art

Welcoming Ramadan with delightful decor!

This is my first year doing real Ramadan decorations with my kids, as Ilhaam is finally old enough (aged 3) to participate and appreciate, so I’m super excited! My intention is to create a positive and loving environment at home to celebrate this special month as a family, and to teach Ilhaam the important practices we do as Muslims we are fasting in this period – such as showing extra kindness, sharing, prayers…

I decided to keep it simple, and age appropriate using mostly what I already have at home. So if you’re looking for beautiful and quick ideas that don’t break the bank,  here’s what I have being doing this year.

✨Elements:
1. Ramadan Corner – notice board with Good Deed Tree & 30 day gratitude challenge (see below), printed Ramadan book, and Iftaar display items.

Ramadan Notice Board
30 Day gratitude challenge


2. Ramadan sign in living room (will share pic when I put it up closer to the time so kids know Ramadan is near).

3. Ramadan art & crafts – paper plate moon & sun, colouring pages.

✨Links:
Everything I used were free printables from amazing sites- I just had to click “Print”.  And since I did all the research already, here are the quick links:

  • If you like browsing, and checking out many sites for resources Ayeina has the Ultimate Ramadan list.
  • If you just want ONE place for everything: try Qamar Designs.They have banners, duas, colouring, ramadan book. The Good Deed Tree idea is from here. Just brilliant stuff. 
  • Ramadan 30 day gratitude challenge. I plan for us every day to talk through this as a family while the kids have dinner. 

It’s easy to get caught up in the Instagram rush of fancy Ramadan decorations, but let’s stay focused on our intention – and use our time and energy productively Insha Allah.

Please share your home decor and we’ll love to feature it in our Productive Muslim Mom Instagram stories!

Welcoming Ramadan soon, one activity at a time!
Productive Muslim Mom

Best of the Web : FREE Art, Crafts, Printables, Themes for Ages 2-4 (summarised so you can start here!)

Hello Moms!


There have been some amazing and plentiful online links being shared recently for free resources to keeping the kids busy at home during the recent self distancing we are all going through around the world. However, it can be overwhelming to go through the long list, and may even bring you to a halt before starting. 

So to help you save time, I have summarised here the best links I found specifically for arts, crafts, printables, themes and ideas. 

There are some incredible video and online resources like museum tours, e-books, online games and free movies but for now I prefer to do more hands on  (non- screen) activities with my kids (aged 19 months and 3 years). So these links are more for grown ups to use themselves directly (for ideas or to print to use with the little ones). 

Want a super quick start? Here are my favourite go-to links:

1. Play and create The Imagination Tree
Why I love it: Simple, easy to do ideas. Beautiful friendly layout.Real

2. Toddler and preschool age ideas: Preschool Inspirations
Why I love it: There are themes as a starting point for activities

FREE Art, Crafts, Printables, Themes for Ages 2-4
✅Quick &easy at home projects curated for kids 2 and up Kiwico.com
✅ Preschool Education Activity Resource Ideas Preschool express 
✅Free printables library with activities for children 0 -6  Little Sparks Company

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✅ Fun games, recipes, crafts, activities: Highlights Kids <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}
✅ Crafts, activities, mazes, dot to dot, etc All Kids Network
✅ Support others in their parenting journey Busy Toddler

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✅ Crafts, activities, designs, and finger plays for teachers and parents to use with kids. Red Art <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:”Apple Color Emoji”; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 402653184 335544320 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}
✅Free Printables for PreK-2nd Grade : Teachers pay Teachers <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}
✅Illustrated recipes designed to help kids age 2-12 cook with their grown-ups. Recipes encourage culinary skills, literacy, math, and science. Nomster Chef
✅The ultimate parenting toolbox.We offer ideas you can use to inspire and entertain your kids offline. Funology
✅Resource section includes free flashcards, colouring pages, worksheets, and other resources for children, teachers, and parents:  Super Simple


Homeschooling Links:
– Hands on learning: 123 Homeschool4me 
– Every course you could possibly want to homeschool preschool – 8  All in One Homeschool
– Online homeschool platform & curriculum for Pre-K to 12th grade.  All main subjects are covered, plus extra curriculum courses.  Discovery K12
– A quick start resource to help families pull together a plan for surviving the next 1-2 months at home with their kids, Preschool through 8th grade L A better way to homeschool

– Designed for teaching. Twinkl  Limited time free offer for various resources. Split into Primary and Secondary

Other (non- screen)activities
✅Free at-home kids yoga lesson plans  Little Twisters Yoga
✅Novel Effect makes storytime a little more fun for kids (and grown-ups too!) As you read out loud from print books (or ebooks!) music, sound effects, and character voices play at just the right moment, adjusting and responding to your voice.  
✅Free Childrens stories online ages 3-12  
✅A large selection of fun songs to help teach preschool and kindergarten students 

I haven’t tried out all the links yet, so please do share your lovely creations with us on Instagram (@productive_muslim_mom)
Wishing you many happy learning moments

Productive Muslim Mom
(Taskeen)
Ilhaam, Aged 3