In a world of parenting books, child psychology research, and educational theories, Muslim parents have access to something far more profound — a complete, divinely guided framework for raising children that was established over 1400 years ago.
Long before child psychologists began studying the benefits of play, long before educators discovered that children learn best through joyful, active engagement, and long before neuroscientists mapped the developing brain — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had already shown the world exactly how children grow, learn, and thrive.
This is not a coincidence. This is the wisdom of Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ and Children — A Relationship Built on Love and Play
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ showed great interest in playing with children. His involvement in children’s games demonstrates the great importance of playing with our children.
Anas ibn Malik reported: “I never saw anyone more kind to children than Allah’s Messenger.” He would carry children, kiss them, and let them ride on his back during prayer.
This was not merely affection — it was teaching. Every time the Prophet ﷺ got down on the ground and played with a child, he was demonstrating a principle that modern child psychology would take centuries to prove:
Children do not learn despite play — they learn through it.
The Most Powerful Hadith on Child Development
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Play with them for the first seven years of their life; then teach them for the next seven years; then advise them for the next seven years.”
This single Hadith is one of the most remarkable statements ever made about child development — and it was said over 1400 years ago.
Modern developmental psychology divides child growth into almost identical stages:
Ages 0–7 → Play-based learning — the foundation of all development
Ages 7–14 → Formal education — structured learning and discipline
Ages 14–21 → Guidance and mentorship — developing independence and values
What took researchers decades of study to discover, the Prophet ﷺ expressed in a single sentence.
The Prophet ﷺ also said: “The child is the master for seven years.” This is the age of being a child and playing — he or she is not yet fully ready for education through formal instruction.
This is a profound statement — the child is the master. Not the parent. Not the teacher. The child leads through play, and the parent follows with love, support, and presence.
Play Is Not Wasted Time — It Is Sacred Time
Play is the first source of learning basic social skills necessary for life. It is vital for the physical and emotional development of the child.
Many parents — even well-meaning ones — view play as something to be tolerated until the child is ready for “more serious” activities. Islamic teaching completely rejects this view.
When a child plays, they are:
Building social skills — learning to share, take turns, and collaborate
Developing emotional intelligence — learning to manage frustration, joy, and disappointment
Strengthening communication — learning to express themselves and understand others
Growing self-confidence — discovering what they can do in a safe, supportive environment
These are not small things. These are the foundations of a complete human being — exactly what Islam calls us to nurture in our children.
The Prophet ﷺ Understood Every Child’s Unique Fitrat
Fitrat — the natural disposition that every child is born with — is one of the most important concepts in Islamic teaching on child development.
“Every child is born on fitrat.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
No two children have the same fitrat. Some are bold and expressive. Some are quiet and thoughtful. Some are creative and imaginative. Some are natural leaders. Some are natural supporters.
The Prophet ﷺ — in his interactions with children — never tried to force them into a single mould. His approach to child development was marked by love, respect, and wisdom, making his life an exemplary model for parents and educators.
This is exactly what child psychologists now call individual learning styles — and what teachers observe every time they watch children engaged in free, expressive play like charades.
Charades reveals fitrat. The dramatic performer, the quiet strategist, the creative thinker, the team encourager — every child expresses their unique, God-given nature through play. And the role of a parent — in Islam and in modern psychology — is not to override that nature, but to observe, celebrate, and nurture it.
What the Quran Says About the Mind of a Child
The Holy Quran repeatedly calls us to think, observe, and reflect:
“أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ”
“Will you not then use your reason?”
(Quran — multiple verses)
“إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ”
“Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.”
(Quran 13:3)
The Quran does not just tell us what to believe — it repeatedly invites us to think, question, observe, and understand. This is the Quranic model of learning — active, curious, and engaged.
Charades is built on exactly these principles. Every round asks a child to:
Observe — watch carefully and read signals
Think — process information quickly
Question — “What is this person trying to show me?”
Understand — connect clues to meaning
The child who plays charades regularly is practising the very model of learning that the Quran calls us to.
The Prophet ﷺ on Mercy, Compassion and Emotional Safety
“He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young ones.”
(Hadith)
This profound Hadith establishes mercy as the cornerstone of Islamic child-rearing.
Emotional safety is the foundation of all learning. A child who feels safe — loved, accepted, and free from fear — learns faster, connects deeper, and grows more fully than a child who learns under pressure or fear.
This is what the Prophet ﷺ created in every interaction with children. And this is precisely what games like charades create at home and in the classroom — a space where children feel safe to try, fail, laugh, and try again.
Play provides a way for children to express struggles which they can’t yet fully explain in words. When children deal with complex emotions, giving them space to play allows them to work through feelings like pain, fear, or loss while still acting like a child.
Islam on the Right of Every Child to Education
“Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.”
(Ibn Majah)
“اطلبوا العلم من المهد إلى اللحد”
“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.”
Knowledge in Islam begins not with a textbook — it begins with play, observation, and loving interaction in the earliest years of a child’s life.
In Islam, knowledge and teaching is the foundation of upbringing. According to religious teachings, the best time for education is the childhood period. The most important right of a child is to provide the environment for their education and training.
And the best environment for learning in the earliest years? Play.
How Islamic Wisdom and Modern Science Agree
What is remarkable — and deeply meaningful — is how completely Islamic teaching and modern child development research agree on the role of play:
Islamic Teaching → Modern Research
“Play with them for the first seven years” → Play-based learning is essential in early childhood
“Every child is born on fitrat” → Individual learning styles must be respected
“Mercy is the cornerstone of child-rearing” → Emotional safety is the foundation of all learning
“Seeking knowledge is obligatory” → Active, curious learning produces the deepest retention
Prophet ﷺ played with children → Parental engagement in play multiplies developmental benefits
This is not coincidence. When the Creator designed the human child, He also provided — through His final Prophet ﷺ — the perfect guidance for how to raise that child.
Charades sits at the centre of this guidance. It is play. It is joyful. It builds communication, empathy, confidence, and social skills. It reveals fitrat. It creates emotional safety. It makes knowledge stick.
A Message for Muslim Parents
You do not need an expensive toy, a screen-based app, or a specialist programme to develop your child’s mind. You need what the Prophet ﷺ gave his grandchildren — your presence, your playfulness, and your love.
Sit on the floor. Play charades. Watch your child become the dramatic performer, the quiet strategist, the giggling disruptor, or the gentle encourager — and know that what you are seeing is their fitrat — their God-given nature — expressing itself exactly as it was designed to.
And know that in those moments of laughter and play, you are following the Sunnah of the most beloved human being who ever lived. ﷺ
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Islam say about children playing?
Islam strongly encourages play in early childhood. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Play with them for the first seven years of their life.” Islamic teaching recognises play as the primary vehicle for child development in the earliest and most important years of life.
What does the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ say about child development?
The Prophet ﷺ provided a complete framework for child development — emphasising play in the first seven years, formal education in the next seven, and guidance and mentorship in the following seven. He also emphasised mercy, emotional safety, and respect for every child’s unique fitrat.
What is fitrat in Islam and how does it relate to child development?
Fitrat is the natural disposition that every child is born with. Islamic teaching — and modern child psychology — both emphasise that parents and educators should observe, respect, and nurture a child’s unique fitrat rather than force them into a fixed mould.
How does Islam view play-based learning?
Islam views play not as a distraction from learning but as the foundation of learning in early childhood. The Prophet ﷺ played with children consistently, recognising that joyful, active engagement is how young children develop most fully.
Can charades be considered an Islamic approach to child development?
Yes! Charades aligns perfectly with Islamic principles of child development — it is play-based, joyful, builds communication and empathy, reveals fitrat, creates emotional safety, and encourages observation and thinking — all values deeply rooted in both the Quran and the Sunnah.
https://charades4kids.com/blog/how-charades-supports-child-mind-development