Call them by a Kunya! [Giving children a sense of responsibility]

I recently heard a reminder on parenting and how calling children by a Kunya (teknonym) would result in them having a more sense of responsibility. Calling your children with nicknames such as ‘Abu Abdullah’ or ‘Umm Kulthoom’ would make them feel older and more responsible; like an adult. This is quite an interesting concept and is also a beautiful sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) who would call the little children around him by their Kunya. 

An example of this is in a hadith which is reported in Bukhari where Anas (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates:

“The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) was the best of all the people in character. I had a brother called Abu Umair, who, I think, had been newly weaned. Whenever he was brought to the Prophet, the Prophet used to say, "O Abu Umair! What did Al-Nughair (do)?” Al-Nughair was a nightingale with which he used to play.” [Bukhari]

Do you know how this changes the psychology of the children? Try it! When you call your child ‘O father of so and so’ or ‘O mother of so and so’ and then you tell them to stop being naughty they will instantly think ‘Wow, I’m a father, I’m big, I must stop being naughty now.’