Family tree (you HAVE to make this)

Assalamo aleykum,

 

today I was talking with a friend of mine about keeping good relations with our non-Muslim families, a very popular topic of conversation among us Muslim "converts". As both me and my friend home educate, I suggested her this activity that I, in turn, came across thanks to a sister on Facebook (sometimes it can have a use!). Here it is: The Family Tree.

 

You simply HAVE TO make it for 4 reasons:

 

1) It is very easy, as it comes with its own templates that you can download here. If you don't have foam, then use card on a cardboard base, as I did (actually the base was the 2 large sides of a cereal box stuck together).

 

2) It is very interactive: my son couldn't get enough sticking leaves! we made extra ones and he asked me to cut out so many we also made another tree just for him to stick leaves on it to his heart's content. He also loved helping to cut the grass (this was quite a while ago so his scissors skills were not what they are today masha'Allah).

 

3) It can be a lovely present for your child's grandparents, as it sends out a message that is usually very close to their heart, i.e. that they are also part of that child that they love so much, despite the differences. It conveys the feeling that we do not outright reject their legacy, on the contrary we treasure what of it does not oppose our beliefs and care to transmit it to our children. (It is a little craft that says a lot indeed!!!)

 

4) It is rather beautiful ma sha' Allah. Here's ours. We used only coloured card and a nice matching  ribbon as a frame.

 

 Here it is hanging on the wall in grandma's house :)