Asalaam Alaikum/Hi all
Apologies for not posting recently but have been busy with work on a 2 day course in London and then on top of it all I have had a cold. I am not quite sure how I managed to get through the course but had to be done! I am off work today and should be in bed but got sick and tired of just lying there and it’s a bit lonely without hubby and munchkin. Normally I would be grateful for some time to myself but today I am just feeling a bit sorry for myself.
Anyway I have been asking myself a question for a number of weeks and I still haven’t decided. That is whether to send munchkin to a local madrasah which is just 5 mins away on the car. For my non muslim followers the word ‘madrasah’ basically means a place of learning and studying.
By the time I was 7 years old I had been taught by my mum to recite the Quran and I had completed it. I had no idea what I had read, nor did I understand what I was reading, but it appeared to have been an achievement to simply have got through it.
Munckin will be 5 in a week and the madrasah will take children from that age. So it seems she could start in September. My parents seem to think it will be better for her and I doubt she will learn from my mum as they are too soft on her and I am not confident in teaching her.
So the madrasah seems ideal. However the timing is worrying me. Madrasah would start at 4.45 pm to 7pm. So this would be her typical day Monday to Friday.
8.45am ~ School starts
3.15 pm ~ School finishes
3.30 pm to 4.30 pm ~ has something to eat at my parents house (She is a SLOW eater)
4.45pm ~ Madrasah starts
7.00 pm ~ Madrasah finishes
Muchkin can go to bed anytime between 8pm and 9pm. On the odd occasion she has said she is tired at 7.30pm and asks to go to bed. Basically she goes to sleep when she is tired.
So that would typically leave 1 hour (potentially 2) before bed to do any homework, have something light to eat and have a bath.
Listing it like this is making me think it is too much for a 5 year old?
Did manage to speak to the madrassa on doing a trial first? Or reducing hours from 6-7?
It looks like a long day for a 5 years old but yes if you change the 7pm to 6pm it might be good. You will then see how she get used to it and she might be able to stay till 7pm after a couple of weeks.
Assalamu Aleykum,
I would suggest you to give it a try InshALLAH.If the other kids can do it, why not your Muchkin?I'm sure the Madrasah learning schedule is adapted to young children anyway.They probably have a pause at a time or another.
that is too long i think..isnt there a saturday school or something? also i think its too young to start, 7 is a better age cos then she will start praying and stuff..
@Anon, Hubby went but couldn't find the person he needed to speak to. He will try again soon
@Marie….yes that is what I was thinking too
@umm zakarya: wa alaikum asalaam sis. It is true they probably have a break. Need to get hubby to speak to them to find out how it work
@Aisha: I was also thinking to see if there are any saturday classes as that may be better for her.
Asalaamu alaikum sis, at this moment in time (Zakareeya is just 2 years old) i dont think we will be sending him to a 5 evenings a week madrassah – it seems too much for a small child if they have spent all day at school, too little time spent with parents / family, and too formal. I would rather we teach him at home as part of our day to day life style, and not so much at set times in a formal setting. He already knows the arabic alphabet and typical islamic phrases like alhamdulillah when sneezing, Allahu akbar etc. I teach him whilst we are walking or washing the pots, so it just becomes a natural part of life and not forced. Im not saying my way is better, im not experienced enough yet, but for now its our preferred method of islamic learning.
On another note, thank you for your comment on my recent post about home made beauty products. Zakareeya used to itch all the time and end up bleeding, it was because his skin was so dry. After using the shea butter and olive oil – bought here: http://www.akamuti.co.uk/products/new/organic-shea-and-olive-body-butter-60ml/
the dry skin cleared up and the itching stopped. Try moisturising and see if it works for you.
Aqeela xx
Salaam alaykum,
Well probably a stupid question. But is there no islamic school in the neighbourhood. So that she can go 1 time to school and learn the regular as well as islamic things?
Wa alaikum asalaam sisters
@umm mini: no there aren't any inslamic schools in this city which is why I have this dillema. A new one recently opened but that is only for girls from age 11. Nothing for the younger ones yet. InshAllah soon.
@Aqeela She pretty much knows the basic islamic phrases too. I know what you mean but if they are pretty much being 'forced' to go to school then I see nothing wrong in sending her to an islamic school aswell, as to me her islamic knowledge is more important than algebra, swimming, art, dance, drama etc. I feel I missed out on my islamic education as my parents only taught me so much and not really the history of things. I had no real interest in Islam and was just going through the motions until I hit University life and met some lovely sisters. So I want to get her islamic education right at an early age inshAllah. But I havent yet decided the best way for us.
Oh thanks for that link! Need to try something as it is driving me mad and the doctor is no good!! x
Salaam alaykum,
I already thought so. Very difficult. My little one is almost one and half so for me it's still far away. But insha'Allah I'll be able to send my little one to Islamic school. I would love to teach her my self, but I feel I don't have the knowledge for that.
Insha'Allah you will find out what to do soon.
Assalaamu alaikum sis,
I think it's a bit too much as well. Maybe you could send her a few times a week and see how she gets on with it and then maybe adjust it accordingly? Insha'Allah you find a solution š x
Wa alaikum asalaam
My heart is not into sending her for that long either. Hubby is yet to speak to the staff at the madrasah. But I think I will send her to another lady I have heard of who will tutor her privately. I can then negotiate times and hours inshAllah