Posts in Familia
Breastfeeding: Recommended by the Quran and Sunnah

Islamic and secular sources on the topic of infant care emphasize breastfeeding over other means of nourishment for the first two years of life. Guidelines on nursing and its role in the bond between mother and child are mentioned in both the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. And they need to be supported within our families and communities.

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Why I Named my Child Muhammad

One of the rights children have over their parents is that they are given good names. The 11th century scholar Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muḥammad al-Mawardi, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his book Nasihat al-Muluk that “when a child is born, one of the first ways of honoring him and treating him kindly is to give him a good name, because a good name has an effect on the soul when first hearing it.” (p. 167). Of the beautiful names that we can give to our children are the names of the Prophets, peace be upon them, and the greatest of them was Prophet Muhammad…

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Nurturing Native (& Foreign) Language Skills

I get this question so much from mothers whose attempts to pass down a native language to their children have been met with resistance. They are amazed that my children are fluent in Spanish despite being born and raised in the U.S. The truth is I am also struggling. It is a daily uphill battle that can only be overcome by prayers and keeping our eyes on the prize at the summit. Being bilingual or multilingual has huge advantages when it comes to cognitive development, academic performance, literacy, and in the workforce.

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Inspiring the Imagination

The benefits of imaginative play in children’s physical, psychological, and emotional development have been well researched and documented, especially in the last 75 years according to Psychology Today. It is no surprise that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, encouraged imaginative play in the children around him during his lifetime over 1,400 years ago.

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En Inglés, FamiliaWendy Díaz
Family Road Trip: Captivated in the Car

Finally, summer is here! And not just any summer. This is Summer 2021. According to the Center for Disease Control, over 67% of the U.S. population is immunized against the Coronavirus with at least one dose of a vaccine. Families are feeling comfortable enough to venture out and parents, especially, are ready to get their kids outdoors. Some are even planning vacations. There are still red flags though, with international travel limited and many countries maintaining strict travel restrictions.

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Familia, En InglésWendy Díaz