Summer break can be a great opportunity for local mosques and Islamic schools to offer special Quran camps during which children learn about their deen, read the Quran and partake in many fun activities together, to build memorable souvenirs and positive associations about the Book of Allah SWT and Islam in general. If there are no such opportunities for your child in your area, or you have missed our Online Islamic Summer Camp enrollment deadline, don't worry! Here are 6 tips to make your own Quran camp at home this summer!

Tip #1: Get another family on board!

Depending on how many children you have and how old they are, it might be a good idea to try and find another family or two to join in the fun! It could be relatives, your children's best friends, or neighbors. Joining forces will make it easier to plan and organize the winter break schedule, and it might also help avoid power struggles with your own children!

Tip #2: Remember that connection is the key

As parents, we tend to have very high expectations for our children because we want the best for them. When things don't go as planned, we can feel disappointed and sometimes even resentful towards our children: why aren't they interested? Remember that guidance only comes from Allah SWT, and that all you can do is try your best to connect with them and help them connect with the Words of Allah SWT - then just make dua!

Tip #3: Know your goal and choose a theme accordingly

As you start planning for your child's Quran camp, ask yourself why you want them to do this Quran camp and how you can achieve this goal. Are you trying to get them started on memorizing the Quran? Are you focusing on Tajweed? Do you want them to understand the Quran? Are you looking for a mix of all of that? Once you know your "whys", choose a theme that will guide you through your planning. For instance: if you want your child to learn more about the Prophet (ﷺ), your theme will naturally be the Seerah and you can choose to focus on one aspect of the Seerah, such as the Prophet's (ﷺ) character, and look for passages of the Quran in which Allah SWT tells us about our beloved Prophet (ﷺ).

Tip #4: Find reliable resources

Now that you have your goal and theme defined, look for books, activities, online lectures and any other materials that will help you set up your Quran camp. Madinah Media Bookstore is a great place to find Islamic books for children, from Quranic stories to Tajweed workbooks to translations of the Quran for a young audience. Check them out at madinahmedia.com We also have a lot of free resources on our blog, including activity books, informational articles, flashcards and more! Find them at studioarabiya.com/blog

Tip #5: Use stories

Children love stories, so integrating Quran stories in your Quran camp is a must! The Quran itself will be your best resource to find stories to share with your child. You might find it helpful though to get a few children's books that highlight those stories and lay them out with simple words that children can easily understand.

Tip #6: Make it fun!

Remember that a Quran camp needs to be fun! Children learn best when they play and have fun, not when they spend hours sitting down in front of a textbook or with a lecture-style teacher who is the only one talking. Change scenery by doing some activities outside or in different rooms in the house, let your child lead the learning through questions, research and initiatives, and be flexible with your schedule in case you lose their attention or interest.

May Allah SWT grant you and your family a beneficial summer break, ameen!

This article was originally published in our Studio Arabiya Timesmagazine (Summer 2022). CLICK HEREto read the whole magazine!