2 – 8 Years
Parents are always asking when is the right time to teach kids about Islam, Allah, prayers etc. When they are older they want to know how to make kids want to do things instead of being forced to do it. The older kids get , the more difficult it is to get this right.
I always say, start as early as possible. Little ones have a thirst for knowledge and their minds are basically sponges at this stage of their lives, absorbing the sights, sounds, actions, colours and everything else their senses expose them to. Typically, this is also where most psychological problems also start, stemming from problems with their childhood environments.
Learning does not have to be a reading exercise. Parents often think that when their kids learn to read, then they can can learn about other things. Educating small child should happen through play. This is the primary way for them to learn and explore different things.
The Misri Bunch
One way to capture your child’s attention is to use puppets. Little kids are often quite amazed by these weird and colourful characters and tend to listen very carefully to what they are saying. Making your own sock puppets and toys with the intention of learning is also a fun way to explore new topics with them.
The Misri Bunch is a series of videos starring a group of Muslim puppet characters that learn about Allah through everyday issues that they face. The first series explores the names and characteristics of Allah. There is always an interesting animated story in each episode that helps the characters learn a lesson about who Allah is and how he makes a difference in our lives.
Characters
Uncle Waleed is the adult character in the story that helps the little ones find their way and make sense of the issues they have to face. It is a series that addresses difficult topics in easy to understand ways that is appropriate for young Muslim audiences.
You will meet other characters in the series like Nabeel the giraffe, Shake mole, Sal sal the fox, Maha, Khubaib tiger and Saalim elephant who will help you learn about Allah and his attributes.
Features
Each episode stars Uncle Waleed and one of the characters who are facing some difficulty in their lives that they do not know how to deal with. Uncle Waleed helps them to make sense of it by relating a story and discussing it with them. In the end, we learn a new attribute of Allah and how he can help us in our lives.
In the first episode Sal Sal is trying to find a place to hide where no one can see him. Little did poor Sal Sal know that no mater where you hide you can always be seen by Allah All Mighty. Abul Waleed helps him learn about Al Baseer and that Allah is all seeing.
Recommendations
This is an educational series aimed at 2 – 3 year olds to help them learn about Allah. The series manages to do it in a simple and effective way, using stories, rhyme and song to help kids grasp often difficult concepts such as life after death, the provision of Allah and many other concepts parents often find hard to explain to little ones. 
Tips for making the best of the Misri Bunch
- Sit with your child and pay attention to the concepts being discussed so you can answer any questions they may have.
- Ask them questions about the show to ensure they understood the message and clarify where you need to
- Reinforcing the concept through discussion and play helps them assimilate and accommodate this knowledge into their brains
- Help them explore other topics by using your own home-made puppets for play.
Be sure to check out The Misri Bunch and if you haven’t subscribed yet, be sure to use this discount especially for our blog readers.