The entire month of Ramadan is about keeping the feelings of modesty and humility alive and thriving. Fasting and worshipping in Ramadan helps people instill the values of self-control and discipline in people. At the end of the month, Eid is celebrated to acknowledge the month-long salvation achieved by Muslims all around the globe. Homes are adorned with Eid decorations, feasts are hosted, and families and friends come together to celebrate the occasion.
People celebrate Eid by going to each other’s homes, indulging in the feast, and togetherness. It is a custom observed by all that children of the house receive Eidi from the elders of the family. Eidi is a gift given by the elders to the children, for practicing patience and self-discipline throughout the month of Ramadan. Eidi is mostly given in the form of money, so it becomes important to teach the children the significance of saving and not spending all of their Eid money on extravagant and unnecessary things/activities.
In this blog, we will understand how kids can be taught to save their Eid money.
Major ways in which Eid money can be saved:
1.Setting the saving goals
Kids do not have vision for the long-term, therefore it becomes the responsibility of adults to make the kids understand what can be done with their Eid money by setting saving goals. Sit with them, make them realize their priorities, and how their Eid money can help them in ticking off those priorities. For instance, if the child wishes to buy a toy, a computer, Eid decorations, a stationery kit, or join a specific academy, help them calculate the cost of it and how they can pursue it by themselves by saving their Eid money in Eid money wallets. This can make them understand the value of savings, and boost their sense of pride too.
2. Select the way of saving together
The opinions of children should be given as much importance as those of any adult would be given. Kids should be asked politely how they would like to save their Eidi and utilize it after for any bigger purchase. Discuss how they could save their money, for instance, saving in Eid money wallets is a good option. With mutual respect, the medium of savings can be selected.
3. Explaining the importance of Eidi
Although it’s a custom that children receive Eidi from the elders of the family, every child is not fortunate enough to receive it. Eidi is essentially given to express the feelings of gratitude and love, it carries meaning, therefore it should be spent meaningfully too. In a world where every family is not equally resourceful, children should be made aware that it is a blessing that they receive Eid money every Eid without fail. Hence, they cannot spend it all at once, they need to save it, perhaps in an Eid money wallet, and then spend it wisely.
4. Making saving fun
Savings can sound like a serious deal, but they can be converted into a fun activity. Children always learn better from visuals, compared to verbal or written content. So, parents or guardians can make creative and visually appealing flowcharts and stickers that explain the method of saving and its goals.
These charts can also track the progress of savings, and note down how much Eid money is spent wisely or not from the Eid money wallet. If the child is disciplined towards their saving regime, they can be rewarded regularly. Rewards achieved at each milestone can motivate the children to save more.
5.Thoughtful decision-making
Children, due to innocence and arrogance, do not understand the value of money. Thus, for them, money is simply a commodity through which nice things can be bought and there are no consequences for it. Children need to be taught that money is earned through intelligence and hard work, and it cannot be spent however one wants.
Lack of money can create many problems, and once spent, it does not magically appear back. The difference between needs and wants has to be made clear to them, so that they don’t spend their Eidi on simply superficial wants. After thoughtful decision-making, they can decide if they want to extract their Eidi from their Eid money wallets and spend it on important things or fleeting wants.
6. Importance of charity
One of the five pillars of Islam is Zakat, which is giving back to the community. Children need to understand the importance of charity, that is, dividing our share of resources with those who are less privileged. Children must learn and imbibe the value of sharing from an early age, Therefore, they can be taught to set aside a certain portion of their Eid money from their Eid money wallets for the sake of charity, which will in turn gain them ‘sawaab’ (reward).
Conclusion
The festival of Eid is much more than simply having grand feasts, ornamenting houses with splendid Eid decorations, and spending time with friends and family. At the core of Ramadan and Eid, lies the spirit of mindfulness and values of patience and self-discipline. Thus, children can be rewarded with Eidiyahs for sure, but they need to learn to spend it wisely and save a certain portion of it to offer for Zakat. Having Eid money wallets can surely instill inspiration for savings in children.