Looking for ideas to prepare your family for Ramadan? Organization makes life easier and less stressful. It is even more important, perhaps even essential, before, during and after a major holiday such as the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan.
Countdown to Ramadan has already started around the Muslim world. Planners and Ramadan countdown calendars are popping up all over. Therefore, it is time we get our family, kids and home organized before the big slide into Ramadan.
While Ramadan is a time for fasting and worshiping, we still need to manage and fulfill our responsibilities of caring for the well being of our families. As Muslims, we are rewarded for our duties towards the family and we pray and hope that it will be multiplied during Ramadan like all other prayers. With some home and family organization, meal and kitchen prep ahead, Ramadan daily tasks will be much easier, leaving us more time to focus on prayers and reflection.
Here’s a few basic Ramadan organization tips to prepare family for Ramadan:
1. Create a Ramadan Event Calendar
Begin by filling out a centralized Ramadan calendar for the weeks leading up to, during and after the Eid. Include everything you already know that has already been scheduled. For example, travel plans, guest arrival days, iftar parties, iftar sponsoring at your local masjid and any Ramadan related functions at work, home or masjid. Continue to mark events as they are announced and planned, and only accept invitations for open dates. Do not over commit.
2. Share Goals, Expectations, and Plans with the Kids
Keep the kids in the loop of your Ramadan plan so that they are not caught off guard as Ramadan starts. Let them know if you’ll be going to the masjid for taraweeh as a family or pray at home. If school is on, will they need to take a nap after school so that they can stay up late and have iftar together? As a family, read books and articles, and listen to lectures to learn more about Ramadan. As a family, focus on praying on time and with concentration. Already doing that? Beautify your salah, with more focused adhkar, longer ruku, and sujood. Share Ramadan stories and what you expect of them to do while you are carving some time out after work to read the Quran and any other goals, expectations and plans specific to Ramadan.
3. Enlist All Family Members to Help
That includes the husband and the kids too. In our home, my husband does the frying for iftar while I prep other meals. Family dynamics are different, but let everyone help out with de-cluttering home, meal prep, laundry, setting the table, etc. Small children can help with noting down iftar and suhoor time and feel that they are part of Ramadan as well. Small or big, distribute responsibilities to everyone in the family.
4. Create a Ramadan Menu Plan
Decide on a rough Ramadan menu plan by writing down 18-20 of your family’s favorite Ramadan items. This will save you a lot of time as you won’t have to decide everyday what to make. Take inspiration from our iftar recipes, suhoor recipes, and the Pinterest Ramadan Recipes Board. Select some items that you may want to repeat during the month to ensure you have enough meals for the entire month for the family. Take note of meals you can cook ahead of time and freeze them in portion size containers. Consider iftar parties and other events when deciding the initial menu plan.
Keep healthy food in your menu plan. Healthy food will give you the energy to work, pray, and do all your duties. Avoid fried and junk food(we know it’s hard during Ramadan). Food with big amount of fats can make you more sleepy and lazy during Ramadan. Also, take a look at these 9 make ahead items you can prepare and freeze before the month of Ramadan arrives.
5. Plan Ramadan and Eid Festivities
Every family is different when it come to Ramadan and Eid festivities. Will you be hosting an iftar party or iftar potluck? Do you invite your non-Muslim friends/families for iftar to share the Ramadan spirit with them for dawah purpose? Will you be organizing a Ramadan cookie swap or craft party for the kids?
What about your Eid festivities? Do you invite others for an Eid breakfast or dinner? Perhapes a chaand raat party on the eve of Eid? Decide as a family and take mental notes of the Ramadan and Eid festivities so you are not running around doing last minute events while fasting.
6. Plan your Ramadan and Eid Decor
Families around the world decorate homes to welcome Ramadan in their homes and hearts. Decide as a family how you will decorate your home, the theme and color of your Ramadan and Eid decor. Make a note of what decor pieces you need to purchase to instill more love of Islam for the kids and your family. Check out our Ramadan decor section for inspiration and purchase Ramadan decor here and Eid decor here.
7. Make Ramadan and Eid Gift list
Who are you buying gifts for Ramadan and Eid? Family, friends, neighbors? Will you need to buy gifts for your masjid toy drive? Goodie bags for kid’s classmates and teacher? What about gift packaging supplies? Make a list of all gifts and supplies you need to purchase.
8. Finalize Shopping List and finish Shopping
Once your Ramadan menu, Ramadan decor, Eid decor, and gift list is decided, you have your know what you need to shop for. Write down everything you may need for the month in the list. Purchase all decor and gift 2-3 weeks before Ramadan so you have time to organize and wrap the presents.
Buy non-perishable staples all at once or twice and only buy fresh fruits and vegetables weekly. Buying in bulk means you have to go to the stores less in the scorching summer heat while fasting. This way you can relax knowing that you have a plan for every day of the week and can fit cooking time into your daily schedule. Keep in mind to not waste money when making the shopping list. Make sure to block off shopping and preparation days ahead of first day of Ramadan.
Ramadan comes around once a year so let’s strive to cut down unnecessary distractions! Enough sleeping hours are very important to be able to complete the whole month of fasting with the same pace and extra prayers. Reduce TV time, social media, and all other habits that may distract you and your family from worshiping and reflecting in Ramadan. Tone it down, reconnect and have more family time!
We sincerely hope, by following this plan, there will be plenty of time to rest and no excuses for reading the Qur’an, and extra Salah (prayer) during this Ramadan.
Read more of our Ramadan Prep, Ramadan decor ideas, Muslim lifestyle, parenting, Islamic home decor, recipes and other blog posts.
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Crafty Muslimahs says
Nice tips. This was very helpful, masha’Allah!
Lail Hossain says
So glad this is helpful. Thank you for stopping by.