Cultures Often Discern Themselves From Others By Their Habits

By Author: Lila and Tiny
Total Articles: 7
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Cultures, religions, peoples from different parts of the world and of different persuasions often discern themselves from other groups in how they present themselves, how they express their beliefs, and in how they bring up their children.

Homogenous groups, whether you live in a specific country, or follow certain religious practices, are often proud of who they are and what legacy they will be remembered for. A good example to look at refers to Islam, its values, and how its followers behave. Those individuals and groups that follow the rules and recommendations of living according to Islam, often feel a deep responsibility towards their faith and how they instill the best values in their children.

Of course, this is done in many ways, such as making sure children are taught from a young age how to honor and respect their religion and culture. There are many ways in which these ideals can be achieved, such as sending children to a madrassa, or making sure important festivals and religious ceremonies are respected and to partake of, and also making sure one tries one’s best to be a good Muslim.

One ...
... sure way to do this is to instill these values in young children from the time they are toddlers. Because they are, at that stage, too young to understand developed concepts and ideas, one could certainly start with basic things, such as fun ways to help them understand who they are and where they belong. For example, it may be a good idea to introduce them to Islam in a playful way, such as having messages written on their mealtime bib, or the cutlery and crockery they and their family use, with messages, pictures, and text added to plates, mugs, glasses and other forms of tableware.

Think, for example, of a set of cups and saucers, or soup plates, or other tableware, with ‘Bismillah” written on them, or cutlery and other pieces with messages such as ‘Right Hand Please” which, for many Muslims, is quite important as opposed to the less preferable left hand. Sets with ‘Shukr” written all over - in different colors and designs, or a Ramadan crockery set, are all examples of how the young ones can, from a young age, be included in those important times of the year when families and friends share in the magic of the central message, whether it is Id-ul-Fitr, Ramadan or Hijra.

All of these have their meaning and importance, and for little children, it is often a great way to teach them about these when they are presented with images – in books, on a placemat when it is breakfast or dinner, or on the cutlery, they use every day. Mom and Dad – and an older brother or sister – may take the opportunity to teach the little ones to say the words, look at the items on which text and pictures appear, and introduce them to what they will be taught at a madrassa in a more formal setting later on.

Using crockery, cutlery, and related items for these very basic, introductory teachings may be a good start, if it is before the child gets interested in, say, books and stories. That is another way of getting them interested in what their religion and their responsibilities involve. Of course, not all books have to be about formal teaching. Picture books with minimal text are an effective way for very young children to be exposed to Islam. Later on, when they are a little bit older, they will benefit from the formal aspects of learning about Islam and their place in society. For starters, learning can start by bringing some fun into the process. As kids develop, there is ample time to help them grow and develop into responsible young Muslims.

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At Lila and Tiny, we use our Scandinavia-based designs and products to bring, especially, Islamic children a choice of inspiring gifts. Our ranges include a choice of excellent quality tableware, bedding, books, and tablemats to stimulate young minds and help instill in the Islamic youth a love for their culture and what Islam is about. We are a fast-growing online service known for great selections and choices backed up by enthusiasm and a passion for what we do, which is to ensure young minds are stimulated to appreciate their cultural heritage and background in a fun way to encourage learning about Islam. For more about us, please log on to https://lilaandtiny.com.