Part of: Madrasah life and learning
ParentsPreparing your child for the first day at madrasah
To prepare a child for their first day at madrasah, visit the mosque together beforehand, practise wudu at home, pack their bag the night before (Qaidah, exercise book, pencil case, topi or hijab), and tell them what to expect: making wudu, sitting in a class, and reading one short lesson to the teacher.
A week before
- Visit the mosque together and see the classroom if you can
- Practise wudu at home
- Teach them "Assalamu alaykum" and how to address the teacher (see ustadh)
- Buy the essentials and let them choose their bag
The night before
Pack the bag together using the madrasah packing checklist. Label everything.
What usually happens on day one
- Arrive, shoes off, make wudu
- Sit with the class; often a short dua to begin
- The teacher assesses the child and gives their first Qaidah lesson
- Group recitation of short surahs or duas
- The lesson is written in their book to practise at home
Questions to ask the teacher
- Which Qaidah and Quran layout do you use?
- How much practice at home each day?
- How do you contact parents?
- What's the safeguarding policy?
Questions people also ask
What should my child wear to madrasah?
Modest, comfortable clothes, a topi for boys and a hijab or scarf for girls, as most madrasahs ask.
How do I help my child who doesn't want to go to madrasah?
Keep sessions positive, praise progress, talk to the teacher about any worries, and practise little and often at home.
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← The parent's guide to madrasah: the full topic guide
- What to pack for madrasah and the mosque
- What is a madrasah?
- What is a maktab?
- What is a Qaidah?
- What is tajweed?
- What is hifz?
- Sabaq, sabqi and manzil: the hifz system explained
- What does ustadh mean?
- What is a topi?
- My child doesn't want to go to madrasah
- Child struggling with the Qaidah
- Child reading the Quran too fast
- Child forgetting what they've memorised
- No time to practise the Quran at home
- Losing the Quran habit after Ramadan
- Madressa bag checklist for the new term
- Mosque bag for Jummah and Taraweeh: what to bring
- How to choose a Quran for a child
- Madrasah in Ramadan: what changes