Educating children needs a great deal of wisdom that combines both firmness and lenience. Muslim parents are responsible for implanting Islamic teachings in the minds of their children and establishing the meanings of love and submission to Allah in their souls. This is far better than harsh approaches that may produce opposite results.
Dr. Salah Al-Sawy, the Secretary General for the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America (AMJA), said, however, it is necessary to have discussions with them, explaining the importance and merits of praying the Fajr Prayer. You should tell them that whoever observes the Fajr Prayer will be under Allah’s Protection all day long. Tell them that Fajr and `Isha’ Prayer are the heaviest two Prayers for the hypocrites. Use a combination of warning and exhorting, threatening and promising, cajoling and alarming, but do not make them hate worshipping their Lord. Make it a point to organize their day in a way that makes it easy for them to perform the Fajr Prayer. Whoever goes to sleep only an hour before Fajr, for instance, will have a difficult time getting up to pray. So, explain to them the importance of going to bed early and how Allah (Glorified be He) has made sleep for resting and has made the day for going about your business.