Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Fasting for children and Ramadan 2021

114 replies

Yazkiz · 13/04/2021 18:27

Is any one's children fasting for Ramadan at 11 years old? My son is fasting for the 1st time. I'm worried especially this year with Covid if his immune system goes down during Ramadan.

OP posts:
Bluebird2021 · 13/04/2021 18:29

is he going into school every day?

CatCup · 13/04/2021 18:31

No, 16 at the earliest. They are still growing and need nutrients and energy for school.

Kanaloa · 13/04/2021 18:32

It seems very young. Maybe you could just let him know there’s no pressure if he can’t manage. I know younger teens do it though, I can remember when I was at school girls doing written work instead of P.E since they were fasting.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Events & celebrations Families
bonfireheart · 13/04/2021 18:34

If you're worried about his health and there is no onus on him to fast, then he shouldn't fast.

MadKittenWoman · 13/04/2021 18:52

As both a TA and tutor, I have found children to become lethargic and unable to concentrate during Ramadan, especially when it takes place during longer daylight hours in the UK. I can see why they want to be like the rest of their family but it's hard on them, especially if they aren't required to by Islam.

Salvationz · 13/04/2021 18:58

My daughter is 8 and asked if she could fast but I said maybe when she’s a bit older x

IHateCoronavirus · 13/04/2021 18:59

My DD is. She knows that she is under no obligation if she struggles but she wants to do it alongside her older siblings. I think the atmosphere and feeling of all in it together is special for them and gives them that desire.
She did mini fasts in pervious years. We are still at home from the Easter holidays at the moment so sh has been relaxing and reading all day, she might feel differently next week.

Original poster
Yazkiz · 13/04/2021 20:19

Yes he goes to school everyday. He is the oldest child in the family. He was ok today. He is doing his best fasting. He looks forward to breaking the fast as a family. He is a good boy. Although he feels obliged to do it and he doesn't want to disappoint his father as he is the oldest son and his daddy said Ramadan is more important than school.

OP posts:
stairway · 13/04/2021 21:53

My 12 year old is doing it. Not sure if he will keep it up once school starts. At the moment he can sleep in the mornings and have a bigger suhor.

MolotovMocktail · 13/04/2021 22:47

I personally would find it concerning if my child’s father was encouraging him to starve himself for a month and telling him it was more important than his education.

00100001 · 13/04/2021 22:53

@MolotovMocktail

I personally would find it concerning if my child’s father was encouraging him to starve himself for a month and telling him it was more important than his education.
Ramadan isn't about starving yourself...

but, I do agree that his father shouldn't be encouraging a young child in this way.

WorraLiberty · 13/04/2021 23:01

@Yazkiz

Yes he goes to school everyday. He is the oldest child in the family. He was ok today. He is doing his best fasting. He looks forward to breaking the fast as a family. He is a good boy. Although he feels obliged to do it and he doesn't want to disappoint his father as he is the oldest son and his daddy said Ramadan is more important than school.
Is that right
stairway · 13/04/2021 23:06

A lot of Muslims actually put on weight during Ramadhan. It isn’t about weight loss or gain though it is about the mental discipline. Ideally weight should stay the same. North African families break the fast with a very nutritious soup called Harira which we do in our house. I also do a big food shop of all the things he likes to eat.

babba2014 · 13/04/2021 23:19

We used to love fasting as children. I remember many of us fasting in primary school, the early years. We didn't feel hungry and really it was a huge part of our identity. This was in a London school. I honestly don't remember feeling tired or anything but I remember teachers questioned my older sister and why she's doing it as she didn't feel children should fast.
Yes children do not have to fast. Our parents didn't wake us up. We didn't put alarm clocks on. Somehow we just woke up. I don't know what it is. I remember feeling so gutted my parents didn't wake me up one time. They thought I won't fast as there was only a few minutes left to eat but I asked for some toast and then fasted.
No one, especially our parents, made us feel we needed to fast. It's just a spark from within I guess. So many other classmates fasted too. I think it would be hard to tell a child not to when they have that zeal but of course if we ever felt unwell or lethargic, we knew what to do - break the fast by eating/drinking. It didn't happen though.
With these longer fasts just remind him of the same thing. Make sure he knows his limits and that it's okay to break the fast.
I know someone who fasted last year too when they were longer. Children are pretty strong in a way we can't understand but the also know when to stop when it comes to fasting.

Original poster
Yazkiz · 13/04/2021 23:20

Yes indeed he had a big feast for breaking his fast. His daddy said he was proud of him for doing his 1st Ramadan. He encouraged him and told he has now got a multitude of spiritual rewards for his first day. He hopes to be able to get up before sunset for 2nd day of Ramadan.

OP posts:
MolotovMocktail · 13/04/2021 23:21

You can dress it up all you like but I don’t find it acceptable to deprive a growing child of nourishment and water for a very long period of time each day, during school hours when their brains and bodies need it.

RunningFromInsanity · 13/04/2021 23:21

What @WorraLiberty said...

ineedaholidaynow · 13/04/2021 23:22

Religion should never be more important than education

SpikeTruman · 13/04/2021 23:26

Molotov

Is it deprivation when it's voluntary?

frazzledasarock · 13/04/2021 23:26

My dc went to Islamic primary schools. Every child was asked to bring in lunch they weren’t allowed to fast.

School issued very strict guidelines that any child without food would be sent home/parents called to pick them up.

As a child I remember desperately wanting to fast and trying even when my parents didn’t wake me for the ore-dawn meal.

With my dc I used to wake them for the pre-dawn meal then at lunchtime give them lunch and tell them they’d done really well in their small fast. It used to make them happy.

MolotovMocktail · 13/04/2021 23:28

@SpikeTruman

Molotov

Is it deprivation when it's voluntary?

Is it really voluntary when you’re a child?
ineedaholidaynow · 13/04/2021 23:29

@SpikeTruman not sure if it is truly voluntary if he feels obliged to do it and his father thinks it is more important than school.

Britsy · 13/04/2021 23:31

Depends on the education.

I started fasting aged 12 or so but the fasts were much shorter as it was winter so basically we broke our fast when we would normally have dinner anyway. And I started off fasting at weekends and school holidays first, not because anyone forced me to but because I wanted to. Ramadan is a special and festive time and it’s natural that children in Muslim households will want to take part.

But if a child is being forced to fast and it’s affecting their daily life especially in school then compromises can be made.

And to all those saying that ‘starving’ yourself for long periods of time is dangerous - why is intermittent fasting so popular then?

MolotovMocktail · 13/04/2021 23:32

@Britsy

Depends on the education.

I started fasting aged 12 or so but the fasts were much shorter as it was winter so basically we broke our fast when we would normally have dinner anyway. And I started off fasting at weekends and school holidays first, not because anyone forced me to but because I wanted to. Ramadan is a special and festive time and it’s natural that children in Muslim households will want to take part.

But if a child is being forced to fast and it’s affecting their daily life especially in school then compromises can be made.

And to all those saying that ‘starving’ yourself for long periods of time is dangerous - why is intermittent fasting so popular then?

I didn’t realise intermittent fasting was so popular amongst children.
UmmH · 13/04/2021 23:37

OP asked if anyone's children are fasting this Ramadan. She didn't ask for people's negative opinions about children fasting.

See how he gets on, OP. His immune system won't suffer as long as he is a healthy boy in general.