When I began homeschooling my children, I was eager to do everything “right.” Like most parents, I filled our shelves with phonics books, tracing worksheets, rhymes, and drills. I believed that the longer I spent on these basics, the stronger my children’s foundation would be.

But as the months turned into years, I noticed something. My children could recite sounds and copy letters, yet they were restless, uninspired, and craving more. They were capable of far more than I was giving them. And that’s when I realized: early-year methods like phonics, memorization, and repetitive worksheets should have a place, but only for a short time. Beyond that, children deserve to move forward.

Why We Must Not Spend Years on Basics

A child’s mind is not a bucket to be filled with the same drills over and over. It is a living garden that needs variety, depth, and nourishment. Science supports this truth. According to Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child, by age five, 90% of a child’s brain has already developed.

If we keep pouring in only the basics, letters, sounds, and rote memorization, during these golden years, we are denying children the chance to grow in wisdom, empathy, and real understanding.

Yes, children must learn to read, write, and count. But once the foundation is laid, it is time to move on to life skills, Islamic values, and deeper knowledge that will guide them through their lives.

The True Meaning of Education in Islam

Islam has never equated education with mere memorization of letters or endless drills. The Holy Qur’an itself begins with the command:

“Read in the name of your Lord who created.” (Surah Al-‘Alaq 96:1)

This was not just a command to decode sounds; it was a call to seek meaningful knowledge that connects us to Allah.

Have you ever noticed that Arabic too has alphabets, yet we don’t spend years drilling children on it? Children learn the Arabic letters, pronounce them, and then quickly move on to reading the Holy Qur’an itself. The real focus is on understanding, reflecting, and living by it, not getting stuck at the alphabet stage.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) emphasized practical learning and maturity. He said:

“The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5027)

Notice, he (Peace Be Upon Him) said, “learn and teach the Qur’an,” not “spend years on the alphabet.” Real learning was always tied to guidance, responsibility, and action.

Examples from the Young Companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)

When I think of how children were raised during the Prophet’s (Peace Be Upon Him) time, I am humbled. They were not trained to spend endless years repeating small basics. They were entrusted with responsibility, discipline, and character.

• Ali ibn Abi Talib (R.A): A child when he embraced Islam, yet he stood beside the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) with courage and wisdom. His maturity was far beyond his age.

• Abdullah ibn Abbas (R.A): At a young age, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) made dua for him: “O Allah, grant him knowledge of the religion and teach him the interpretation of the Qur’an.” He later became one of the greatest scholars in Islamic history, while still a teenager.

• Usama ibn Zayd (R.A): At just 17, he was entrusted to lead an army. Imagine the maturity, responsibility, and trust placed in someone so young.

These children were not shielded in a bubble of endless basics. They were nurtured to be leaders, thinkers, and contributors to society.

Life Skills: What Our Children Truly Need

When I look at our times, I worry. Many children can pronounce English words fluently yet struggle with the simplest acts of responsibility, cleaning their space, sharing with siblings, and respecting elders.

As a mother, I believe we must shift our focus after the basics are taught. Real education means:

Teaching Islamic manners (Adab): Greeting with Salaam, honesty in speech, gentleness in behavior.

Practical life skills: Helping in the kitchen, organizing belongings, and basic hygiene.

Emotional intelligence: Knowing how to control anger, express gratitude, and show empathy.

Spiritual connection: Understanding salah, the Holy Qur’an, and remembrance of Allah in daily life.

Critical thinking: Letting them ask “why,” make small decisions, and learn accountability.

These skills make a child not only educated but prepared for adulthood, and most importantly, for the Hereafter.

The World is Changing: What Kind of Children Do We Need?

We are entering a new era where machines can read and write better than us. Artificial Intelligence is replacing tasks we once thought required human effort. But what no machine can replace is character, wisdom, and empathy.

According to the World Economic Forum, the most valuable future skills will be problem-solving, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. These are not built by repeating rhymes for years; they are built by life experience, responsibility, and Islamic upbringing.

We must ask ourselves as Pakistani parents:

• Are we raising children for outdated systems, or preparing them for a future that needs maturity and leadership?

• Are we giving them the chance to grow into empathetic, responsible Muslims, as the companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) once were?

My Homeschooling Journey: A Mother’s Realization

As I stepped away from long, repetitive basics, my children blossomed. They began reading books with understanding instead of just pronouncing words. They started helping at home, asking meaningful questions, and taking pride in responsibility.

I realized something powerful: children grow best when we trust them, challenge them, and guide them with Islamic values. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) did not underestimate children, and neither should we.

Raising the Next Generation of Responsible Muslims

Education is not about keeping a child busy with worksheets. It is about preparing them for life, for responsibility, and for their purpose as servants of Allah.

Yes, teach them the basics, but please keep it limited. Don’t burn yourself out. Once they grasp the foundation, move on to what truly matters: life skills, Islamic character, and maturity.

The children of the Prophet’s (Peace Be Upon Him) time remind us that age is not a barrier to responsibility. They were entrusted, empowered, and guided. That is what our children need today.

The world does not need more children who only memorize, it needs Muslims who live with wisdom, empathy, and courage.