4. Read Arabic books.
Our children are lucky enough to be growing up with hundreds of new widely available Ramadan books. Make sure to have Arabic books in your Ramadan basket, whether they are spiritually focused, or just for fun. Any Arabic reading can help with expanding their vocabulary, especially in words that are frequently used during this month. Be sure to check out our specially curated collection of Arabic Ramadan books every year!
5. Take advantage of Arabic Ramadan activities & printables.
Our 30 good deeds for Ramadan in Arabic is an easy way to incorporate simple actions and activities your child can do to remind them of ways to better themselves, their communities, and the world around them! Download it here.
Not sure what the phases of the moon in Arabic are called? No problem! Download this Arabic moon phases printable and track the phases throughout the month. You can also grab this beautiful set of wooden blocks that depict the phases of the moon!
We’re delighted that the world is slowly going back to normal, but as moms, we’re working hard to ensure that the summer reading slide, especially Arabic reading, doesn’t affect our children.
]]>After a year of being cooped up at home following a global pandemic, parents and kids alike are ready to kick back, go out, and enjoy what the summer will bring. We’re delighted that the world is slowly going back to normal, but as moms, we’re working hard to ensure that the summer reading slide, especially Arabic reading, doesn’t affect our children.
The summer slide is the way in which some students seem to regress academically during the summer months. In schools that close for a few months every summer, students often lose some of the educational gains they’ve achieved throughout the school year. This summer learning loss is typically measured in subjects like reading or math but could be anecdotally observed in social skills and even classroom discipline. This often means teachers spend the first part of each school year re-teaching the same content students learned the previous year.
Whether you have been consistent during the year with your Arabic learning, or less so due to a variety of pandemic-related reasons, it’s all the more important that we don’t let the summer break reduce progress or exacerbate existing challenges.
Here are our top 5 tips to help you prevent an Arabic reading slide this summer:
Is your child crazy about dinosaurs? What about bugs and wildlife? Are they into silly stories or more serious ones?
Our first rule is choosing engaging books our kids will enjoy and that starts with understanding their interests and what keeps them coming back for more. Luckily, the books we’ve outfitted our bookshelves with are high quality, engaging, have beautiful illustrations to keep them engaged, and hilarious story lines to keep them giggling.
Setting a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) for Arabic reading will help keep you on track to ensure that Arabic reading doesn’t fall off your list this summer.
A helpful goal setting/habit changing tip I read about recently is to write down where and how long you want to do something (ex: We will read one Arabic book in the backyard after breakfast every day). Whether it’s 10 minutes a day or one bedtime story per evening, ensuring that you’re getting some form of Arabic reading almost every day is essential. Discussing the goals with your child and getting their input and engagement is equally important. You can incentivize reaching your goal by tracking the reading on this printable reading log, and providing a reward to keep your child motivated to achieve your Arabic reading goals this summer.
Check this video for an example of how to set a SMART goal with your child:
We’re not talking about a full makeover (it is time to relax this summer after all)—just a little sprucing up or even a change of place. How about setting up a book nook outdoors on your front porch or back patio? We set up a simple hammock in our backyard that the kids love and are encouraging them to set some time to read outside. With warmer days, there’s no excuse not to get up, get out, and read! Grab a lemonade, some watermelon, a book, and enjoy reading under the sun!
From camp pick-ups and drop-offs to road trips, we know a lot more time will be spent in the car and on the go this summer.
Audio books and Arabic story-time podcasts have made our lives easier, ensuring that we can infuse a bit of Arabic into an otherwise unproductive time. Listening to Arabic books can help improve your child’s pronunciation and vocabulary, among several other benefits. With several options at your fingertips, it’s all the more easy to take Arabic on the road with you.
If your little one is diving into those dinosaur books, why not plan a trip to your local museum and check out those fossils in action? If you don’t have a dinosaur museum in your area, there are tons of fossil kits to explore at home!
Books for your little foodie and budding chefs are always fun and can inspire some cooking lessons! Seeing relatives this summer? Get them involved and make some traditional zaatar and cheese pies and Teta’s special pizza like the ones in your child’s favorite stories. We hope these tips give you that push and inspiration you need to set and reach your Arabic summer reading goals! The only slide we want to experience this summer is the one at our local playground or waterpark!
]]>If you’re looking for resources to help jumpstart your child’s Arabic language learning journey, we have 15 Arabic children’s books that teach all about the alphabet, colors, and numbers. Our curated selection includes products that are not only designed for babies and toddlers, but for your older children as well, because every Arabic learning journey is unique. You can find activity ideas to help you implement the concepts that are essential to your child’s Arabic language foundation today by visiting our Pinterest page dedicated to all things Arabic.
Age: Babies & Toddlers
Babies and toddlers want to hold, touch and feel everything, and this puzzle book will allow them to do just that! Your little one will enhance their fine motor skills and build their knowledge of everyday vocabulary and primary colors in Arabic by fitting the puzzle pieces into the corresponding image.
Age: Preschoolers and above
A fun and playful cat invites young readers to learn about colors in a simple and engaging way. "What is my favorite color?" asks Cat. To help children find the answer, Cat proceeds to explain the wonder in every color in nature.
Age: Preschoolers and above
This beautifully illustrated book magnificently captures the colorful world of Islam for the youngest readers, featuring important icons of Islamic tradition in bold colors. Sure to inspire and inform young and old, the author showcases scenes from everyday life in a Muslim household and town.
Age: Preschoolers and above
Age: Preschoolers and above
“Abu-elfawakeh” takes readers on this journey showcasing his love for all fruits, and teaches them along the way about the inherent benefits of fruits. The book introduces essential descriptive words that kids will add to their Arabic vocabulary. The book features the fruits in different categories, including by colors, which is sure to delight readers.
Age: Babies & Toddlers
This perfect vibrantly illustrated book teaches your toddler their Arabic numbers, colors and shapes with modern, visually appealing board book. The book features classical Fus-ha Arabic with tashkeel and is used throughout the book as well as English transliterations, to ensure non-native speakers can easily learn the words!
Age: Babies & Toddlers
Designed for babies and toddlers, this durable board book features bright colors and attractive illustrations your little one will love! Teach your little one the names of the colors and shapes they see around them every day!
Age: Toddlers & Preschoolers
Age: Toddlers & Preschoolers
Join Seifo in an imaginary adventure to the “jungle” in his room, inspired by the artwork on his wall. This fun story emphasizes learning numbers and includes fun numeral stickers that children will love to peel and stick on the appropriate page.
Age: Preschoolers and above
Let your child count from 1 to 10, searching the pages of colorful flowers for various creatures hidden among beautifully illustrated garden scenes. From butterflies to inchworms, ducklings to turtles, kids will love to look and find the insects and animals that crawl, hop, and fly in the wild.
Age: Preschoolers and above
Age: Babies & Toddlers
When it comes to your little one's first Arabic alphabet board book, you want the most engaging and high quality book out there. And you won't be disappointed with this epic 56-page Alif Baa Taa board book. The book features one letter of the alphabet on each page along with two words that begin with that letter, including one hidden under an interactive flap that your child will love peeking under.
Age: Babies & Toddlers
The perfect first Arabic alphabet book for your little one is a vibrantly illustrated book that teaches your toddler the basics with this modern, visually appealing board book. The book features classical Fus-ha Arabic with tashkeel and is used throughout the book as well as English transliterations, to ensure non-native speakers can easily learn Arabic!
Age: Preschoolers and above
Alphabet books are aplenty, but this one stands out from the rest with its bold illustrations, modern fonts, and rhyming text that will attract young and old. A donkey eating popcorn, a fox doing somersaults, and a giraffe driving an excavator are just some of the characters featured in the alphabet list. With children's favorite animals big and small, we learn the Arabic alphabet in short, simple, and fun sentences.
Age: Preschoolers and above
Reem has an Arabic alphabet poster in her room that she loves. One night, while Reem is sitting in bed gazing at the poster, she decides to imagine that the letters are playing hide-and-seek with her. She’s on a mission to find the missing letters and put them back on her beloved poster! Reem’s search walks the reader through every letter of the Arabic alphabet with fun, rhyming text.
Age: Early elementary
Leveled readers allow children to gradually strengthen and expand their reading skills. In this first set, each book focuses on one letter of the Arabic alphabet featuring 1-2 words on each page. This 28-book set is broken down further into beginner, intermediate, and advanced titles that feature increasing complexity for children just starting to put letters together into words.
For more Arabic alphabet activities and ideas, visit our Arabic alphabet Pinterest board.
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For the past couple of years, we published an annual list of Arabic summer camps in the US, and we were excited to share information for hands-on Arabic language learning opportunities for your children this year as well. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19 social distancing stipulations, families aren’t able to travel abroad or send their kids to camps to enjoy Arabic linguistic experiences.
However, as we’ve seen over the past few months, there’s always a silver lining! Many of these programs are now going virtual, eliminating the physical distance that may have prevented some of us from taking advantage of them. Although we may not be able to take our children to summer camps or classes in person, we can still find ways to bring those camps and classes to them!
We’ve been on the lookout for virtual Arabic summer "camps" and classes that your children can easily attend from home, from anywhere in the US (and some beyond!) All of the programs mentioned below will be taking place throughout the summer, so make you sure you check them out and register as soon as possible! If you know of other camps, please leave a comment below or email us at info@maktabatee.com. Wishing you and your kids a unique and enriching Arabic-filled summer!
Smart Minds Learning Virtual Summer Camp Program
This program offers interactive activities that help students continue learning and practicing their Arabic language skills and Qur’an. Two separate summer sessions are offered, with the option of registering for one session or both. The classes offered for these sessions are virtual cooking and art classes using Arabic terminology, mental math, Noor Albayan, Arabic, and Qur’an.
Register here: http://www.smartmindslearning.com/master-arabic-language-summer-camp-virginia/
Fusحa Online Season 2
This online class, designed for children of ages 3-7, was created and curated by Inas who is the founder of Fusحa Online and a multilingual children’s content creator. Consisting of weekly fun and interactive Arabic videos, virtual meetups, and topics including the Hajj season, your child will love this hands-on virtual learning experience.
Register Here: https://inas-school.thinkific.com/collections
MindBloom Preschool Online Summer Camp
MindBloom Preschool provides stimulating and immersive experiences and opportunities for enrichment and growth. They offer multiple summer camp options and the choice to register for as many weeks as you’d like. When you access the link to register we’ve provided below, scroll to the bottom to see registration options.
Register here: https://www.mindbloompreschool.com/camps.html
Al-Bustan Seeds “Speak to us of Houses” Virtual Camp
Al-Bustan is offering a unique and relatable theme for their virtual Arabic summer camp. Their summer curriculum focuses on activities, objects, relationships, and themes that take place at home. Children who attend this summer camp will learn through visual art, music, and storytelling sessions. Learners will delve into their relationships with their homes while tying it all together through Arabic instruction.
Register here: https://www.albustanseeds.org/featured-story/virtual-camp-2020/
Concordia Language Villages Arabic Classes
If you’re looking for online Arabic classes offered to kids between the ages of 8-18, Concordia has several options for the month of July. Topics include Arabic language and culture as well as Arabic reading and writing. You can register for anywhere between one or more weeks and choose what Arabic topics your child might be interested in.
Register here: www.concordialanguagevillages.org
Alif Virtual Summer Camp
When you choose this Arabic summer camp, you’re choosing one with a community feel. Catered to children ages 3-9 years old, your child will enjoy Alif Institute’s unique take on virtual summer camp with a virtual field trip every Wednesday, Arabic language lessons and cultural activities in areas of storytime, arts and crafts, cooking, songs, and more! This program is also implementing Nahla and Naheel Reading Program.
Register here: https://www.alifinstitute.org/events/summer-camp/
Al-Kawthar Arabic Family Classes
For families looking for classes that are held at a convenient time agreed upon by the institute and family, Al-Kawthar is offering different levels of classical Arabic immersion learning online. This program includes various levels of classes, beginning with Classical Arabic Mommy & Me advancing up to Arabic levels 1, 2 & 3, 4 & 5, and level 6.
Register here: https://www.alkawtharlc.com/programs/
Abjadiyah Virtual Summer Camp
The Abjadiyah curriculum was developed over a span of 13 years and contains 10 different levels of proficiency, with each level applied to a specific age group and linguistic ability. The virtual summer camp being offered not only includes the Abjadiyah curriculum, but also enriching experiences provided by educators, artists, and storytellers.
Register here: Abjadiyah Virtual Summer Camp
Al-Madinah Institute Arabic Online for Kids
Arabic Online Kids uses wonderful teaching resources of Al-Madinah’s Arabic Online program and makes it accessible to children. This particular program was built for children ages 6-16 and provides an enriching Arabic language experience.
Register Here: https://almadinainstitute.org/seminars/arabic-online-kids/
One World Now Summer World Language Program
For students enrolled in 8th – 12th grade in the 2019-20 school year, this program provides content equivalent to a first semester high school class. Classes run every week, Monday through Friday from 9am-11am with one hour dedicated to independent work. If you’re interested in this particular program, keep in mind that registration ends on June 12th!
Register Here: https://oneworldnow.org/programs/summer-world-language-program-online/
Tarabot Family "Let's Travel the World Together" Summer Camp
This program is providing students with an immersive experience in traveling the world through craft-making, story telling, stop-motion movie techniques, virtual games, and more. Students will also participate in a fun end of summer camp project. Hurry and sign up for this camp as some camp days have already been filled!
Register Here: http://tarabotfamily.com/summer-camp-2020/
NaTakallam Arabic Lessons
[Disclaimer: Maktabatee has not vetted these programs and is only providing this list as a community service. Parents should do their due diligence to ensure a program meets their standards.]
]]>Here are five ways you can make the most of this time with your kids at home (and naturally, use Arabic along the way):
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Here are five ways you can make the most of this time with your kids at home (and naturally, use Arabic along the way):
1. Arabic immersion at home. When most kids spend at least 8 hours a day at school learning in English, this limits the time parents can speak to them in Arabic for the rest of the day. Consider this a gift for you to increase the time you have to speak to your children in Arabic! If consistently speaking in Arabic is not an option, designate a certain time period to do so, maybe during the lunch break or morning routine. Any addition is a plus, and consistency is key.
2. Use the power of technology for educational exchanges. No, we’re not talking about binging on Disney+ and Netflix (maybe by week 3 this will be our reality). We’re talking about using all the tools for virtual interactions at your disposal. Your extended family halfway across the country or the world is likely also stuck at home right now. Why not set up a daily video chat with a grandparent who can tell your children Arabic stories? Or let your child reconnect with that cousin who can converse with them in Arabic for some real life conversational practice? Better yet, make it an educational exchange-- your child can help their extended cousin practice their English while they help them practice their Arabic!
3. Set realistic goals, be flexible, and reassess. We’ve all seen the memes taking jabs at the ambitious schedules some parents are setting for this period. The reality is, schedules are going to be changed and in some cases, thrown out the window. But, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Failing to plan at all is planning to fail. With your child’s input, set a schedule for the first week. Be flexible as you go through it day by day, and make changes as needed. Talk to your child at the end of the day about what worked, and what didn’t, and revise it for the following day. If your child can follow a schedule at school, they can probably follow a more flexible one at home!
4. Don’t try a new recipe when you have guests over. You probably have dozens of links and posts saved on your Instagram, Pinterest, and Facbeook pages listing fun experiments, free e-learning resources, and arts & crafts galore. Realistically speaking, you had these types of things saved before we knew what COVID-19 was, and you rarely used them. Don’t try to do something that you haven’t already tried before or your children aren’t used to doing. Stick to what you know and what your kids are probably used to and comfortable with, and just reimagine it or jazz it up. If your kid loves Legos, give them new Lego challenges/prompts that will inspire them to do something new with the bricks they already have. If your kid loves coloring and painting, let them paint with a different medium, in your backyard, or using things you have at home to put a new spin on an old favorite.
5. Choose 3 online learning or educational resources to explore. Your child’s teacher may be sending you some suggested online learning tools or optional homework packets, or you may be seeing dozens of them shared on social media. Set aside 30 minutes to browse through what you come across and narrow them down to 3 links/resources. Designate “educational screen time” as a slot on your child’s daily schedule and let them explore one resource at a time.
Don’t have time to do that? We’ve picked these three to get you started:
We realize this time is overwhelming and stressful, but we hope these tips are helpful in breaking things down into manageable tasks. Leave us a comment if you have other ideas or suggestions to share with other parents!
Arabic printables & activities: Our very own scavenger hunts, coloring pages, reading log and more: https://www.maktabatee.com/pages/arabic-printables
Storytime with Teta Podcast: Arabic stories read by an engaging narrator with great sound effects and story lines: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/storytime-with-teta/id1470708012
Arabic puzzles, flashcards, and CDs: our favorite handpicked Arabic educational toys and more: https://www.maktabatee.com/collections/educational-materials
Arabic lessons, activities, and worksheets (free and paid):
Arabic Seeds: https://arabicseeds.com/
Teach Quran Play: https://www.etsy.com/shop/teachquranplay/
Noon Creates: https://nooncreates.com/store
Arabic puzzles, flashcards, and CDs: https://www.maktabatee.com/collections/educational-materials
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For parents of multilingual children, libraries can be a great resource, although non-English titles in North American libraries can be limited. But that's changing, as librarians are becoming more attuned to their community's needs and the increasing diversity of cultures and languages spoken across the US and Canada.
Arabic children's books are increasingly making an appearance, much to the delight of parents on the hunt for resources to reinforce their children's understanding of Arabic. While some libraries do a great job of advertising these diverse titles, many community members still don't know they have access to multilingual books.
A regular visit to the library is not an uncommon occurrence, and more so for parents of young children. The wonder in a toddler's eyes as they dig through shelves of picture books and baskets of board books is unforgettable. Story times provide an opportunity for parents to connect with others, and for young children to begin socializing with their peers.
For parents of multilingual children, libraries can also be a great resource, although non-English titles in North American libraries can be limited. But that's changing, as librarians are becoming more attuned to their community's needs and the increasing diversity of cultures and languages spoken across the US and Canada.
Arabic children's books are increasingly making an appearance, much to the delight of parents on the hunt for resources to reinforce their children's understanding of Arabic. While some libraries do a great job of advertising these diverse titles, many community members still don't know they have access to multilingual books.
In an effort to increase awareness about existing Arabic children's books in public libraries in North America and to encourage patrons to take advantage of them, we compiled a list of some of the libraries that carry them. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but illustrative of the increasingly widespread availability of Arabic children's books in public libraries. If you are a librarian looking to curate an engaging collection of high-quality Arabic children's books, email us at info@maktabatee.com so we can help you!
Canada
Mississauga Public Library
Colorado
Arapahoe Libraries
California
Los Angeles Public Library
Anaheim Public Library
San Francisco Public Library
Santa Clara City Library
San Jose Public Library
Illinois
Orland Park Public Library
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library
Michigan
Melvindale Public Library
West Bloomfield Township Public Library
Bloomfield Township Public Library
Missouri
St. Louis County Library
North Carolina
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Ohio
Alexandria Public Library
Cleveland Public Library
Dayton Metro Library
Columbus Metropolitan Library
Akron-Summit County Public Library
New Jersey
Old Bridge Public Library
Burlington County Library
Paterson Free Public Library
We know that reading doesn’t begin at school or when kids are old enough to spell out the words on a page. Reading begins when a child is just a few months old and reading becomes part of their daily routine, most likely as they cuddle up with a parent for bedtime.
When kids are too young to read or even speak, parents should focus on making reading fun and enjoyable. But what about when kids have other distractions that may not keep them as engaged as they once were? We have found these steps help us keep our kids engaged in Arabic reading.
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When kids are too young to read or even speak, parents should focus on making reading fun and enjoyable. But what about when kids have other distractions that may not keep them as engaged as they once were? We have found these steps help us keep our kids engaged in Arabic reading:
Sounds simple, but I found that if I don't consciously make an effort to read *Arabic* books, my kids will automatically grab an English book to read. The post-dinner reading time is now reserved for Arabic, and my kids have grown to understand that the books they choose for reading after dinner must be Arabic. So if it’s first thing in the morning, or the last thing before bed, setting a consistent routine helps kids look forward to Arabic reading every day.
Animals, vehicles, seasons, food, family, planets, professions… we are lucky to have books with so many themes! Feel free to keep your theme simple and open to different interpretations. So far we’ve had an animal themed reading session where my kids pick out all their favorite books that have animals. It’s helped me focus on what they want to read, and they feel ownership by getting to choose the books. So instead of simply saying “go get an Arabic book to read,” I say “choose three Arabic books that have an animal as the main character for us to read.” They negotiate with each other which of the books they want to read, and agree amongst themselves before coming to me with their choices. We’ve also kept our themes super simple, like “choose two Arabic books that have blue covers.”
Have a puppet lying around that can read the story to kids? Use it! Or how about *making* a puppet with the kids for story time? Simple props used during story time can help kids stay engaged and want you reading more! Check out our Pinterest page for ideas on puppet-making for story time. And if you’re not crafty and don’t have puppets--using your voice and facial expressions can bring the different characters in each story to life. As a baby, my son *loved* when I would use my “big man voice” when reading Omar is Lost and would giggle incessantly and ask me to repeat the lines of the story in that voice.
“Who did Dana invite to her party?”, “What does فلاح mean?”, “If you could be an author, what would you write about?”--these are just a few questions that can spark a conversation around what we are reading and build a child’s Arabic vocabulary. I try to ask at least three questions throughout the reading process to keep my boys engaged, and to build their Arabic vocabulary. I will usually ask them the question in Arabic and while they may answer in English, we work on repeating the answer in Arabic so the vocabulary sticks! And questions shouldn’t be reserved for the parent reading the book to the child--allow your kids to ask you questions they have around the story and its content (this shows they are understanding and interested in it!).
What are your tips and tricks for keeping kids engaged in Arabic reading? Share them with us!
]]>When it comes to teaching one’s children Arabic, in a non-Arabic speaking country, and in the face of technology and shortened attention spans, there’s not much in the way of “past experience.” Yes, many of our parents had to teach us Arabic too, but for most, it was their dominant language as immigrants to the US or Canada. For second or third generation Arab-Americans, that is not the case. So the challenge is even more daunting but the desire to maintain one’s connection to their heritage, faith, and culture is strong enough to motivate many of us to stick to it.
We asked ourselves and other parents teaching their kids Arabic about the mistakes they made in their journey and we found several common answers. Here are the top five mistakes parents make when teaching their kids Arabic, and ways to avoid them (if you’re new to this) or fix them (if you’ve already made some).
]]>When it comes to teaching one’s children Arabic, in a non-Arabic speaking country, and in the face of technology and shortened attention spans, there’s not much in the way of “past experience.” Yes, many of our parents had to teach us Arabic too, but for most, it was their dominant language as immigrants to the US or Canada. For second or third generation Arab-Americans, that is not the case. So the challenge is even more daunting but the desire to maintain one’s connection to their heritage, faith, and culture is strong enough to motivate many of us to stick to it.
We asked ourselves and other parents teaching their kids Arabic about the mistakes they made in their journey and we found several common answers. Here are the top five mistakes parents make when teaching their kids Arabic, and ways to avoid them (if you’re new to this) or fix them (if you’ve already made some).
Many of you said you stopped speaking to them in Arabic when they entered school. At home when they are still babies or toddlers and you controlled their environment, it was easy to stick to Arabic. But once they enter preschool and start gaining more confidence in speaking English, both parents and kids find it easier to just speak in English. We’ve been there too.
How do we fix this? Pick up where you left off! No, don’t convince yourself it’s too late or that there is no point in starting back up. It’s never too late because a child’s mind is an amazing thing. Think about how quickly they learn to configure a new gaming system after a few tries. At the same time, going from 0 to 60 can be hard on all sides. Start by picking a specific time of the day where you have “Arabic only time,” such as during dinner. As you both get more comfortable with this, continue to speak it when possible. Prepare yourself mentally for your child to be resistant to this change. If they respond to you in English, translate what they said and ask them to repeat it back to you in Arabic. Don’t be afraid to speak to your child in Arabic in public. Use a reward system for whoever speaks more in Arabic during the day. Even if your child has trouble responding in Arabic, they are still learning from hearing you!
If you’re a new parent, start from day 1! Babies can distinguish between the sounds of languages and there is plenty of scientific evidence to show that talking to babies from an early age helps develop their brain and ability to speak.
Parents told us they often focused too much on following a curriculum and making progress on writing, grammar and reading instead of just making Arabic an enjoyable experience. Our kids then began equating Arabic to everything boring, strict, and frustratingly difficult. That’s not to say that there can’t be educational components of our Arabic lessons, there must be (and kids will still complain, as they do about school). But we have to admit that our traditional ways of teaching Arabic are mostly outdated and until recently, utilized boring books and materials.
How do we fix this? Focus a bit less on schooling and curriculums and more on making Arabic lessons interactive, hands on, and tied to activities they enjoy. This is a job for parents and teachers alike. At home, try playing their favorite games but in Arabic. Be picky in your choice of an Arabic tutor, weekend school, or full-time school. Talk to the teachers and emphasize that it’s more important for our children to LOVE Arabic first than to learn pronouns in Arabic. Show your kids that Arabic books, puzzles, and toys can be fun and engaging (we only carry the most engaging and appealing Arabic books and toys because we know the struggle you’re facing!).
Teaching a child a second language is not a walk in the park. But it’s not impossible. Many of you are doing it, and you’re seeing the fruits of your labor. There is no one-size fits all approach.
How do we fix this? Don’t compare yourself to others. Remind yourself of your goals, why you’re doing this, and how much you both will appreciate this effort in the long run. Be realistic in your expectations but don’t underestimate what children are capable of learning. Remind yourself to stay the course and you will surely see results, even if not immediately.
We might find it easier to go on this journey alone, at our own pace. But there is merit to having a group of like-minded parents who can exchange ideas, experiences, and resources. As with any other goal, it’s always good to have an “accountability partner” of sorts.
How do we fix this? Join a local or online community! This could be a homeschooling group, a weekend playgroup, or a recurring library story time. Being with other parents who are on the same journey will encourage you to stay on course and introduce you to new ideas and ways of teaching kids Arabic. Most importantly, it might give your kids an opportunity to interact with others in an Arabic welcoming environment. If you can’t find one, start one!
Many parents we asked said they regretted not making Arabic “a part of their daily life activities.” Arabic was restricted to a specific class or Sunday school but didn’t feel like a natural part of their daily lives.
How do we fix this? Reading is an easy way to bond with your child and it can be incorporated into your existing routine. Why not specify at least one Arabic book for bedtime reading? Or listen to an Arabic audio book on your way to soccer practice? For parents, reading is an easy way to get more Arabic in your routine without having to “think about it” and for children, hearing new vocabulary is important for their language development. Don’t miss out on this practical way to bring more Arabic into your child’s daily routine!
We hope this is helpful to parents of young and old kids. We’ve made every one of these mistakes and continue to struggle with them at different times and stages of our childrens’ development (#5 prompted us to start Maktabatee!).
The takeaway is: don’t give up, we’re here to help, success is possible!
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Some of these camps are more Arabic-focused than others, but everyone on this list has at a minimum an Arabic language component. We tried to only include those who had updated information for 2019 camps and had an updated link or flyer. So, if you’re looking for an Arabic summer camp for this year, check these out! If you have others to add, please comment below and let us know or email us at info@maktabatee.com to add to the list. Happy camping!
]]>Wouldn't it be amazing if we could get the whole summer off and travel abroad to give our kids an immersive cultural and linguistic experience? If only that was an accessible option for most of us! From juggling work schedules to being able to afford international travel, many obstacles stand in the way of such experiences.
For those summers where you can save up enough money and vacation time to travel, DO IT! We were incredibly lucky enough to travel to Jordan almost every summer of our childhood. Our parents were teachers who scrimped and saved to be able to give us the opportunity to connect with our extended family members, practice our Arabic for several months, and get out of the bubble of our American childhood. If only we appreciated it as much as we do now!
But back to reality, it's time to plan for summer camps! And if you can't travel, the closest you might get to practicing Arabic is an Arabic-based or themed summer camp. So we pulled together a list of summer camps around the US to get you started!
Some of these camps are more Arabic-focused than others, but everyone on this list has at a minimum an Arabic language component. We tried to only include those who had updated information for 2019 camps and had an updated link or flyer. So, if you’re looking for an Arabic summer camp for this year, check these out! If you have others to add, please comment below and let us know or email us at info@maktabatee.com to add to the list. Happy camping!
Kalimah STEAM Arabic Immersion Camps
Kalimah’s STEAM Arabic Immersion Summer Camp is the only theme-based Arabic language immersion camp for kids 5-12 years old in the greater Metro DC region. Their curriculum employs Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL), drama, and experiential learning to achieve measurable outcomes aligned with the ACTFL standards. Field trips, guest speakers, collaborative projects, and more help solidify the interwoven STEAM concepts under the larger theme umbrella of the Silk Road then and now. As little chefs, scientists, traders, entrepreneurs, and engineers, Kalimah campers meet new friends and build communities while making everlasting memories of fun times!
Aya Montessori Global Citizens Summer Camp
Join Aya Montessori for a fun and interactive summer camp filled with fun STEAM activities catered to ages 3-6. Your child will explore the world through (S)cience, (T)echnology, (E)nginering, (A)rt & (M)ath + Arabic, Islam & Quran. Field-trips & Daily fitness/workout.
Arabic Immersion Summer Camp- Diyanet Center of America
Are you looking for a fun Arabic Immersion experience for your child this summer? Do you want him or her to learn the Arabic language in a comfortable and fun-filled environment? The Arabic Immersion Summer Camp at DCA for children ages 5 to 9 is a one-of-a-kind opportunity!
Smart Minds Learning Summer Camp
We don't just teach kids phrases and words on paper, we speak with them in Arabic. What better way to learn a new language than to just speak everything you have to say in it? With that in mind, we've developed a curriculum for our Arabic Summer camp combining unique, exciting, challenging, and fun activities! We just can't wait to have you with us!
Children of the World Arabic Immersion Summer Program
Make the most of summer vacation by enrolling in our 2019 summer program! Don’t sit at home bored, wondering what to do – have your child come learn, explore, and have fun with us! Each week is a new themed adventure and we take regular field trips to exciting destinations to connect our lessons with the world around us. From crafts and games to zoos, museums and water parks, we make each day count!
Ihsan Muslim Explorers Summer Camp
This year's Ihsan's Summer camp will be open to ages 3 - 12 year olds. The program will be based on the names of Allah, nature and science and 3 beautiful classrooms set up as learning through play. To add to the beautiful experience, a team of educators and moms will prepare indoor and outdoors activities to best achieve the goals of the camp.
Seattle Arab Cultural Camp
The creative mind behind A Crafty Arab hosted her first Arab Cultural Camp where she put together fun, educational camp stations. These art lesson stations include themes about Arab hospitality, Arab countries, Arab literature, Arab traditional instruments, Arab spices, etc. The camp day will start with a Arabic story time/ song/ reading activity, time in her studio library which includes hundreds of crafts and Arab children books. The children will be able to check out any of the books at the end of the day for enjoyment at home with siblings or other family members.
Mindbloom Preschool
The Language and Total Immersion Summer Camp is for children ages 3-7 years and will include participation from all age ranges in daily activities, including geography, food, art, dance, and more!
Al-Bustan Seeds Summer Camp
Rising K-8th graders will enjoy daily Arabic, visual art, singing, dance, drumming, and science activities at St. Peter’s School. This summer Al-Bustan Campers will learn about Al-Andalus and co-existence (convivencia, tayaush) in an era of thriving arts, science, and multi-faith communities.
Noor Summer Camp
Noor Summer Camp Activities include arts & crafts, cooking, science projects, sports, halaqa circle, Arabic, Quran, water fun, and field trips.
Arabic Summer Academy
The Arabic Summer Academy is a four week intensive (Monday through Saturday) Arabic course for 40 high school students from the Boston Public Schools and other schools in the Boston area. Every day, students rotate between Arabic language and culture classes that are focused on communication from day one. All students learn the alphabet and learn how to talk, write, and read in Arabic. The curriculum centers around the theme of navigating and describing a modern Arab city. Students go on field trips to use their new language abilities in real-world situations in the city of Boston.
Startalk Arabic Language Camp
Fun, interactive learning experiences with hands-on cultural activities, including delicious food. Build proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing and get a jumpstart on Arabic in college.
STARTALK & ALEFE: Celebrations of Arab Nations
Through a STARTALK grant, ALEFE summer program “Celebrations of Arab Nations” will offer an authentic opportunity to twenty K-2nd grade students to experience the several ways in which the Arab World expresses itself linguistically and culturally to celebrate two special occasions: weddings and baby showers. During a four weeks summer camp, heritage and non-heritage students will reflect on the similarities and differences between the ways cultures celebrate these two occasions in terms of food, costumes and social figures/characters.
Alkawthar Learning Center Arabic Immersion Camp
Children will be introduced to the Classical Arabic language through the “total immersion” method where language is acquired through conversations, games, free play, storytelling, songs, and fun activities.
Concordia Language Villages
At Al-Wāḥa, you’ll experience an oasis of cultural richness and diversity with counselors and teachers who speak a variety of dialects from across the Middle East. Enjoy traditional camp activities while you live the language surrounded by Arabic sounds, sights and flavors of the world’s fifth most populous language—in the heart of the Midwest!
STARTALK: Queens Summer Institute in Arabic
STARTALK’s mission is to increase the number of U.S. citizens learning, speaking, and teaching critical need foreign languages. STARTALK offers students (K–16) and teachers of these languages creative and engaging summer experiences that strive to exemplify best practices in language education and in language teacher development.
Alif Institute Annual Arabic Summer Camp
All sessions, activities, and visits will focus on Arabic Language and Arabic culture. Special visits and guests in the past included the local Fire Department, children authors, and local professionals. Campers will enjoy a very special field trip per week.
[Disclaimer: Maktabatee has not vetted these camps and is only providing this list as a community service. Parents should do their due diligence to ensure a camp meets their standards.]
]]>We'd love to hear about your experience and any highlights or memorable experiences of your Arabic teaching journey. How did you become an Arabic teacher? What do you love most about your job? What's the most challenging aspect of teaching children Arabic? What resources would you like to have in your classroom to help make teaching Arabic more fun and accessible?
]]>As parents, we now have an even deeper appreciation for the teachers that have come into the lives of our children, to teach and inspire them and instill in them a love of learning. It’s one of the toughest jobs out there, and very few things can motivate a child more than an engaged and attentive teacher.
And if teaching is hard, then try being an Arabic teacher in a non-Arabic speaking country! The odds are certainly stacked against you-- your students don’t speak the language regularly, your class is probably taking up their evenings or weekends, and the tools you have at your disposal are limited and pale in comparison to what they see in their “regular” classroom at a well funded full-time public or private school.
This is one of the reasons we started Maktabatee: to make engaging and high-quality books and learning materials accessible to parents AND teachers. Not everyone gets to travel to the Middle East to peruse the latest Arabic book releases, but that should not be a barrier to making Arabic teaching fun and engaging.
We also know teachers have limited budgets, and they often spend their own money to buy materials for their classroom. That’s why we’d love to sponsor an Arabic teacher with $250 worth of Maktabatee products for their classroom!
HOW? Keep reading!
If you are a teacher based in the US and are associated with an Arabic full-time or weekend school program, you can enter the giveaway by completing the application form at http://bit.ly/ArabicTeacherGiveaway.
We'd love to hear about your experience and any highlights or memorable experiences of your Arabic teaching journey. How did you become an Arabic teacher? What do you love most about your job? What's the most challenging aspect of teaching children Arabic? What resources would you like to have in your classroom to help make teaching Arabic more fun and accessible?
Feel free to be creative, involve your students, and share any visuals with us! We’re not looking for the most Pinterest worthy classroom, but a compelling story about your teaching journey.
!بالتوفيق
]]>Kalimah Programs for Arabic Language, Culture, and Arts
A project-based, hands-on, Arabic immersion summer camp that combines science, arts, culture, history, outdoor play, field trips, guest speakers, and much more is just the right balance between fun, learning, and language practice. Four weeks of creating and Arabic speaking will boost your child's language abilities and confidence just as a trip abroad would. Eligible campers can also take advantage of merit and need-based scholarships provided by the Qatar Foundation International.
Aya Montessori Summer Camp
Join Aya Montessori for a fun and interactive summer camp filled with fun STEAM activities catered to ages 3-6. Your child will explore the world through (S)cience, (T)echnology, (E)nginering, (A)rt & (M)ath + Arabic, Islam & Quran. Field-trips & Daily fitness/workout.
Smart Minds Learning
What better way to learn a new language than to just speak everything you have to say in it? With that in mind, Smart Minds Learning developed a curriculum for their Arabic Immersion Summer Camp combining unique, exciting, challenging, and fun activities! You’ll find cooking, story-telling, drama, art and sewing, and exercise all in Arabic.
Mindbloom Preschool
The Language and Total Immersion Summer Camp is for children ages 3-8 years and will include participation from all age ranges in daily activities, including geography, food, art, dance, and more!
EL Camp
Provides children ages 5-12 of Arab descent with a fun driven immersion experience to practice the spoken language, gain basic literacy skills and learn about various Arab cultures. Activities are designed to complement Arabic learning, with the overall goal of supporting children’s literacy acquisition and kindling their love to the language and embracing the culture.
Al-Bustan Seeds Summer Camp
Al-Bustan Camp is a summer arts day camp where children appreciate Arab arts and culture while developing new language skills, making friendships, and exploring nature.Open to children of all ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds, “Al-Bustan”, Arabic for “The Garden,” encourages dialogue, respect, understanding, and celebrates diversity.
Arabic Summer Academy
The Arabic Summer Academy is a four week intensive (Monday through Saturday) Arabic course for 40 high school students from the Boston Public Schools and other schools in the Boston area.
River Garden Summer Camp
Animal lovers and nature explorers unite! The theme of camp this summer will focus on animals and Allah's infinite mercy on his creations. Campers will gain a solid understanding of animals' habitats, adaptations, behaviors, and needs. They will also connect this learning about animals with the nature around them.
Dr. Amer Sabbagh ACC Arabic School
An Arabic language learning and cultural experience opportunity through a combination of language lessons, daily themes, conversational time, and hands-on fun.
Startalk Arabic Language Camp
Fun, interactive learning experiences with hands-on cultural activities, including delicious food. Build proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing and get a jumpstart on Arabic in college.
Alkawthar Learning Center Arabic Immersion Camp
Children will be introduced to the Classical Arabic language through the “total immersion” method where language is acquired through conversations, games, free play, storytelling, songs, and fun activities.
Concordia Language Villages
At Al-Wāḥa, you’ll experience an oasis of cultural richness and diversity with counselors and teachers who speak a variety of dialects from across the Middle East. Enjoy traditional camp activities while you live the language surrounded by Arabic sounds, sights and flavors of the world’s fifth most populous language—in the heart of the Midwest!
STARTALK: Queens Summer Institute in Arabic
STARTALK’s mission is to increase the number of U.S. citizens learning, speaking, and teaching critical need foreign languages. STARTALK offers students (K–16) and teachers of these languages creative and engaging summer experiences that strive to exemplify best practices in language education and in language teacher development.
[Disclaimer: Maktabatee has not vetted these camps and is only providing this list as a community service. Parents should do their due diligence to ensure a camp meets their standards.]
]]>When we launched Maktabatee in April 2016, we knew that we wanted books that could be read in this context, that would allow children to see the beauty of Arabic storytelling, away from some of the old school story lines and graphics that we were used to. Since then, we’ve heard from many community members who are hosting similar programs in their schools and libraries. If you don’t have one in your area, why not start one yourself? If you’ve thought about it, but are not sure where to start, we broke it down for you into five steps, drawing on our own experience as well as tips we gathered from talking to others who have been involved in starting or organizing an Arabic story time in their community.
1. Find a venue: Whether it’s the local library, mosque, or your own home, the first step is to choose a location for your storytime. Ideally, there should be a space that is away from distractions, includes comfortable seating, and is accessible to parents and little ones. We found it helpful to have floor seating for children so they won’t be constrained in chairs. If you have a large Arabic speaking population in your area, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local library and offer to help organize an Arabic storytime. If the library is not ready to sponsor one, you can reserve a library meeting room to host your storytime and once you build a following, the library might see the value in sponsoring it themselves!
2. Set the program: From our own experience and hearing from other parents, the ideal audience for a storytime is children ages 1- 5. Your program can be customized to fit a more narrow age group, but in general, we found that 60-90 minutes is enough time to read 2-3 stories, sing songs, and do a simple craft. Having consistency in the program from week to week helps children get used to what to expect. Asiya, a mom to three little ones in Virginia who helped run a local Arabic storytime, says “repeating the same opening, transition and closing song each week worked really well, as the children started to memorize them and could participate in singing them with us.” Songs are a great way for children to practice their Arabic and get everyone engaged, you can even have kids stand up and get their energy out while singing or add hand and body movements with each song. You can find plenty of nursery rhymes in Arabic on Youtube, or get creative and make up your own!
Mariam from Michigan described the storytime she helps organize, “We play a 'bismillah' song to get folks seated in a circle and ready, then we read some Quran, sing songs in Arabic, use a felt board or puppets with the songs, read a couple of books, and finally end with a themed craft.” We love the idea of using puppets with songs or to do a more “storytelling” style instead of book reading.
Following the story session with a craft activity can help reinforce some of the themes and vocabulary in the stories. After doing several craft sessions post-storytime, I found that keeping it as simple as possible was key. Elaborate crafts that end up being done mostly by parents or tossed at the end of the session didn’t do much for the children.
3. Choose books and stories: Because this is probably the hardest part, it’s best to keep a few things in mind:
- Find books that are not too long, preferably no more than one sentence on each page, or shorten the phrases to accommodate the short attention spans.
- Test the books out on your own children if possible-- sometimes books that resonate with adults don’t always translate well with children.
- Illustrations are just as important as the words! Books with vivid images will help children visualize the story and stay engaged.
- Consider finding a common theme across 2-3 books to help reinforce certain concepts with children. This doesn’t have to an obvious theme-- for example, you might have 3 books that take place in different seasons, so you highlight that part and do a seasonal craft. Or find books that have animal characters and practice their names. Another theme can highlight feelings that characters experience, such as excitement, sadness, or fear. (Our book selection is tagged, so you can find titles related to family, pets, counting, emotions, and more!)
Asiya told us, “The stories that worked best for all the kids, whether they knew Arabic already or not, were stories with many pictures of things they were familiar with, such as trucks or balls, with words that were repeated over and over again.”
4. Prepare: If you are going to be reading the books or telling the stories, make sure you practice, practice, practice! Read the books several times in the days leading up to the storytime-- this will make you more comfortable with the story-- you can look away from the pages and use your own words as needed, and you can add character to the story with special voices, changing your pitch, and other engaging movements.
For songs, you might want to print out the words for parents to sing along with you or play the songs on a speaker to help everyone follow the tune.
For the crafts, make sure you give this some thought in advance and prepare as much of the materials as possible to keep the craft simple enough for toddlers and preschoolers.
5. Go for it! Starting something new is always nerve wracking, but keep your expectations in check and aim to get others involved to help you improve and customize the program for each group of kids. When I organized my first storytime, I had grand expectations that all the children would sit quietly as I read each word off the page and fall in love with every story I read. In reality, there were children jumping in front of my face (my own included!), some crying, some running off and distracting others, and some not really engaging with the story. I learned to choose shorter books, use my own words sometimes, stop and ask the children to point to things on the pages, and make other modifications as needed. And yes, there were many children and parents who loved the storytime and made it all worth it.
We’d love to hear from you if you have organized or attended a storytime in your area-- share your best tips below! And if you are hosting a public storytime, let us know the details and we’ll keep a running list of Arabic storytimes around the country for others to explore!
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Arabic music has always been a part of my life—it was the way my parents entertained us in the car on road trips before iPads and car DVDs became popular, and one way we learned a lot about our religion, culture, and heritage. On our annual summer trip to Jordan, our aunts and great aunts would commonly bust out with a tabla and start a dance party in the kitchen while washing dishes, or even sing together cultural songs in preparation for a wedding or graduation party.
If you’re looking for a way to enhance your child’s (or even your own) understanding of Arabic, here’s how and why you should use music in your Arabic language learning.
As you get your Spotify or Pandora lists ready, don’t just stick to “kids” songs! Yes, we love the alif baa taa songs just as much as you, but it’s important that kids associate Arabic with more than just the generic songs about the alphabet, the four seasons, or the nose and eyes that make up their face. Arabic music has generally degraded in quality over the last twenty years, and is one of the main reason I like to skip the new stuff and stick to the classics. Um Kulthoom, Fairouz, Ahmed Mounib’s and general cultural songs are beautiful in their words and content. Here are some of our favorites:
Fairuz:
Star of the East "كوكب الشرق" Umm Kulthum:
Ahmed Mounib provides a beautiful glimpse into Nubian culture:
If you're into Arabic poetry (Jahiliyah time to be specific), I love these poems sung in classical Arabic.
If you have older kids and looking for a way to immerse them in a cultural understanding of their language and heritage, I found Hamza Namira’s show engaging and informative and I highly recommend it.
Do you use music as a way to help your child in their Arabic language learning? What should we be listening to that we haven’t listed above?
]]>For children just starting to learn their Arabic alphabet, the Arabic Letter Connector has a complete set of the alphabet in its independent form, the easiest way for learners to begin recognizing the alphabet. For our three-year-old, who has been singing the Arabic alphabet song for a while now, we started by putting the alphabet in order. It was important for him to “feel” the letters in his hands, and the magnetic board helped him keep things in order. When we ran out of space on our small whiteboard, we pulled out a baking sheet for him to put them on and he loved seeing them all in one place.
We also used our Arabic Alphabet Flashcards, and asked him to choose the letter that corresponds with the card. We focused on one letter per day, and made it a theme, letting him choose objects around the house that begin with that letter. He particularly enjoyed putting dots on each letter, which helped him begin distinguishing between letters that are similarly shaped (some pieces are very small and parental supervision is necessary). You can use an Arabic alphabet book to introduce even more vocabulary. At this stage, children start to have a better command of their fine motor skills and it’s a good time to practice tracing the letters in different ways—using sand in a tray, forming letters with playdough, or using finger paint to make their own alphabet masterpiece.
As children become more confident in their knowledge of the basic alphabet, they notice that Arabic words use connected letters, and they barely see the independent form of Arabic letters in writing. It’s almost like learning a new alphabet. In this stage, the Arabic Letter Connector shines. The kit includes four sets of alphabets—independent form, beginning form, middle form, and end form—all color-coordinated to make it easier for the child to recognize. To help with this new skill, we pulled out each letter in all its different forms so our almost five-year-old can begin to memorize what they look like.
Again, we chose a letter to focus on each day, and while doing our daily Arabic reading, we pointed out the letter of the day, in as many words as we could find. Soon, he was pointing them out himself! So we started to put together short words that include the same letter in the beginning, middle, and end. As your child is now comfortable holding a crayon or pencil, introduce some alphabet tracing sheets that will complement their letter recognition. There are tons of printable resources for tracing and activities that we saved on our Arabic Alphabet Pinterest board.
Here is one way we worked on recognizing letters in their different forms with our 7-year-old:
The options are endless!
Your little one now recognizes the Arabic alphabet in all its forms, and can even sound out some three-letter words. Now is the time to put this great tool to work in the most versatile way. Your child can begin “copying” words on flashcards or in their favorite Arabic books, or even make a word list of their own. We started using one of the books in our Early Reader collection which has only two words on each page. Our seven-year-was super excited to start putting the words together. When he saw the accent marks on the page, he went ahead and used those too. As children get older, they become more “critical” of our teaching strategies, and my son was in that phase of being wary of any Arabic “gadget” I presented him with. But this was different, he didn’t feel like he was being told to study Arabic. For him, it was like the work he did in his Montessori classroom. He told me how in class they would write out the word after they spelled it using the Montessori moveable alphabet, so we did the same.
My NatGeo obsessed son chose to write out the names of his favorite animals and then threw in the names of family members for good measure. I leave the letter connector out every few days and he pulls it out and starts making his own words, sometimes with the help of a book, and other times by asking me. It sparks some conversations and I try to make him use as many Arabic words as he can!
What made this product so compelling to us as parents is that it grows with your child. From when they start recognizing the alphabet, to when they start forming words, writing them, and reading them, the Arabic Letter Connector is a great tool to have in your Arabic learning toolbox.
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Before founding Hikayati, I started a project called "Tell Me a Story" in Lebanon, where we set out to encourage families to read aloud to their kids starting at six months of age. We focused our efforts on children at risk due to poverty or displacement, some of whom had parents that were at best functionally literate. We wanted to make sure that every mother is able to share a book with her young child, regardless of her literacy level. I started looking around for books to include in the packages families would receive, and I specifically looked for wordless books. I knew they existed, my own favorite growing up was "The Snowman," but unfortunately, we didn't find any in Arabic and the project went ahead without them. When the next opportunity came along, we decided to make our own, and that's how Hikayati was born.
I genuinely believe wordless books should be a part of any body of children's literature, but even more so for Arabic speakers. They are a wonderful way to use our various spoken dialects to engage in storytelling and books. Every family gets to tell the story in its very own style, to bring to the books the things and words that matter to them. Little children get to develop a relationship with a book in the same language they hear day in and day out, especially as they transition between the spoken dialects of early childhood and the formal Arabic of the educational system. As they get older, children also have complete agency to engage in storytelling before they even begin to read. This opens up a new dimension of engagement with books that doesn't exist if our libraries are devoid of wordless books.
One of the best ways to read aloud with kids is to engage in dialogic reading. It is simply a way of establishing a back and forth dialogue around the story, pausing briefly to give your child a chance to comprehend and participate. For example, you pause to look at the pictures, you point to something, and ask your child to name it. When they do, you reaffirm the answer and then find a way to expand on it.
It might look something like this with a young child just building up their vocabulary reserve:
You (pointing to ladybug): What is this?
Child: a ladybug.
You: That's right, it's a ladybug. A little red ladybug.
With an older child, you can build on the extension by asking questions such as "Where do we usually find ladybugs? Do you remember where we last caught a ladybug?" and so on.
Another wonderful way to use our books would be to simply invite your verbal child to tell you the story. You'll be surprised with what they will come up with!
What are the ideas behind each of the books in your collection?
"Where?" is a lift-the-flap book. We wanted a book with a clear progression of events that would allow preschoolers to tell a story, but at the same time would involve them in the action. The flaps mean that they can be part of the search for the missing ladybug.
"My Grandmother's House" is a look-and-find book that is designed to help children build vocabulary by learning to label a familiar environment. As they locate items in each room, parents can help them point out items in relation to each other (on the couch, next to the stove, etc...). They can also talk about items commonly found in specific rooms (bed, pillow, covers, clothes, etc).
With "My Alphabet," we wanted to give children a chance to use their own vocabulary reserve to learn letter recognition. We included the letters on each page but not words that correspond with the letter. Those have to be figured out, game style. Some pages have multiple possibilities, so each child's personal dictionary for the book will be slightly different. The coloring book allows for reinforcement of what they learned from the board book. Children will love coloring in the large letters and making the connection between reading and writing/coloring.
Thanks so much Rania for answering our questions and for Hikayati for filling the void in wordless Arabic books. We’re so excited to be carrying them! If you’ve purchased one of these one-of-a-kind Arabic books, let us know how you’re using them in the comments below.
]]>1. Sing songs in Arabic: Arabic has hundreds of traditional kids songs to choose from, and most of them can be ordered online or simply downloaded. Al Salwa’s Arabic Nursery Rhymes series is probably the best out there right now: you get the books with the songs written down, the music in audio form, and a DVD with little animations on it. But there is a lot more: Rim Banna has a great collection of children’s songs in the Palestinian dialect, and Sana Mouasher has at least five CD’s of kids songs, many of them translations of traditional children’s songs from English. We play the songs in the car and sing them outside shamelessly.
You don’t have to limit yourself to kids songs. It’s good to start early with introducing quality music. I like to listen to the Egyptian folk musician and poet Fagumy with my son. Somehow, on the swing he likes to sing If the Sun Sank into a Sea of Clouds (إذا الشمس غرقت في بحر الغمام), and when we eat beans we sing On the Topic of Beans and Meat (عن موضوع الفول واللحمة). [Check out Maktabatee's collection of audio CDs featuring easy to learn singalongs]
2. Name things in Arabic: When I think about my son’s vocabulary for everyday things in Arabic, it is far superior to what mine was at his age, and he even knows words that many Arabs don’t know. What’s a piglet in Arabic? خِنَّوص in Fusha, or خَنُّوص in the Lebanese dialect. What’s a ladybug?دُعسوقَة. How does my son say a big ladybug? “Big دعسوقة”, as he gestures with his hands and opens his eyes wide. How does he tell me there is a mosquito on his foot? He says في موس فوت, which sounds a lot like there is a moose on his foot, but I get what he means.
3. Play everyday games in Arabic: Everyday language is one of the most neglected parts of the Arabic language. It’s hard to find the names of bugs and certain toys, and even harder to find the names in a specific dialect. How do you say “tag” in Arabic? The word I know is زَقَط , but I’m sure other dialects have other words. What about slide and swing? The words I know are زُحْلَيقَة ِand مُرْجَيْحة respectively, but other dialects use other words (سُحْسَيْلَة in parts of Palestine, مَرْجُوحة in Fusha, etc.).
4. Read in Arabic: I recall reading a study in grad school that said that a child coming from a well-educated household would have laid his hands on over 200 children’s books before kindergarten. Thinking of that for Arabic, I need way more books. Maktabatee has been my primary resource for quality Arabic books, and they’re always getting new things in. I also buy books in English and translate them to Arabic, simply glueing the new text on. It’s cheap and quick. I’ve even translated Everybody Poos into Arabic. If you don’t have time to glue the text on, you can just write it in next to the English. Or you could use wordless books like Goodnight Gorilla and just talk about them in Arabic. Our bedtime routine includes 20-30 minutes of Arabic reading while my son enjoys his bottle of milk.
5. English into Arabic: I grew up in the US, meaning I grew up immersed in English nursery rhymes, music, and games --- and I love American pop culture. With my son, I make up translations for songs that he comes home with from daycare and stuff from pop culture that I love. My son loves my translation of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” even though I lose the rhythm on one line. I have ridiculous translations of pieces of Peter, Paul and Mary songs, Simon and Garfunkel songs, and even parts of Dana Carvey’s “Choppin Broccoli” (hey, at least he eats his broccoli now).
Language is never isolated from context. Your child will remember what they associate with fun and love. To help you out with that, I've compiled a coloring book that you can print and color with your kids while talking about the animal in Arabic. Click here to download the coloring book (Arabic only or Arabic and English).
- Hossam Abouzahr
]]>That’s why we’re excited to bring to you a great opportunity to share books with children in need. With the influx of refugees to the Washington DC area, one local organization has done some amazing work to support the needs of this new community. Mozaic was developed to provide the support resettled families need to achieve a healthy and speedy adjustment from where they were to where they are now. Mozaic is staffed by a small army of dedicated volunteers who go above and beyond the call of duty. They have organized bake sales to help empower refugee women to make a living, registered adults for classes to gain skills for employment, furnished homes for newly resettled families, and so much more (see their Facebook page for their amazing work). On their list is a plan to build a small library for the children of these refugee families, and we couldn’t be happier to support them. A library will become a safe space for children to read, imagine, and explore and Arabic books will help some of those children reconnect with their native language and culture.
We will deliver the books to Mozaic and look forward to seeing the library open in the near future. We hope to participate in storytime activities and provide any support we can to keep the library up and running. We know the Maktabatee community loves reading and loves Arabic, now it’s time to share that love with others!
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The illustrations of the talented Maya Fidawi stood out among the stories we began compiling for our launch collection.
]]>The illustrations of the talented Maya Fidawi stood out among the stories we began compiling for our launch collection. If you’ve read Uncle Khalfan’s Sheep, you know the story will bring out the belly laughs pretty quickly. The sheep take a trip to the dentist, and each of their unique personalities is captured with utmost detail-- from the dainty “Mazyoona” carrying her lady purse and donning a fur jacket, to the athletically inclined “Haddaf” with his gym shorts, dumbbells, and cheeky smile.
Not only is it hard to artistically capture the exact expression of humans in these books, but more so the animals! We can read the face of Fifi the troublemaking cow as she wreaks havoc in Dana’s house with a grin along the way.
And while the characters of a book are important, the setting of the story is equally compelling. In Fidawi’s illustrations, you are pulled into the pages of the book and can almost smell the aroma of garlic and chicken in Nora’s kitchen as her parents try to convince her to eat her mulukhiyah instead of watermelon for dinner.
In Majid’s grandmother’s house, parents in particular will feel a sense of nostalgia as they notice all the details of the setting of a traditional Arab home, from the woven rugs, to the antenna on the tv, to the Turkish coffee in the backyard.
We wanted to know what inspires these beautiful illustrations and the story behind them, so we interviewed Maya Fidawi, a Beirut-based children’s book illustrator.
Can you tell us a little about yourself? What kind of childhood did you have?
Where did you grow up and how did it influence your future career?
How did you become an illustrator?
How would you describe your style as an illustrator? Can you briefly explain your creative process, mediums, etc?
Do you think illustrating Arabic children's books is harder than other books?
What do you think makes a great children's book?
What was your favorite book as a child?
Has becoming a mother changed the way you illustrate children's books? What is your favorite Arabic book to read to your children?
Thank you, Maya, for giving us a bird’s eye view of the life of a children’s book illustrator! You can find Maya’s illustrations in these books and you can read our other interview with author Maitha Alkhayat in the Maktabatee Spotlight series here.
]]>Now as parents, spring break means getting to enjoy these activities with our own kids with the added challenge of figuring out how to incorporate more Arabic along the way. While Arabic came naturally for our parents, it takes a little more effort from us as it's no longer our first language.
If you could use the help like we can, check out this fun scavenger hunt in Arabic that will keep your kids busy this spring and practice some new Arabic words (click image to download printable).
Print them out, read the words to your little one and let them color the images once they spot them in the park, on the road, or on the way to the plane ride. Encourage your kids to use the words in sentences and name other objects and things you see this season.
This weekend, we took the little ones out for a hike this weekend as soon as the sun came out and it was warm enough to walk around without a jacket. Kids and nature are the best combination and learning tool, so take advantage of the warming temps and spend some time outside exploring and learning!
If you are traveling in the coming weeks, we know that one printable won’t keep the kids occupied long enough, so be sure to check our travel tips blog with more activities and ideas for braving the trip with little ones while keeping Arabic close by.
We hope you enjoy these printables and would love to see your kids putting them to use! Tag us in your pictures on Facebook or Instagram using #MaktabateeKids.
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That’s why we made sure that our Maktabatee collection includes some of the best animal-related Arabic books out there, for every age group and interest area. With a language that is second for most of our children, it’s important for us that Arabic books bring them the same joy as other books they cherish with their favorite lovable animals.
For the youngest readers, those exploring books with all of their senses, our Arabic alphabet book features brightly illustrated animals for every letter of the Arabic alphabet.
The beauty and complexity of the Arabic language is highlighted here, as some animals have more than one name in Arabic, so you will be sure to see some names that you may not have known before! Pair it with your favorite animal puzzle, and your toddler will be saying “kharoof” before you know it! Tweet Quack Moo is the perfect interactive counting book that will have you and your little one mooing, quacking, and meowing all day long! Once your preschooler is ready to start counting, add some wooden Arabic blocks for them to count along with the animals in the book (see more about how to teach basic preschool skills with our books).
If you’re ready to add a pet to your home and introduce your child to the responsibilities of caring for one, these short stories will be a perfect addition to your library. The pets in Karma’s Rabbit, The Sky is Raining Food, and Kaak are tiny troublemakers that take their owners on a wild goose chase of sorts. They always bring laughs to our evening reading routine, followed by requests for a pet turtle, bunny, and cat!
The stories came to life recently in our home when my son brought his two class bunnies to care for over the long weekend. Thankfully, these bunnies weren’t as mischievous as Karma’s!
We get even more belly laughs when reading Fifi and Uncle Khalfan’s Sheep, two stories with highly imaginative scenarios featuring some “wild” cows and sheep. Fifi happens to be a birthday gift that goes wildly wrong, while the sheep taking a trip to the dentist keep us on our toes! As the author of Uncle Khalfan’s Sheep told us when we interviewed her, she was inspired to write the book as she waited to see the dentist with her son and wanted to help other children see the lighter (and beneficial) side of getting a regular check up for those pearly whites.
Last but certainly not least, is our Animal ABCs Encyclopedia for the animal aficionado in your home. For every letter of the Arabic alphabet, an animal is featured on a two-page spread highlighting interesting facts about the animal's environment, diet, family life, and our relationship with it. My detail-obsessed son has learned even more with this encyclopedia, including a ton of new Arabic vocabulary that I can’t even say I knew!
If your elementary schooler is starting to read Arabic, they will also enjoy the animals in our Arabic Early Readers collection-- from friendly dolphins to prehistoric dinosaurs.
Whatever animal is a favorite in your home, your child will fall in love with the friendly characters in these books, carefully handpicked, reviewed, and approved from one mom to another! Click here to browse our full selection of animal-themed books, and let us know which one is your favorite!
]]>get to see much of it either. Look around you, everything is labeled, packaged and branded in English (or another language if you live outside the US). From cereal boxes to toy boxes, our children rarely see the beautiful Arabic script emblazoned on things outside of their books or some Arabic toys. So why not bring some more Arabic into your view? We made it easier for you with two free printables with labels of popular items around the house (download kitchen labels and bedroom labels). Print them out, let your child cut them out and then display the labels on the correct item. If they cannot read yet, be sure to stop and look at the labels whenever you can, pointing out the letters and enunciating the words. Have your child repeat the word and use it when you are speaking together as much as possible. It’s a great reminder for adults to speak in Arabic too!
Use books as art! Although adults are taught not to judge a book by its cover, who can convince a child not to be attracted to a colorful, beautifully illustrated book? When choosing books for our Maktabatee collection, we scrutinize the illustrations and visual elements as well as the story line. We love displaying the books prominently in our homes, especially where our children can see them frequently. They add a beautiful decorative touch and serve as a subconscious reminder of the existence of Arabic in our lives.
If you browse our past blog posts, you’ll find a number of helpful tips on issues related to incorporating Arabic in your daily life through reading, playing, and more. Although we are not educators in the traditional sense, as parents, we find ourselves in the precarious situation of having to teach our children so much with limited knowledge ourselves (where’s that parenting manual?!). This task of understanding the most complex creatures, our own children, and then teaching them everything, is a daily struggle. We’ll continue to share our experience and what works for us in our journey to teaching our children the beautiful Arabic language!
Hope you find it useful,
- Tuqa
Co-founder, Maktabatee
P.S. We’d love to see how you are using our printable labels-- send us a picture or tag us on social media using #Maktabatee. If you find them useful, let us know if you would like to see more!
Don't forget to bring along some fun Arabic printables and practice words related to traveling on the road or by plane.
2. Apps, videos, and songs: Let’s be real, we are not going to leave these lifesaving devices at home. But we will try our best to make the most of their screen time with something educational, and preferably, one that includes Arabic. Some options:
- Iftah ya Simsim episodes, the classic show we grew up watching has been relaunched with new high-quality elements.
- Adam Wa Mishmish series is perfect for kids of all ages, featuring short songs that focus on a specific theme, such as numbers, animals, etc. Just pop in the CD and you'll be humming them all day long!
We also love a good Arabic app, some of our favorites are:
- Little Thinking Minds apps which have some great singalongs that your kids will quickly pick up (we’re not responsible for uncontrollable kids singing some fun Arabic tunes in public).
- Lamsa is another great interactive app which includes a variety of activities that reinforce numbers, letters, and sentence formation in Arabic. My son particularly enjoys the “cookie baking” activity!
- Siraj app is very good for letter recognition and word building, we love the graphics and easy to follow instructions.
- 3asafeer app gives you some great e-book options to read or listen to.
3. Books, books, and more books: Did you really think we were going to leave this one out? Pack your child’s favorite books and bring one or two that are new as a fun surprise. While technology is useful in many ways, long trips spent streaming videos nonstop will only make kids more fidgety and less engaged once you arrive at your destination. Make use of the time being “trapped” in a car or plane by practicing the Arabic alphabet with your toddlers and reading in Arabic with your older children-- disconnect from your work and other usual responsibilities and enjoy the quality time with your little ones. When you get tired of reading, pull out some audio books and let the kids listen and follow along in the car or on the plane. Our audiobook collection includes a “Bouquet of Flowers,” which fits perfectly with the theme of “showing thanks.”
Most importantly, keep your expectations realistic-- travel is hard even for adults, so be sure to pack some snacks and lots of patience! The reward of seeing your little ones enjoying their time with cousins and friends, or experiencing a new relaxing destination, will be well worth it.
How do they do it? What’s their biggest challenge? And what tools do they use to help them? We asked a few non-native Arabic speaking moms and here’s some of what they had to say.
Naz, who is the cofounder of the inspirational book series JannahJewels and a homeschooling mom living in Canada says,“learning another language when it is not your first one can be intimidating!” She shares some resources that she enjoys using with her children, including Arabic alphabet blocks, Arabic board books from Maktabatee and some from her local library.
Naz always finds creative ways to bring Arabic to life in her homeschooling paradise (or at least that’s what it looks like to us!): “Combining Mixed Media Art while learning Arabic words related to their everyday life is really fun and working out well for my little ones.”
Emilie Ummu Meriem, a French mom living in Canada, finds that the biggest struggle is “finding quality resources that are made for non-native speakers.” She says, “in the beginning, I bought a lot of books and other resources designed with Arabic-speaking parents in mind. But since then, I have learned to check if the resource has these special features that make it easier for non-native speakers: easy-to-read Arabic font, Arabic text with accent marks (to make pronunciation easier), and translation within the text if possible. It's great when these resources include vocabulary that I can use in my daily life rather than distant topics not relevant to my child.” As she learns from this journey, she has developed some great Arabic resources that are easily downloadable for parents everywhere on her blog, ArabicSeeds.com.
For Abeda, a homeschooling mom from London who grew up speaking Gujarati and English, starting an “Arabic playgroup for moms and toddlers with lots of crafts, games, singing, and reading” helped a group of kids and their parents learn Arabic together. Concentrating on a “word of the week” and “phrases of the week” also helped with the kids’ Arabic vocabulary. Teaching her daughter Ezzah through play--both with crafts and creative activities has helped her on her journey of teaching, and learning Arabic.
Aspiring bilinguist, Gambian Mommy, also seconds the incorporation of short phrases and sentences and believes this helps her daughters understand “snippets of Arabic conversations here and there.” Emilie Ummu Meriem also emphasized the importance of starting these conversations and phrases early in the child’s life. She notes that she began teaching Arabic to her now four year old daughter when she was a baby, reading “Arabic children's books out loud, listening to Arabic audio books, watching Arabic cartoons, and practicing writing in Arabic.”
Abeda and Emilie both noted how learning the language with their children has made the process easier and more enjoyable than learning it alone. Abeda says she’s more motivated and focused on learning with her daughter than when she “was attending courses and learning the language formally." Emilie also found support from her husband, who has helped her improve her own Arabic by only speaking to their daughter in Arabic.
Our advice to parents teaching their kids a language not native to them is summed up in Emilie and Abeda’s advice. Emilie says “don't be afraid of speaking Arabic, take action, start little by little, you will improve as you go and as you practice, repeat and persevere! When I start a new Arabic book with my child or watch a new cartoon in Arabic with her, I don't understand every word or sentence, and it is ok! I know that my brain is working on it!"
Abeda agrees that the more you converse, the more you learn. And one day, your hard work will pay off when you see your child putting their Arabic to use, like Abeda says of her daughter, "we often hear her teaching her grandparents or aunties Arabic words!”
If you are teaching your little one Arabic as a non-native speaker, let us know what your experience is like, and if you have any other tips to share! Don't forget to check out our older blog posts with a variety of tips on how to bring Arabic into your child's life through reading, crafts, and so much more!
]]>Here are some quick tips we rounded up for you on how best you can use this time to re-focus your energy on Arabic:
1. Morning routine: begin your day with an Arabic greeting, “صباح الخير”, to activate up your child’s “Arabic” senses from the minute they wake up. You’ll notice that your kids will quickly catch on. It’s a simple start, but slowly replacing English phrases with Arabic ones, from “good morning” to “what would you like to eat for breakfast?” will have a strong impact on your child’s comprehension of Arabic. While the kids are eating breakfast, why not pop in an audiobook to get their brains engaged with Arabic before anything else?
2. After school activities: the easy option would be to relinquish the television remote or iPad so you can get dinner started, but try to resist it every few days! If I have a few extra minutes the night before, I try to set up some activity trays that I use to buy me some peaceful cooking time in the evening. Since my children’s school doesn’t assign homework, we have more time to enjoy activities that interest them. Some examples of activities I’ve set out for them:
3. Dinner time: the kitchen abounds with a slew of things you can use to reinforce Arabic--shapes, colors, sizes, and names of everything from fruits and veggies, to cheese and milk, to utensils! Kids love the kitchen so it’s a great opportunity to utilize their help, while conversing in Arabic and emphasizing key vocabulary. Ask your child to identify the names of vegetables in a soup while they wash them for you. Enlist your chef in the making to help with chopping, washing, and prepping the ingredients. Even better, use a recipe themed book like Mariam's Pie or Grandma's Pizza to make some delicious pies that are a hit with all kids!
4. Bedtime: Arguably one of the most difficult times of the day with everyone tired and ready to hit the bed (except those preschoolers!), reward your child for brushing their teeth and getting into their pjs by snuggling up with a good Arabic book. Story time in a dimmed room with a cozy chair will give them something to look forward to daily.
What better time to bond than at the end of a long day and after the kids are fed, bathed, and ready for bedtime snuggles? The giggles will come out with Fifi and Dana, and if you want their imagination to soar, you’ll enjoy reading a few pages each night of this chapter book and keep the anticipation for the next few nights!
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Counting
We love animals around here and Tweet Quack Moo fits right in. My 2.5-year-old Zayd loves making all the animal sounds as we read this book while my 8-month-old Yusuf grunts and repeats in agreement. We often take the book along with us as he enjoys "reading" the book while we're on car rides or waiting in the doctor's office.
I pulled out our Melissa & Doug animal puzzle so we can use the animal pieces to match those in the book. I also grabbed some foam shapes that I had found in the Target Dollar Spot (my weakness!) and we used them to count along with the animals on each page. Zayd is still learning how to count and using the foam shapes helps him visualize the counting process. I made sure to repeat the number and names of the animals in Arabic and have my son repeat them as well.
On another day, we used our beautiful wooden Arabic alphabet blocks to match the first letter of the animal names. The blocks also have the Arabic numbers which we used to match with each page. Using these different tools adds a tangible element to the learning process, and encourages him to learn by hearing, touching, and speaking at the same time.
Do you have similar activities for your little ones? Share your tips with us, we’d love to hear from you! Tag us in your pictures on social media using #MaktabateeKids.
Happy reading, counting, and sorting,
Bushra
Co-founder, Maktabatee
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Across the Muslim world, a variety of traditional foods are prepared on the eve of Eid al-Fitr. In the Middle East in particular, the aroma of freshly baked ka’ak and ma’amoul fill the air in anticipation of the Eid celebration. In addition to the staples of syrup soaked pastries like baklava, mabroomah, ghraybeh, and the like, bakeries in cities across the Arab world will feature these special Eid treats. In our own home, we get the best of many worlds, as we also enjoy some traditional Pakistani desserts made by my mother-in-law on Eid morning- seviyan (a vermicelli pudding), sooji halwa (semolina dessert) - and some good old Betty Crocker cupcakes to top it all off.
Ka’ak and ma’amoul, mostly found in Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, are semolina based cookies that are typically filled with dates, pistachios, or walnuts. Women across cities and villages will gather a few nights before the first day of Eid or Easter for our Arab Christian neighbors to prepare large batches of these delicacies. These Gazan women are hard at work this week making the freshest ka'ak in traditional ovens (source).
The assembly line and team effort, sprinkled with laughing and singing, is one of the more enjoyable experiences of the holiday season. Here in the US, Middle Eastern bakeries are not always around the corner, so making these favorites at home is even more common.
One of my children's favorite books is KAAK, the tale of a mischievous cat name Simsim who steals a round ka’ak from his friend Ali and goes on a wild chase through the souq market. These freshly baked bread rings sprinkled with sesame seeds (the cat’s namesake) bring back cherished memories of my childhood summers in Jordan.
Every time we read this book, I try to explain to my boys what ka’ak is (a crunchy donut?), and this weekend, we finally had a chance to make one type of ka’ak that is specifically served during Eid. Having their grandmother around to guide the experience was even more special.
As we rolled the dough, made date balls, and then combined the two to make the crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside ka’ak, the boys took the experience into their own hands.
They went to town making ka’ak shaped like snakes (don’t ask!) to Arabic alphabet ka’ak. We named the ingredients in Arabic, and talked about the process as their little hands went to work.
When the cookies came out of the oven, the boys couldn’t be more proud of their hard work! The ka’ak will be shared with our family, friends, neighbors and coworkers, as well as the boys’ camp classmates.
Below you’ll find our family ka’ak recipe for you to try out this Eid, or any other time of the year (who needs an excuse for dessert!). Comment below and tell us, what’s your favorite Eid treat and which part of the world does it come from?
Eid Ka'ak Recipe
Ingredients:
- 7 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup fine semolina
- 1 cup melted ghee or butter
- 1 cup oil
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- dash of salt
- 1 tbsp kaak spices (ground fennel, mahlab) (optional)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2-3 cups date paste (pitted softened dates can sometimes be found in ethnic stores. If not, pit the dates, and process them until smooth.)
- powdered sugar (optional)
Directions:
- Mix the first 9 ingredients together by hand. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
- While you wait for the dough to rest, shape date mix into small balls.
- Roll dough into approximately 6" logs, then flatten gently.
- Roll the date balls into thinner logs then place on top of the flattened dough logs.
- Seal the dough over the dates. Bring the ends of the logs together into a circle and press to seal.
- Bake in a preheated 400F oven for 7 minutes or until bottom is golden. Then broil for a 1-2 minutes until the top gets the desired color. Monitor baking process carefully as ka'ak can burn quickly.
- Top with powdered sugar (optional).
(Note: This makes about 100 cookies, but this varies depending on the size of each one.)
Happy baking,
Tuqa
Summer is officially here! Schools are letting all the kids out, camps are welcoming them in, and as parents, we’re trying to stay sane with all the heat and energy this season brings. Whether your kids are in camp or enjoying a relaxing time at home, there are plenty of opportunities to bring Arabic into your summertime activities. Your children’s attention is not consumed by daily school work, so use that extra “brain capacity” and fill it up with some fun activities that involve Arabic practice.
1. Water play: Who doesn’t love water in the summer? Pull out the water balloons, sprinklers, and blow up pools and let the kids go wild!
Before you let them loose, share with them a few water-related words in Arabic that you want them to use while you’re outside (ماء - مسبح/ سباحة - مبلل - سمكة).
2. Rock painting: Of course you can go the traditional route and pull out some rolls of paper and let the kids go crazy painting outside, but why not surprise them with something new? Rock painting is so fun, you will be lured in too! Depending on your outdoor environment, you can have the kids go hunting for rocks to paint, or pick some up at any craft store! There are special rock painting kits too if you want to go all out! Where does Arabic come in? Depending on the child’s age, you can focus on the names of paint colors in Arabic, or for older children, ask them to describe what shapes, animals, or anything else they are painting in Arabic. If they go on a hunt for the rocks, ask them to describe the natural elements around them (ألوان- أحمر، أزرق، أخضر... أشكال- مربع، مثلث، دائرة…الطبيعة- أحجار، شجر، عشب...فرشاة الرسم).
3. Rainy day Arabic alphabet fun: For those of us who experience sudden thunderstorms and torrential rains in the summer, an indoor activity or two are a must to have on hand. Pull out your trusty box of playdough and have some Arabic alphabet playdough mats printed out in advance. If you can laminate them, they will last longer. You can find templates for the mats for just a few dollars on Etsy and Arabic Playground. Don’t have playdough? Grab some small stones, buttons, or pompoms that kids can use to trace the letters on the template. As the kids are tracing the alphabet with different materials, prompt them to find a word that begins with the letter they are working on.
4. Summer reading: As most of our kids will be engrossed in reading materials in English during the school year, why not take the opportunity to emphasize reading in Arabic during the summer? Create a summer reading log that reading-age kids can aim to fill in every week/month, and throw in some rewards for fun. Click here to print this reading log (سجل القراءة) we designed in Arabic for you! For kids who don’t read yet, pull together a summer reading corner with a basket of fun Arabic books for them to peruse and read along with you.
These activities are simple and you are probably already doing them, but being conscious about speaking in Arabic and highlighting a few vocabulary words will take this from an everyday activity to a hands on Arabic lesson! We've also compiled these and other ideas into a Pinterest board for you. Comment below and tell us how you keep your kids busy all summer and how you incorporate Arabic in their activities.
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For those of you who snagged a copy of our best-seller, “Uncle Khalfan’s Sheep,” you might agree with us that it’s quick to become a family favorite. A great story with beautiful illustrations (sheeps in braces?! what’s not to love!!), the story is easy to read and understand, especially with the rhyming text. We got the chance to chat with Maitha Al Khayat, the author of this book (and others, coming soon to Maktabatee!) and are excited to feature her on our blog today.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I'm an Emirati mom of five children, an author by heart and a children's book illustrator in spirit. I have a Bachelor's degree in Business and Information Technology and I love crafts and artsy activities.
What inspired you to become a children’s book author?
I think getting married, having children, and being surrounded by them inspired me to become an author. I disagree with some women who think that motherhood kills creativity. I don’t think that’s the case. My kids aren’t angels and I’m not a saint and I sometimes go crazy and drive my family crazy with me, but it’s those crazy occurrences that happen that turn into stories.
Do your children inspire the topics you choose to write about? If so, how?
My children’s naughtiness and everyday challenges inspire me to write stories. Parenthood can be so tough and sometimes you feel like a talking head or a commander bellowing out orders and directions. I found out, however, that this way doesn't always work for me. I’m good at telling stories so I use that skill to send a message to them in a subtle way, which I found to be more effective.
What do you think makes a good children's book? How do you choose books for your own children?
A good book has to be a page-turner that ignites questions, one that you never get enough of no matter how many times you read it. When my kids were very young, I chose books that were simple and focused on family bonds and allowed them to explore their imagination. But as they grew older I allowed them the freedom to make their own book choices. Sometimes I direct them to books that will challenge them and take their reading to the next level.
Where did the idea to write "Uncle Khalfan's Sheep" come from?
I took my son to a clinic to get his eye checked up and we sat within sight of the pediatric dentist’s office. We watched as the kids went in and came out one by one, either holding the side of their face, or smiling with big braces or staring at their hands holding a fallen tooth. I thought it would be funny to have a book that talked about all different types of dental problems but instead of humans, I thought it would be hilarious to have sheep instead. It's a scary topic for most kids so I wanted to lighten it up somehow.
What's the most challenging thing about writing children's books in Arabic, and promoting reading in the Arab world?
The most challenging thing is to write books that can compete with international standards. There is a lot more variety in English books than in Arabic books. I have also found that parents aren’t reading as much, so the children don’t see a good role model to emulate. We all know children will copy their parents, so it’s important for us to encourage reading by doing it ourselves.
In our last two blog posts, we discussed how to infuse the Arabic language in our children’s lives, and how to get kids to love reading (and off their touchscreens!); do you have any other tips you can share with us about how to encourage children to read more?
My tip would be to make reading a more involved activity by having parents and family members join in on the fun. A family “book club” is a fun idea, where you take turns choosing a book and at the end of the day or week, you talk about the book as a group and then do a relevant activity, craft, or role play. For example, creating a craft activity by drawing sheep faces with huge smiles, or getting the kids up and active by acting out a story such as "Uncle Khalfan's Sheep", where the mom can be the nurse, the dad the dentist and the kids the sheep. That would be fun!
Thank you, Maitha, for giving us a little glimpse into the life of an Arabic children’s book author, and for writing and illustrating some of our favorite books! We look forward to bringing more of Maitha’s books to Maktabatee-- in the meantime, you can sink your teeth into “Uncle Khalfan’s Sheep.”
-Bushra
Co-founder, Maktabatee
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From a young age, my husband and I immersed our children in reading. At just a few months old, we read to them, gave them large colorful board books to ogle and touch, and made reading a quintessential part of their day. When I traveled internationally for the first time with my first son to visit extended family in the Middle East, he was just 18 months old. To distract him on the flight, I bought mini versions of his favorite "look and see" books and he was attached to them everywhere we went. My relatives found it unusual, and in typical Arab fashion, made fun of me for "trying to raise a nerd" :)
At the ages of 5 and 3 now, they enjoy very few things more than curling up with a good book. Snuggling up next to a parent or grandparent and hearing them read a book, is something that an iPad can't provide. Hearing your mother imitate the characters of a favorite childhood book, is a memory many hold dear. Enjoying books in different languages is a unique experience that will expand your child's imagination and of course, vocabulary. The Arabic language is known to be descriptive-- it has three to four times the number of words that the English language does. At this point in their lives, we find it hard to keep books away from them (no, we will NOT read 5 books at bedtime!).
So how do we instill this love of reading in our children?
Admittedly, we sometimes need to hand a child an electronic device so we can finish a meal or get a few minutes of peace and quiet, but we can find ways to consciously incorporate more books and reading time that our children will appreciate for years to come.
What are your tried and true methods for promoting reading and love of books in your household?
-Tuqa
Co-founder, Maktabatee
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Today, as a parent myself, I have an added layer of difficulty-- getting myself to speak enough Arabic with my children since it doesn’t come as naturally to me as it did to my own parents. It’s an uphill battle, but one that I’m determined to take head on.
How? With a lot of personal effort and a little help from the Internet. There’s no question that the resources we have at our disposal today are beyond anything our own parents could have imagined. Don’t know the name of a particular animal in Arabic? Google translate will help. Looking for Arabic alphabet tracing worksheets? Pinterest to the rescue. Want to play an Arabic cartoon for the kids? YouTube videos galore.
But don't let that overwhelm you! Here are my top five tips for bringing more Arabic into your child’s everyday life:
1. SPEAK IT.
You might not be perfect at it, you might not speak classical Arabic, but if you can speak Arabic, try to do it as much as possible with your children. If you are like me, you may have other languages spoken at home. Don’t let that stop you from trying to speak to your child in Arabic as much as possible. English comes so naturally to me, so it takes a significant awareness for me to tell myself to speak in Arabic when I am with my kids. Don’t be discouraged if you go off track! Even a few sentences a day here and there will help your child.
2. READ IT.
Who doesn’t love to snuggle up with a parent and read a good book?
Books will introduce words that your children may not hear from you regularly or on a daily basis but are important in adding to their vocabulary. Don’t underestimate a child’s ability to understand unfamiliar words using images on the book or context clues. I’m always surprised that my children understand some words that I don’t use often. Hearing a book character speak in Arabic makes the language much more relatable and memorable for children. And seeing the Arabic word in the book will help as they move on to reading and writing the language themselves. We've handpicked our favorite Arabic books for you so you don't have to do all the work!
3. PLAY WITH IT.
Children learn with all their senses. Adding a tactile element to your toolbox of Arabic learning is important. Today, we have a whole new set of learning products that children can interact with. From alphabet blocks to flashcards to puzzles and moveable alphabets, give your child a new way of experiencing the Arabic language. Use play dough to make the letters of the alphabet, paint them, or practice the letters in a sandbox (more ideas here).
4. DISPLAY IT. The beauty of the Arabic script is undeniable. Most Arab homes will have some if not many decor items that include beautiful Arabic calligraphy. Children may not be able to read or recognize fancy script, but they will learn to appreciate it. You can also add kids themed Arabic art (check Etsy) or display the kids’ own Arabic arts and crafts prominently around the house. (More tips in our Arabic Around the House blog post).
5. LISTEN TO IT.
Songs, apps, and short videos will help your child grasp how words sound, help them develop the pronunciation of letters, all while engaging them in a fun way. Pop an Arabic sing-a-long CD in during your car ride and your kids will be repeating it in no time! Audiobooks are another great way to "listen" to Arabic in a fun way.
And on the days when mama or baba can’t get a break, get YouTube’s help. One of our favorite shows, the newly produced “Iftah ya Simsim” has sing-alongs, narrated books and important lessons that your children will enjoy.
What do you do to help your children learn and maintain their Arabic language? Share your best tips with us!
-Tuqa
Co-founder, Maktabatee
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