8 Things To Do With Your Toddler That Costs Absolutely Nothing

Have you found yourself planning out your child's day only for things to fizzle out before the day is even over? Have you found yourself tired and upset because your child did not find the mini farm house/scented-all-natural-completely-edible play dough/sensory bin you diligently scoured the internet for and made, interesting? Or have you ever noticed how in the madness of the day we somehow miss out on the important things?
If you haven't, props to you mama! I would love to learn how you do it. And to the many of you who found yourself nodding yes to at least one of the questions, join the club!
As mothers we want to give our children every opportunity that is within our means to explore, discover and learn new things. But sometimes it is just the little things that go a long way - like reading a book together or a walk in the park.  So, I decided to sit down and make a list of things we can do together with our kids that doesn't require any elaborate preparations or costs any money.
So here is my list:
1- Looking at the sky together. Every day,morning or night, go to the rooftop, balcony or window with your little one. Together look out and point out the things that you can see like the birds, stars and even a plane that may be passing by. You can also try to make out the shapes of the fluffy clouds and maybe tell a story or two about them.
2- Shadow play. This is my personal favorite! After taking a bath and putting your child in her warm pyjamas, switch off all the lights and switch on your flashlight. Then go ahead and admire the wonder in your child's face! Make shapes of animals, man and anything really with your finger. You can also make a big hand shadow and pretend that it is coming down fast to catch her only to tickle her till she dissolves into a fit of giggles. Then take turns 'catching' each other with your shadows.
3- Take your child at the park and join in the fun!  Have a go at the swing, see-saw or even the jungle gym. Become your child's favorite playmate for the day.
4- Have your child help out in the kitchen. Let him see where and how the things are made. Talk about what you are cooking have him pitch in wherever he can. Involve him in little tasks like mixing something or bringing a vegetable you need.
5- Chase each other around the house! Nothing gets you all energized and heart pumping like running behind a toddler. It is every mothers story! So why not turn it into a game and have fun at the same time? Take turns chasing each other around the house  and while you are at it, hide too to make the game a little more interesting!
6- Have an all out water game, splashing each other with water! I have a child who wouldn't mind playing in water however long it takes. So, bath times are quite fun! Just give her the shower pipe and take turns drenching each other with water! You can also fill mugs with water and use them in your water play.
7- What can beat cuddles and hugs? You can do this anytime, in the morning when your child wakes up, in the night or even in the middle of the day! Just lie in bed for a while, hug her, tickle her and nuzzle her face. Hugs and kisses should be a constant in your child's life. It makes her feel secure and in turn helps build her self-esteem
8- Sing songs from your childhood to your child. Be it a song from your favorite cartoon you used to see or even a nursery rhyme. Dance along to the song and take your child's hand twirl around the room enjoying the moment!

These are just a few moments I could think of. I am sure you will be able to come up with many more.
Your child might not know this now, but the time you spend with her and the things you both do are the memories you are building together, day by day, brick by brick. These are the memories she will look back on and laugh and smile about. These are also the memories that will be passed down through the generations as stories of the cool grandmom! Some days they may be the very thing that would get her going in an otherwise low and mundane day.  So make them special :)

Toddler Schedule and Activity Planner

Toddlers! Can they be more active? A bundle of energy, perpetually curious and always on the move. They are constantly on the look out to discover something new in this ever expanding world. As parents, their energy, not to mention the daily grind, can leave us a bit over-whelmed. But guess what? It really doesn’t have to be this way. A little planning and scheduling can go a long way in helping us gain our sanity as well as spend quality time and a productive day with our kids.

When we moved to India, all routines and schedules went out the window. Every day would pass by haphazardly and unproductively. I knew I had to make a conscious effort to bring our lives back in track. And that is when I started planning our day out. I have been working on scheduling my daughter’s day for the past one month and it has worked wonders! You see, children thrive on routines. Even as an adult, don’t you feel that the day goes smoothly when you know what comes next? It is the same with children.

First off, I observed Amina’s day, the time she got up, when she felt hungry, when she go to sleep etc, and jotted the time down. I then made a table keeping the times in mind. I divided the day into two parts- morning and evening. Each part has a set routine in order of priority – Self care (brushing, change of diapers etc), eating, activity, snack, activity, nap, lunch/dinner. The end result looks something like this:

7:30 am	Brush and change diapers
8:00-8:30am	Breakfast
8:30-9:00am	Coloring/Reading/ Quiet Activity I
9:00-9:30am	Gross Motor Play (GM)
9:30-10:00ama	Snack Time
10:00-11:00am	Fine Motor Activity (FM)
11:00-11:15am	Bath
11:15am	Nap

Now my favorite part- Planning Activities! There are so many things you can do here. I found this super helpful since I planned the activities keeping in mind the materials already available at home. All I had to do was prepare things before hand and lay it out for Amina to play with.

I first listed the skills that I felt are important for a child’s development- Gross motor skills (GM), Fine motor skills (FM), Speech and language skills (SL), sensory skills (SN). Once I had this down, it was much easier to tailor the activities targeting these areas. This is a part of the weekly activity planner: 

Targets	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
GM	Obstacle Course	Climbing Stairs	Ball Catch And Throw	Jump Over Rope	Chase and Catch Game	Jumping In and Out the Square
FM	Opening And Closing Boxes	Painting	Play Dough	Pull out ribbons	Push Pipe cleaner in the box	Transfer balls from one box to another

To bring in a variety, I added 2-3 activities under each target area. Some activities also targets more than one skill. For instance while playing with a dough the child works on her fine motor skills, sensory skills, as well as language skills when you introduce new vocabulary such as press, sticky, roll etc.

Of course, there will be days when all plans will lay forgotten and you just want to get yourself through the day. Many a times you will also have to be flexible to accommodate a toddler's unpredictable behavior. And that is perfectly alright. One thing I would like to mention is, as much as I do plan, I also sincerely believe that adults need to take a back seat and contribute just enough where we do spend time with our children but at the same time it is the child who is leading the play and not us.
I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me :)

What I Leave Behind

Note- I wrote this the day I was leaving Kuwait but couldn't post it till now.

The bags are packed and the cartons are sealed. I look around and all I see are the bare walls and empty floor. Today is our last day in Kuwait, our home for the last three years. There are so many thoughts and emotions going through my head right now that I have to consciously to keep them in check.
I came here as a new bride full of excitement and a bit nervous about my new life. This was the first house I was to call my own and I fell in love with at first sight! I remember my husband and I going through catalogs, carefully selecting furniture, shopping for things, excited about setting up our home. I also remember sitting one day, studiously labeling all the spice jars, the domestic goddess that I am (so not!)
This was the first place I started my married life in. The first house I brought Amina to and the only house she knows. Every little corner, every piece of furniture holds a memory. As much as I loved my house I never truly realized how important it was to me till we started selling off our things since we are moving countries. Every time something would go, it would leave a lump in my throat just looking at the empty space. It was a constant reminder of the changes that are to come.
Most importantly, it drove home that nothing at all is permanent in this life. I was very comfortable and content in the life Allah had given me. I never thought that we would be facing a big change in our lives in just three years time. But that is the Will of Allah.
And, as much as I would miss our home, I know there is one thing that is within my reach. The memories we made as we built our family. These memories will inshallah remain. And Alhamdulillah I'm glad that I was able to make these memories with my husband and the wonderful people around me. Because this is what is going to stay in the long run. When I look back many years down the lane, I won't be looking at the tangible.  Instead I will be looking at my first day in kuwait, the first eid we spent as a couple, the day I came to know I was pregnant, the day I brought Amina home, the day she took her first steps, and many more. You see at every turn in our life we make little memories here and there. We collect them all in a bag and tuck them in one place. And one day, when we sit down and wish to visit the past, we just have to open the bag and look at all the lovely times .
These memories that we make everyday stay with us. And if it is with the right people the memories are even more beautiful.
Kuwait was very kind with me and I had a wonderful time here. I met some of the best people here, some of whom have become friends for life. And as much as I am sad about leaving, I am also excited about the new life Allah has planned for us, and I can't wait to see it unravel.

When He Is Enough For Us

Have many times have you opened the Quran, only to have an ayat speak to you?
Sometimes when we are at our weakest, we desperately seek the warmth of a hug or a kind word. Some are fortunate to receive that. But what happens when all we are met with is a cold shoulder and sneer? Where do we go looking out for that comfort and warmth? What we fail to realize is that there is someone closer to us than anyone else. Who knows us so well. Far better than our mothers know us. Far better than we know ourselves. Our Creator. Our Sustainer.
Allah says in the Sura An Nisa , '....Allah is Sufficient as a Wali (Protector), and Allah is Sufficient as a Helper' 
This verse didn't resonate with me as much as it has today.  
I was recently talking with one of my good friends who had just gotten out of a toxic relationship. This girl,single-handedly, traveled two countries to reach India, with her toddler son, to escape her abusive marriage. I have traveled with Amina when she was about that age and I know how much preparations, both mentally and physically, had to be done. It isn't easy. So, just imagine what she must have gone through, through all that mental turmoil. Nevertheless, she had to make a decision for herself and her child. But, Alhamdulillah, she wasn't alone. In her own words, she received help. Some from unexpected places and people. People, who till yesterday were strangers. From the taxi driver who was there to pick them up and who made sure they boarded the flight, to the officials at the embassy who ensured her safety. She told how with every little help she received she felt so blessed and loved. She felt like Allah was showing her another side of His world after all the days she spent in darkness.  Subhanallah, this is what the verse meant!   
Allah is enough as a Wali and a Helper. I shared this ayat with her and we were both struck by it's beauty and how real it felt to us that day. In a foreign land, when you are alone, surrounded by uncertainty, who else can you depend on to give you comfort and solace other than Allah.
Let this be a reminder to everyone who is reading this, including myself, to turn to Allah alone in times of need. He created us. He is not going to leave us alone. Let this story of a young mother with her strong iman who took this important step, for herself and her child, remind you that Allah is always by your side and if need be, will send you His helpers, sometimes right to your doorstep.

What NOT to Do During Ramadan

As Ramadan approaches, there are many articles coming up that help us in starting Ramadan in the right foot. This year, I've decided to join the bandwagon and write on what NOT to do in Ramadan. This is more of a reminder to myself first.

1. Do not enter Ramadan without any preparation- Remember that time you entered the exam hall, nervous, since you didn't prepare at all?  You can guess how the exam went on from there.Yeah, this is something like that. By the time you reach the middle of Ramadan you would either be physically exhausted with the fasting or your spiritual levels might have dipped. Since none of us really want that to happen, try to up your game this time round, by preparing in advance. Fast once or twice a week to get yourself into the groove. Take your supplements so that you would have the strength to continue fasting. Make a list dua now itself so that you wouldn't have to scramble and rack your brain during taraweeh. Believe me, it can happen and you will be loosing a lot of time this way.

2. Do not spend a lot of time with your mobile/electronic devices- This. This is where the real test lies. At least for me. Many a times I struggle to put my phone down and it takes a lot of effort from my side to control this habit. I do realize this could lead to an unhealthy addiction, which is why I have planned to curb it before Ramadan comes around, inshallah. I set a time (say, 10 minutes) where I do what I need to, and then put the phone aside for the next 30 minutes. Meanwhile, I occupy myself with some work I need to do around the house, or read a book. Once I've established this, I plan to gradually increase the time I am away from the phone.It's been a week since I've started this practice.  Alhamdulillah so far the 10 min:30 min rule is working quite well.

3. Do not spend a lot of time in the Kitchen - We desis have this habit of having lots of gatherings during Ramadan. Either we are hosting one, or are invited to one. And we all know what happens there. Everything, but the remembrance of Allah. And the host spends a lot of her time in the kitchen instead of in worship. This is a sure fire way of not reaping the benefits of Ramadan. So, what is the alternative to this?  How about inviting your friends before Ramadan? This way you have the whole of Ramadan to yourself and Allah. And when you are invited, try to politely decline. But if you absolutely have to attend, stay for a little while and leave. Once there limit discussions in matters that are not going to benefit anyone. Rather, initiate topics on Islam, about forgiveness etc. Things that would remind each other about Allah. There is a hadith where it is said that the Angels descend in a gathering where Allah is remembered. Not only that, but they convey the people's duas to Allah and Allah confers His protection on those people and pardons their sins. Won't it be amazing if that happens to us? I bet it would!

These are just three steps that you can start with right now. I believe it is better to take tiny steps when you want to change a habit instead of taking giant leaps which might leave you exhausted and discard what you started right in the middle of it. There are more you could add to the list if you want to. Think of a habit that might hinder your spiritual journey during Ramadan and work on that.
As I mentioned before, this is a reminder to myself first and foremost. If you do benefit from this, Alhamdulillah, and please do remember me in your duas. May this RAMADAN bring in a change in us and may it be a productive one, Ameen.

Familiarity In The Land of Islam

I was 10 years old when I first went for Umrah, the pilgriamge to Makkah. There are small memories I still have from that time. Dad holding my sister on his shoulder while going round the Kabah, my sister and I racing each other to fill cups of water for the elderly women and sleeping on mom's lap when tired.

Very few are blessed with the chance of performing Umrah with their parents after marriage, but Alhamdulillah Allah granted me that favor. 16 years later, here we are in the land of the birth of Islam, together with my own little family. It was everything I imagined it to be and even more. This time, it was Amina who was carried by dad and I and my sister were holding our mother's hand.

Makkah is a global village in the truest sense. You can find people from all over the world, standing next to each other, shoulder to shoulder, praying and supplicating. And in the little while I spent in the Haram (the mosque), I felt like I belonged to a close-knit community.  Children would come to the Haram after school, still in their uniforms, kissing their moms and hugging their teachers. Younger kids were chasing each other and babies were crawling under the watchful eyes of their moms. Teachers were holding classes under pillars, surrounded by their students. People would greet each other with the Salams (peace), both known and unknown. Local ladies would come with their children with boxes of dates and flasks filled with kahwa (Arabic coffee). Each child would take a tray filled with goodies and distribute them. The mother would fill glasses with coffee and pass them around. Every day I would find myself sitting next to someone from a different country. We would strike a conversation over dates and coffee and it was always interesting to hear their story. This was the first time I actually put my Arabic knowledge to full use and man was I glad I did since I got to meet many wonderful ladies. I met a woman from Algeria who actually baked biscuits and brought them all the way to Makkah. Everyday she would bring a box of those delicious Algerian cookies and pass them around. After the evening prayers, when the crowd decreased, there was a lot of space to walk and play. Amina would run around with gay abandon following kids twice her size. Everyone had a kind word to tell. They would pick her up, kiss her and give her things to play with. And if she would run too far, the cleaners or another pilgrim would pick her up and bring her back .

Islam lays emphasis on the importance of a community. I am sure growing up here would teach children many things of importance like empathy, volunteering and contributing to the society. It's been only two days since I returned and already feel like I've left a part of me in Makkah. It felt so much like home to me. There is some sort of a familiarity in everyone's eyes in the House of Allah- where the love for Him brings people together from all over the world to gather in one place seeking His pleasure.

Love For Books, Stories And All Those Wonderful Things

Oh! The joy of having your child run to you with her favorite book, asking you to read to her! Priceless!
But it wasn't always like this, even 2 months back. It took a lot of work on myself  to get here.

I come from a family of readers. My favorite childhood memories involves books - coming home to a set of Famous Five series from mom, to being presented with my cousin's dog eared copy of Pride and Prejudice, my very first novel. The place I grew up in had this quaint little library which was our (my sister and my) favorite haunt. I remember saving my pocket money, only to spend it all at the Annual book fair and never felt bad about it! Alhamdulillah, we had supportive parents who nurtured our love for reading. Needless to say, this was something I was looking forward to to bring into my own little family.
But things changed completely once my daughter was born. Feeding and putting Amina to sleep took priority over everything else and the little time I did get for myself was spent catching up on sleep. It took a while to learn the ropes. But by 6 months things started getting better. And that's when I introduced her to books.
I bought those classic Ladybird books where the baby could touch and feel textures. I was pretty excited about the whole thing. But Amina wasn't. She would just turn her head away. It didn't trouble me much in the beginning, but as her disinterest continued, I did begin to worry. And all those articles and posts flooding my feed on how it is important to read to kids and blah..blah..did nothing ease me. I actually thought I was failing in my motherly duty!
But little did I know that the problem was very much close to home. You see, children observe and imitate us a lot. We are their first role models. Amina too noticed and imitated me. And that's when I realized that she never actually saw me reading a book. Yes, I did read to her, but never sat and read a book for myself. Since becoming a mother, it had been a very long time since I read a book. Any reading was done on the phone.  So why would she be interested in something her mom didn't do? It was time I changed that habit and here's what I did.
I selected a book from my ever-growing collection of unread books and resolved to read atleast a page daily. And for those of you who read, it is difficult to stop with just a page, right? I made sure to read where Amina could see me too. I also started reading to her at a set time everyday. Morning, after breakfast and in the evening. I would animate my voice, act, sing and point out things she knew. I didn't expect anything from her. I just did my thing. And slowly she started participating herself. She would point out things when I said the word, laugh at some pictures and even repeat some sounds after me! And man was I happy! I took it a step further and would allow her to select the book herself. That way she knew she had a choice and I too learnt what she likes. All this put together has helped in establishing her love for books.
Slowly, but surely, we have both started getting on the habit I never realized I had let go. I try adding to her collection of books whenever I can. She has her favorites now too! And it's always lovely to see her come sit next to me with her books. I can't wait to take her on all the adventures I went on when I was child, between the pages of my favorite stories!