A Ramadan Routine for Children: Simple Ideas for Busy UK Families
By the Quran and Deeniyat UK team. Published 2026-10-07.
Start talking before Ramadan
Ramadan moves about ten or eleven days earlier each year, so it falls in different seasons over time. A few weeks before it begins, talk to your children about what to expect. Children who know what is coming usually feel excited rather than worried.
Fasting and children
Fasting is required once a person reaches puberty. Younger children are not required to fast. Many families let children practise gradually, for example by fasting until lunchtime, then for a full day at the weekend. Never pressure a child, and a child who is unwell should not fast. If you are unsure, ask your family's scholar or imam.
A simple daily rhythm
- Suhoor: wake children gently, and keep the meal simple with something filling, such as porridge or eggs, and plenty of water.
- School day: tell the school about Ramadan so teachers can be kind about sport and lunchtimes.
- After school: a rest or a short sleep, so your child is not exhausted by evening.
- Quran time: ten minutes of reading, a short surah or revision. Small and regular is better than long and rare.
- Before iftar: let children help prepare the food and set the table.
- At iftar: make the dua together and break the fast with dates and water.
Making Ramadan feel special
- A Ramadan calendar with a small daily good deed, such as helping at home.
- A charity jar that the family fills together and gives at the end.
- Decorations or a countdown to Eid.
- A weekend trip to the mosque for part of Taraweeh, if suitable for your child's age.
Sleep and timings
Late nights and early mornings can make children irritable, so protect bedtime as much as you can. Fasting hours depend on the season and where you live in the UK, so use your local mosque's Ramadan timetable for suhoor and iftar, and our prayer-times tool for the daily prayers.
Keep the Quran going
Ramadan is a good time to build a Quran habit that lasts. If your child is ready to learn to read or to improve their Tajweed, a free three-day trial can help you see where they are.
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