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If you are planning on mudik (traveling to your hometown) this Ramadhan, you need to make preparations so that the kids don'€™t get bored or restless during the journey. Here are a few tips.

Get enough sleep

You and your family will definitely be spending a lot of time sitting down. You can'€™t expect your children to remain calm and seated throughout the entire trip '€” especially if you decide to go by car. They can get really cranky once they get tired and discover that they can'€™t sleep as comfortably in a car as they usually would in their own rooms. Make sure that they get enough sleep the night before you depart. This also helps them to get up on time the day you all leave.

Prepare snacks and games

Kids can get bored spending countless hours sitting down. Keep them busy by inviting them to talk. Be sure to show them the sights as you pass by. Allow them to play with their electronic gadgets. Just make sure that they don'€™t play for too long, or else they'€™ll hurt their eyes. Have plenty of snacks and drinks ready, so that if they get hungry on the road they'€™ll have something to eat. Hunger, after all, can be one of the main reasons for children to get restless on a journey.

Bring their favorite tunes

You can fill up your children'€™s electronic gadgets with their favorite songs. Alternatively, you can put on your favorite CD and ask them to sing along to it. If you'€™re going to be traveling at night, you can put on calmer music to help your kids sleep. Have them wear comfortable clothing

Making your children feel comfortable and happy throughout the trip is your main mission. Keep note of what they'€™ll be wearing. Be sure that the fabric can absorb sweat well and allow them freedom of movement. If the journey is going to be long, there shouldn'€™t be any problem with the kids wearing their pajamas. Have plenty of replacement clothing available and put it someplace easy to access within the car.
Bring sleeping accessories

Kids tend to sleep easier when they have their favorite things with them. So bring with you the pillows and blankets they use to sleep. Take their toys along for the ride as well. The goal is to have them be as comfortable as possible despite being in a moving vehicle.

JP/PJ. Leo

Teach them to ask for forgiveness

During Idul Fitri, your children will see people around them asking others for forgiveness. Turn this into an opportunity to teach your child the value of asking forgiveness from others during Ramadhan. Tell your child that they might sometimes do things that hurt others, whether they intended it or not.

Teaching them the meaning of forgiveness can begin as soon as they turn 5. Doing so can help them to build empathy.

'€œI taught my child the meaning of asking for forgiveness when he began to get bigger. One day, he stole a toy from his friend and caused him to cry. I told him to shake his friend'€™s hand and ask for forgiveness. I told him that asking for forgiveness doesn'€™t mean you are weak, but that you are willing to admit your mistakes,'€ said Evita, 35.

For many children, asking for forgiveness is difficult. That'€™s why you need to give them the chance to ask for forgiveness in ways that are natural for them. If your child prefers doing so with actions, teach them the value of hugging those they hurt. If they are better with talking, push them to make their apologies verbally.

Breed empathy

To teach kids the concept of asking for forgiveness, you must first instill in them a sense of empathy. You can do so by giving them mental illustrations.

'€œI asked my child, '€˜How would you like it if they stole your toys? Wouldn'€™t you be sad? Your friend is also sad.'€™ I dug up his feelings of empathy, which helped him ask forgiveness from his friend,'€ Evita said.

Aside from giving them these mental images, you can also give them direct examples.

'€œIf I forgot to cook my child'€™s favorite food, I'€™d automatically ask forgiveness from them. That way, they can see that asking for forgiveness is not a bad thing. It is necessary if you do something bad. It'€™ll make others happy when we ask for their forgiveness,'€ said Vivi, 33.

Let'€™s teach our children the value of asking for forgiveness this Ramadhan.