Opinion: How to Protect Your Kids From Unislamic Content in Books
A question that I’m constantly asked by parents is, “Should I let my child read ‘insert book title’?” My answer each time is: it’s up to you. I’m not a parental authority in any child’s life—especially yours! All I am is a book nerd with a blog. While I post my own opinions and suggestions you know your child best.
Every parent wants their child to love books and worry that restricting what a child can read will push them away from books altogether. However, just as children’s T.V. and movies have changed with time, so have children’s literature. Unlike visual media, books for kids aren’t usually reviewed by the average adult because 1) it takes too long and 2) most of the time when you watch a show with your child, you’re just watching bits and pieces from behind the couch while doing the dishes. Which means that parents have to rely on the recommendations of librarians and teachers who may not share the same values as you.
So how do you protect your child from reading unIslamic content? It starts before your child can even read. The only surefire way to protect your child from consuming harmful content is by instilling Islamic values in their heart. As a parent, you aren’t raising a Muslim child—you are building the foundations of a Muslim adult. When your child’s heart is close to their deen then they will be the ones who will put a book down if unIslamic content shows up because it is not appealing to them.
Some tips on how to encourage your child to love their deen:
Have a question journal
Some of the toughest Islamic questions I’ve heard come from young children. Not only are kids naturally curious about everything but they also have trouble grasping more abstract concepts. Instead of shushing questions, encourage your child to ask them to you and your spouse or better yet make a question journal! Anytime your child has a question relating to Islam they can write it down in their journal and then you can decide an allotted time to talk about them. Your child can also write the answers down so they can revisit anything they learned. Remember it is okay to say “I don’t know”. If your child asks you a question you do not know the answer to encourage your child to ask a religious leader in your community.
Bring your child to the masjid for more than just salah
While it is important for your child to come to the masjid during salah so they can learn the etiquette of visiting the masjid, an empty musallah can be very tempting to run around in! Be sure to bring your child to masjid programming and play dates so they can develop meaningful friendships and be excited to go.
Be mindful of information overload
When teaching kindergartners numbers we don’t tell them about negative numbers because that is something a 5-year-old just won’t comprehend. While you want your child to be knowledgeable you have to stagger more complicated Islamic concepts as they get older.
Islam is more than just fiqh!
Sometimes parents can get so caught up in trying to teach their children the rights and wrongs of Islam and that leads to a child thinking that rules is all there is to it. Teach your child about Allah SWT’s mercy and rewards before his wrath and punishments. The more you know about anyone the more you love them. So when your child loves Allah SWT the more they will want to please him and follow his instructions.
Start with stories
Everyone loves a good story, not just kids. Not only is it entertaining but people tend to retain more information when it is presented as a story. Tell your children all sorts of stories of the prophets—especially Prophet Muhammad PBUH and his companions. Don’t just stick to stories with hard hitting lessons either! Hearing casual stories about prophets and their companions helps your child sense a deeper connection with them as they become more human. During a lesson, I once offhandedly mentioned that Abu Hurayrah’s nickname means “Father of a kitten” and at the end that was the only thing that kids remembered!
However, the most important thing to do when it comes to teaching your child about Islam is to self-reflect on your deen. Unfortunately, children usually do what they see, not what they’re told. If they do not see you do the things you tell them to do then there’s a high chance they won’t do it either. If you’re not praying in a communal space in your home then how will they know about salah? If you’re not reading the Quran daily then how do you expect your child to want to? If you want knowledgeable children then you yourself need to strive to be knowledgeable.
You don’t need to go to start a 5 year alimiyyah program! There are plenty of ways to learn about Islam without disrupting your daily routine. Every once in a while, instead of winding down the day with an episode of your favorite show, try to watch an online lecture. Read a Yaqeen Institutes article while waiting in line at the grocery store. Or listen to a podcast while doing the laundry. Islam is more than just a faith—it is a way of life and if you want your child to live it, you need to live it too.
