Some families are concerned about their children's excessive activity, playfulness, and mischief, considering it a defect. Some even seek a paediatrician's help to address this behaviour.
In Islamic schools, however, children's playfulness is not considered a disease, but a positive trait and a privilege. What are the signs of children's playfulness? What are its effects? The Prophet of God answered this question.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told parents:
"A child's playfulness in childhood increases wisdom in adulthood."
A child's playfulness, activity, and mischief during their formative years are indicators of increased intelligence and wisdom in adulthood.
[Kanz al-Ummal fi Sunan al-A'mal wa al-A'fi'al, vol. 11, p. 42, hadith 30747].
In this hadith, children's playfulness is praised. According to this prophetic guidance, 'Arama' is considered valuable and beneficial for children, indicating great wisdom in adulthood.
But what is 'Arama'? Those who understand the word 'Arama' interpret it as meaning harshness, violence, playfulness, mischief, hardness, joking, excessive activity, jumping around, stupidity, intensity, harassment, and ignorance. All the things that should happen to children in childhood are hidden in this word. These are the things that make parents anxious and cause them suffering and annoyance. The same things that make parents worry can also cause them to seek medical help. However, according to this prophetic saying, this behaviour is a good thing and a sign of wisdom in adulthood. Therefore, a child's 'evil' is good for them, and a healthy, normal, desirable child is one whose mischief and harassment are not harmless. Parents should not be afraid or upset by this. Children's noise and movement are not a source of shame for parents because playfulness is natural and innate in children, and indicates physical and mental health.
From the perspective of Islamic education, supporting children's freedom to the extent that they do not harm themselves or others is not only not reprehensible, but also desirable and valuable. We should rejoice in children's unruly, submissive, and polite behaviour, as well as in their rebellion, because it indicates their future intellectual growth.
Imam Kazim (AS) also praised children's playfulness, saying:
'It is desirable for a boy to be naughty in childhood so that he may be gentle in adulthood.'
A boy should be playful and mischievous in childhood, and it is appropriate for a child to misbehave so that they may become tolerant in adulthood.
Based on this statement by the Seventh Imam, a child's 'discourtesy' is a behavioural trait and a desirable quality, and it is also a sign that they will become gentle and tolerant in adulthood.
Therefore, movement, activity, noise, fighting, mischief, and sabotage should be encouraged in children. These reveal the child's health and desirable state, and are a sign of intelligence and talent. The effect will also be calmness, tolerance, rationality, and wisdom in adulthood.
These two hadiths reveal the Islamic perspective on children's playfulness. These hadiths reflect the principles and characteristics of child psychology.
General Data
The full information of the hadith is given below
Source Data
The full information of the hadith is given below
Multi Media
You can watch the latest clips in this section:
Comments
Please share your comments with us
Ask a Question