and check their daily routine. Aren’t your kids mentally tired?