Ages 2–3

Tiny Manners, Big Hearts

Kindness is a habit we practice before we can spell it.

Toddlers build first manners — greeting, thanking, sharing, saying Bismillah — through warm daily rituals, while learning to sort and name their biggest feelings.

👨‍👩‍👧 For parents: Your child learns the first habits of a good heart — greeting, thanking, sharing, and naming big feelings — through warm daily rituals. These tiny manners become the character that carries them for life.
Ethics & Values (Akhlaq)Emotional IntelligenceCognitiveRole-playPlay-basedStorytelling

6 · 3 · 25 — weeks · sessions/week · min/session

📅 Session plan📝 Observation log

Learning objectives

  • Use a greeting (Salam) and a thank-you (Shukran) at the right moment. Ethics & Values (Akhlaq) · apply
  • Point to a face that matches how they feel right now. Emotional Intelligence · understand
  • Sort objects into two groups by one property (e.g. big / small). Cognitive · apply

Modules

The Salam Ritual

Big idea: When I greet, I make someone happy.

☾ Spreading peace (Salam) — The Prophet ﷺ taught us to spread Salam — even a smile is a gift. (Sahih Muslim)

Good Morning CircleRole-play · 8m

Each child greets the next with Salam and a chosen gesture.

▶ Show me how
  1. Role-play Turn to your friend and say "Assalamu alaikum!" — wave or high-five.
    ↳ Facilitator cue: Model warmth; never force eye contact. Celebrate any attempt.

My Feelings Faces

Big idea: My feelings have names.

Happy, Sad, SleepyPlay-based · 10m

Match a felt-face to a feeling and act it out.

▶ Show me how
  1. Reflect Which face is you today? Show me with your own face!
    ↳ Support: Offer two faces to choose between.
  2. Discuss When we feel big feelings, we can say "Bismillah" and take a deep breath.

Sharing Sorter

Big idea: I can put things where they belong.

Big Bowl, Small BowlMontessori practical life · 10m

Sort toys by size, then share one with a friend.

▶ Show me how
  1. Challenge Big things in the big bowl, small things in the small bowl. Ready?
  2. Role-play Now give one to your friend and say "Tafaddal" (here you go).
    ↳ Facilitator cue: Name the kindness out loud: "You shared — that was generous!"

My Gentle Yes and No

Big idea: My voice matters, and so does yours.

🔬 Why this works: Self-Determination Theory + emotion coaching (Gottman): honoring a child's "no" teaches that their voice counts — the earliest root of consent, agency, and respect for others. A child who is heard learns to hear.

Yes Please, No Thank YouRole-play · 10m

Toddlers practice a kind yes and a kind no, and a real choice.

▶ Show me how
  1. Role-play Would you like a hug? You can say "Yes please" or "No thank you".
    ↳ Facilitator cue: Honor the "no" warmly and immediately. This is body autonomy — never override it for a lesson.
  2. Challenge Which song shall we sing? Point to your choice.
  3. Discuss A kind "no" is still kind. We can say no and still be friends.

Leadership we plant

  • 🌱 Uses a kind voice to say what he wants — and does not want.
  • 🌱 Respects another child's "no".

Research foundations

Self-Determination Theory — Deci & Ryan
Voice and choice build intrinsic motivation and self-respect.
In practice: Toddlers may decline politely and are always heard; daily small choices.
Emotion Coaching — John Gottman
Naming and accepting feelings — not suppressing them — builds regulation.
In practice: We label feelings aloud and pair big emotions with breath and Bismillah.

🏡 Try at home

The Salam Ritual · 5 min

Make a warm greeting a family habit — at the door, at breakfast. Model "Assalamu alaikum" and a smile; celebrate every attempt your child makes.

Feelings Weather · 5 min

At bedtime ask: "Is your heart sunny, cloudy, or stormy today?" Name the feeling together and take one calm breath saying Bismillah.

Standards alignment

CASEL — Social & Emotional Learning
Self-awareness & self-management
Naming feelings and early self-regulation strategies.
Head Start — Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF)
Social & Emotional Development
Relationships, emotional expression, and prosocial behavior.
UK EYFS
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Manners, sharing, and managing feelings through routine.

Value anchors

  • Generosity (Karam) — The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people — we share to be like him. (Seerah)
  • Beginning with Bismillah

Everything you’ll need (home or school)

  • Felt feeling-faces, two sorting bowls, soft toys
🖨 Printable checklist

Assessment — observation

  • emerging: Imitates greetings when prompted.
  • developing: Greets and thanks with little help.
  • confident: Initiates kindness and names a feeling.

Future skills

Emotional regulationEmpathyCollaborationLogical reasoning
Qubtan · قُبطان