Good manners for kids · At home

Kindness to parents

Allah asks us to be kind to our parents — not even to say “uff”, to speak gently, and to make du'a for them (Qur'an 17:23–24). For children that means helping, kind words and the du'a for parents.

Ages 2–8Talk promptsFamily activity

Teacher review under way.

Read it together

What it means for little ones

Our mums and dads — and the grandparents and carers who look after us — take care of us every day. Allah asks us to be gentle and kind to them: to help, to listen, and to use a kind voice, even when we feel cross.

Allah teaches us

Where it comes from

Allah says in the Qur'an: be good to your parents, don't even say “uff” to them, speak to them kindly, and make du'a for them.

Qur'an 17:23–24

رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

Rabbir-hamhuma kama rabbayani saghira

“My Lord, have mercy on them both, as they cared for me when I was little.”

Learn more: Du'a for parents

Little habits

What it looks like

Help without being asked
Use a kind voice, even when cross
Say please and thank you
Make du'a for them

Talk about it

Questions to ask

What are some things your family does to look after you?
How can you help at home today?
What can you do when you feel cross with Mum or Dad?
What du'a can we make for our parents?

Family activity · One day

Secret helper day

Step 1: Together, list three small jobs your child can do: tidy shoes, set the table, water a plant.
Step 2: Your child does them quietly, as a surprise.
Step 3: At bedtime, they reveal what they did and say the du'a for parents.
Step 4: Tell them how their help made you feel.

For parents: Many children live with one parent, grandparents or carers. Keep the words inclusive and let children make du'a for everyone who cares for them.

Habit chartMake a chart for the fridgeTry lines like “I helped at home”, “I used a kind voice”, “I made du'a for my family” — stars and moons, never crosses.Open Chart Studio →PlayGood Deeds GardenSort good deeds from not-so-good ones. Every good deed grows a flower until your garden is in full bloom.Play free →All mannersMore good mannersEating, drinking, salaam, sharing, honesty and more.See them all →

Du'as and words for this: Du'a for parents

Questions parents ask

How do I teach this without making my child feel guilty?

Focus on love, not duty: notice and thank every kind act, and model kindness to your own parents.

What is “uff”?

A small sound of annoyance, like a sigh or “ugh”. The Qur'an mentions it to show that even tiny unkind sounds matter.

Sources: Qur'an 17:23–24

Qur'an references are checked on quran.com and hadith on sunnah.com; a teacher review is under way. Families and madhhabs differ on some details — ask your teacher.

Printable

Weekly Good Deeds Chart for Kids

A weekly good deeds chart in two levels: Little (ages 3–5) has six picture deeds and big stars; Big (ages 6–8) has eight deeds such as speaking kindly and keeping promises.

Open →

Parent tool