Time for Prayer!

Good question. As mentioned in a hadeeth, a good age to start encouraging our children to pray is at age 7. By age 10, some form of appropriate consequences for not praying can be applied. Do note that the gap between age 7 and 10 is 3 years, which mean parents must at least complete 3 years of consistent, positive, and compassionate education and encouragement about salat to their children before practicing any form of consequences for not praying. Think of it this way; if you are not properly educated in something and then out of a sudden you get punished for it, won't you feel sour about the whole thing yourself? Before age 7, children should only be engaged in unstructured (and some form of structured) play, according to what is appropriate for their age. This is because prior to age 7, children on average don't have abstract thinking yet so their ability to think is not fully developed. So to push them to think or to start formal learning at an early age would be ill-advised. Play, on the other hand, is the most natural form of learning for them that is best suited for their fitrah. Remember that the Prophet's grandchildren used to ride him when he was in sujud? Yes, that is the natural form of learning for children. So let them play to their hearts content, as long as they are kept safe and secured - both physically and emotionally.

To add to the discussion..   Inculcate into the childens psyche that salah is actually our highlights of the day! This is where we can really speak our heart to the one who will actually listen to us. Children need attention, so tell them that their creator is the one that will listen to them. Especially in sujood. Salaah is a conversation, its a mega experience!   Also, choose a corner of your house and delicate that as the designated musalla. Adorn it with the most sweetest of scents, make it a cool nice place to be, create an aura.  Try and pray in a jamaa and maybe even let your eldest lead the salaah now and again, this empowers them.   Just a few pointers! :)

Asalaam Alaykum Warahmat Allah Wabarakatu, everyone is born on fitrah, so children already have a natural deep love for Allah. Our roles as parents is to nurture that love but we cannot do that if we don’t begin rectifying ourselves first. We have to show up to Allah in our salaah with our hearts not just as robots. Also bring them to the masjid.. I strongly suggest all Muslim public school kids should be dismissed on Fridays for Jummuah, girls too. If they are old enough to go to preschool, they’re older enough to go weekly to the masjid inshaaAllah. This will help support their hearts purpose.   It’s also essential that we talk with our kids about Allah from the day their born, literally. As our children become teens reminding them and advising them without enforcing and as adults who grow up and leave home, although I’m not there yet we have to be a constant source of duaas to Allah for our children.   The best advice comes from the Quran! There are amazing duaas in the Quran we should be consistently using as a tool to help us connect them with the deen.. it’s good for them and good for us by Allah’s mercy:  Ibraheem, 40 Duaa of Ibraheem  Ali Imran, 36 Duaa of Maryam’s mother  Al Imran, 38 Duaa of Zakariyyah Furqan, 74 Ahqaf, 15 May Allah protect our children, families, homes and Ummah. 

May I add to the discussion.....Acting,Teaching and Explaining are the best way to convey a message to a child.First of all,the parents should be the example for thier kids by preforming salat as it told to be performed in the suna hence actions are more powerful than words. Second, they should tell thier children that prayer is the time when they communicate with Allah and explain for them how pleasant it is for a person life. Third, they should teach them how to practice it right and feel the unique relief ; away from stress,anger,anxiety,depression and tension . It is a calming communication between Allah and the prayer .when the child recite surat Al Fatiha ,he asks Allah guidance to the righteous path,thank him for every good thing in his life and remind himself that Allah is the greatest who creates the whole world and owens it. last but not least,praying in a perfect way as the prophet(PBUH) direct us makes prayer the best and lovable action in their day. Parents mostly start encouraging their children to pray at the age of seven as it is mentioned in the prophet suna which is the age of discration

As Salamu Alaikum, Excellent information has already been provided but I wanted to add from my personal experience which complements the other advice given. When I stop what I am doing in order to get ready and do Salat without saying a word. My children will jump up and follow me into Salat, (Leading by example). If I have already completed my Salat and I am reminding them to do their Salat, they will complain every time. It is said that children do not listen to us, they copy us.