How to Help Kids Memorize Quran in 5 Creative Ways
Are you looking for ways to make Quran memorization fun and enjoyable for your active child? Are you struggling to find engaging methods to make your child’s Quran memorization easier?
Discover these five creative methods to help your little ones memorize the Quran while having fun!
As parents, we all know that young children’s brains are like sponges—especially during their early years when they can quickly absorb so much information.
And as Muslim parents, we know that there is a big emphasis on getting our children to memorize as much of the Quran as they can while they’re young.
Personally, I’ve found that the surahs I memorized during my childhood have stuck with me much better than those I learned later in life—subhanallah!
When my child started to memorize the Quran formally, I knew that she could do it, bi’ithnillah. But if your child is anything like mine and is constantly on the move, getting them to sit still and repeat verses can be a real challenge.
I tried the traditional approach, where I’d have her repeat the verses over and over. She usually fidgeted after a few minutes and asked to move on to something else.
It was clear that this approach wasn’t just not working for us and we needed to try something new.
Understanding Your Child’s Learning Style
I realized that to make Quran memorization effective, I needed to understand how my daughter learns best. I took this quiz to figure out her learning style. Here’s what I found out.
The Three Types of Learning Styles
In general, there are three main types of learning styles:
- Kinesthetic Learners: These kids love to move! They learn best when they’re active and doing something with their hands.
- Visual Learners: These kids are all about what they can see. If it’s colorful, patterned, or full of images, they’re hooked! They absorb information best when it’s presented visually.
- Auditory Learners: These kids are all about listening. They learn best by hearing things repeated and explained.
After taking the quiz to figure out my daughter’s learning style, I discovered that she’s a Kinesthetic and Visual Learner. This made so much sense! She thrives when the lessons we do get her moving around, using her hands, or seeing things presented colorfully and creatively.
Once I understood this about her, everything clicked. I started using more hands-on activities and visual aids in her Quran memorization, and it made such a difference.
Knowing her learning style helped me come up with fun and engaging ways to teach her and made the process so much easier (for both of us!).
Five Fun Ways to Make Quran Memorization Fun For Kids
Here are five strategies that worked wonders for us, and I think they’ll work for you, too!
1. Explain the Story Behind the Surah
One of the most important lessons we can teach our children about the Quran is that it’s a guide for everyday life. This is a book that Allah (swt) sent to us to teach us how to be good Muslims.
I’ve found that one of the best ways to do this is by connecting emotions to the surah. Children naturally learn and remember better when they form an emotional connection with the new information. This can be done through stories and a positive excited tone.
I started sharing the stories behind the surahs and simple meanings of the ayahs in a way she understood. It’s amazing how much more engaged my child became when she understood what she memorized.
I also try to pull out life lessons from each surah and tie them back to our love for Allah (swt). This has been such a powerful way to nurture her bond with Allah (swt) and His words.
For instance, when we were memorizing Surah Al-Kafiroon, we talked about how the Kafiroon (non-believers) offered Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) wealth and power in exchange for him to stop spreading the message of Islam.
In response, Allah (swt) revealed this surah, firmly establishing that as Muslims, we do not worship what they worship, and they will not worship what we worship.
The key takeaway for my child was simple yet important: We are Muslim, and we do what Allah (swt) loves and tells us to do, just like the Prophet (pbuh) did. It does no matter what those around us do or say.
2. Make Art with Words from the Surah
Some surahs have words that are easy to represent with tangible objects, such as the word فيل (elephant) in Surah al-Feel or حبل (rope) in Surah al-Masad.
I love explaining the meaning of these words in the ayahs and then turning them into a creative activity. We’ll draw, paint, use figurines, or mold clay to represent each word.
While my child is busy being creative, I encourage her to repeat the ayah she’s working on. I also have the surah playing in the background so she’s subconsciously listening to it.
This way, I cater to her visual and kinesthetic learning styles while making the experience engaging and hands-on.
For example, when we were learning Surah Al-Masad, we focused on one word in every verse:
- يد/yad (hand) for ayah #1
- مال/maal (money) for ayah #2
- نار/naar (fire) for ayah #3
- حطب/hatab (wood) for ayah #4
- حبل/habl (rope) for ayah #5
We painted each word, gathered objects around the house to represent the word, and then made each word out of modeling clay. This hands-on approach brought the words to life for my daughter, and she connected each object with the verse.
3. Pair Hand Gestures with Each Verse
Movement is a great way to reinforce memorization, especially for young children who often connect actions with meaning. One of my favorite techniques is to incorporate hand gestures for each ayah, linking a specific motion to the verse’s meaning.
For example, to signify the oneness of Allah in Surah Al-Ikhlas, I make the number one with my index finger. Then, when we review the ayah, we both make the same motion.
This helps my child associate the physical gesture with the verse, making the memorization process more engaging and effective.
4. Use Surah Strips by HandsOnQuran
I recently came across Surah Strips by HandsOnQuran, and they’ve been a game-changer in our memorization process.
Each ayah is printed on a strip that I cut out, and then I give to my child. She matches the ayah strip to a Control Card, either by the color of the strip, by recognizing the written words, or—if your child is more advanced—by reading it themselves.
The goal is to create a strong visual link between the written and spoken verse, all while keeping my child’s hands busy.
My child loves using the Surah Strips, and she will repeat the ayahs multiple times without even realizing it. It’s so amazing to see her engaged in such a simple yet effective activity.
5. Track Repetition with Fun Counters
Repetition is key in memorization, but trust me—it doesn’t have to be boring! I used to think that sitting and repeating verses over and over was the only way, but then I found ways to make it more fun.
I came up with different “games” to help my child keep track of how many times she repeats an ayah using math counters or small objects.
For example, I hand her a counter each time she recites an ayah, which keeps her hands busy and motivated to earn another counter. Or I let her choose a physical number, and that number tells her how many times she has to repeat the verse.
This playful approach not only keeps her engaged and motivated but also sneaks in a little math practice—two lessons in one!
Don’t Forget the Power of Listening
Even if your child is a kinesthetic, visual, or a combination of both learners, never underestimate the power of listening.
Children can pick up so much just through auditory methods, so make sure to have the Quran playing during the day – whether during playtime, while cooking, and especially as they drift off to sleep at night. You’ll be surprised how much they’ll subconsciously memorize.
Conclusion
Teaching Quran the traditional way of repeating verses over and over again may be very common, but that’s not the only way! By understanding your child’s learning style and adapting your methods, you can make Quran memorization a lot less stressful for both you and your child.
The key is to keep experimenting and having fun with it. After all, the more enjoyable the process, the more your child will love the Quran. So, go ahead and try out these methods—who knows, you might discover a whole new way of learning together!
What fun methods have worked for your child when memorizing the Quran? I’d love to hear your ideas—drop a comment below and share your experience with me!