Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Al-Sisi urges accelerated oil, gas discoveries, lower import bill    SCZONE signs $52.6m textile industry deals during China investment tour    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Children fasting: A combination of religious duty and training
Published in Daily News Egypt on 22 - 09 - 2007

CAIRO: Every Ramadan Hana, 19, a college student, has to face an awkward situation: Although strong and healthy, she cannot fast like the rest of her family.
That failure to observe the holy month has left her with a sense of guilt, so much so that she constantly helps her mother in the kitchen and serves the family at the iftar table.
To everyone s surprise, Hana survives on as little as a glass of water and a small sandwich. But these are better than lasting on an empty stomach for an entire day. Every time the student fasted she either fainted or developed an acute headache.
While her brother and sister started fasting at an early age, Hana began trying only two years ago. As a child, she had never been curious about fasting like her peers. But this indifference went unchecked by her parents and resulted in difficulties later on as she tried to take fasting seriously.
Hana's case opens up the issue of how and when children should get into the habit of fasting. Some parents leave the children to acquire the habit on their own, while other religious families might be strict in pushing the children into it, even when they are still underage.
Muslims are required to start fasting once they hit puberty thus practicing in the childhood years is highly recommended. Some children get into the habit of fasting earlier than others.
"I don't really remember how I started fasting, recalled Ahmed Makhlouf, 33, "but because all my brothers and sisters were older than me, I didn't wait long before I started to observe Ramadan.
His son Ali, 8, will start fasting next year. "I don't have any special program for him, says Makhlouf. "But I will manage to get him into it slowly. He doesn't have to complete the whole month. Let's start by two or three times a week.
Attia Abdel Menem, who has two boys aged four and six, is keen to train his children early when they reach the age of seven.
"We recommend that a child should start fasting at the age of eight provided he doesn't suffer from any chronic disease, said Dr Adel Ashour, paediatrician and hereditary diseases specialist at the National Research Centre.
"Before that age, fasting could be dangerous for the child's general health. If the child is not fond of eating that won't necessarily mean that he or she should fast. The liquids and small meals do give them energy, he added.
Ashour pointed out that training shouldn't necessarily start in Ramadan. "Weekends during winter when the day is shorter are an ideal time for that kind of training. Some parents fast every Monday and Thursday and they can encourage the children to share that experience during certain seasons.
Experts reiterate that even after the age of nine when children start taking the habit seriously, they should still be carefully observed by their parents.
Ula Mohamed, mother of 13-year-old Doaa, said, "Doaa was 10 when she began to practice fasting. However, I had to stop her because she was weak. We started with half days, then three days a month until she gradually managed to finish the whole month.
"I used to make a point of waking her up for the sohour, Ula added, "But now I can no longer force her into that.
Faiz Saad, father of Saad, 9, and Haniya, 8, said, "I leave it up to the children to decide. Once they find themselves surrounded by parents who fast, they will do the same. I wake them up for the sohour and it's up to them if they want to come and eat.
Ashour has also stressed the importance of sohour. "While encouraging the children to fast, the mother has to stress [the importance] of the sohour meal, he said. "That will make a big difference, as some children won't last without the sohour meal and could faint.
The type of food consumed during iftar and sohour is also important. "The meal should consist of proteins like cheese and eggs, fats like cream, and sugars like honey. The children's iftar should contain sweet juices and dates that must be eaten before the main meal.
"Children should eat carefully and slowly so that they will make full use of the meal's nutritional components.
In addition, the amount of exerted effort should be monitored. He advises the children not to engage in any kind of sport during the day or up to an hour before iftar.


Clic here to read the story from its source.