Why We Are Writing This Article?
At Beacon Quran Tuitions, we understand how frustrating and worrying it can be sometimes when your lovely child dislikes attending Quran classes. We have surfed the internet for days and found that no one has addressed this alarming concern with genuine care and honesty. A few articles provide repeated, generic answers. “Be patient with your child”, “Encourage Your Child”, “Make the Class Fun”, “Don’t Force Them”, etc.
Most academies skip the real reasons, or sometimes don’t want to face reality.
In today’s article, we will try to explore the real reasons why your child does not feel like attending the Quran classes, and why parents often don’t realize these. And suggest practical solutions based on our experiences dealing with tens of different kids in our online Quran academy.
1. Wrong Class Timings ( Your Child is hungry or tired )
Imagine your child comes home from school at 3:00 PM after a long morning that starts at 8 am. And his online Quran class is scheduled at 3:30 pm, or worse. They are expected to attend the online class without having eaten anything. Can he or she really focus and enjoy attending the Quran class?
Class Timings That Don’t Suit Children
The same issue happens in weekend Islamic schools. Morning or evening sessions often clash with a child’s natural energy levels. After a full school week, children are fatigued and may dislike or resist attending weekend Quran classes simply because of the time selection. Online Quran academies often overlook this as well. They schedule the classes without considering each child’s unique daily routine. Unfortunately, sometimes parents also prefer their ease and comfort over their child’s. Parents rarely notice or appreciate children’s disapproval and discomfort. So, kids end up obeying schedules that don’t align with their energy. It’s natural for kids to resist both physical and online Quran classes when they are tired or hungry.
Solutions For Timing Issues
- Choose class timings based on your child’s routine, not just convenience.
- Ensure your child is well-rested and alert before class.
- Make sure their tummy is full—hungry children cannot focus.
- Prioritize the child’s comfort over YOURS.
2. Harsh Or Negative Correction of Mistakes (Your Child Feels Fear of Making Mistakes)
How many times has your child come to you and said:
“Mama/Baba… please tell the teacher not to listen to my lesson today.” “Can I get one more day to prepare? I’ll do it tomorrow, I promise.”
Sounds familiar? One of the biggest and most hidden reasons why many children struggle or lose interest in attending Quran classes is the way their mistakes are corrected. If a teacher uses a harsh tone, sounds irritated, or scolds a child for repeating mistakes, the child slowly becomes scared of making mistakes or attending classes. Because he does not want to face the same situation again.
Example of Salim (Student)
A few months back, I was teaching my lovely boy, Salim, a 7-year-old angel, and I just corrected the mistake by speaking a bit seriously; he literally started sobbing. Then, I apologized straight away and encouraged him.
How Harsh Correction Looks in Real Classes
Many teachers consciously or unconsciously correct mistakes like this:
- I told you this yesterday, why are you repeating it (with a straight face)
- No, wrong again!
- A heavy, frustrated sigh when a child makes a mistake
- A disappointed or irritated tone.
- Speaking too fast and expecting a child to catch up
Even if the teacher doesn’t shout, the tone alone is enough to shut a child down emotionally.
Public Embarrassment
In physical madrasas or weekend Islamic schools, a teacher corrects the child loudly in front of others: “Look at how your friend reads beautifully. Why can’t you do that?” The child feels ashamed, small, not good enough, and embarrassed in front of others. Neither parents nor Quran teachers realize this. Most Quran teachers come from a strict madrasa background, stay the same, and believe that “strict correction builds discipline.”
How Does It Affect Your Child’s Quran Learning?
Children start to fear making mistakes because they don’t want to face the embarrassment. They just don’t want their teacher to correct them. So, they start finding excuses to avoid Quran classes, whether in physical school or online. I hope you’re understanding and now relate to the reason as well.
Solutions For Harsh Corrections
- Choose a naturally gentle teacher.
- Carefully observe the teacher’s tone, temperament, especially during free trials and money refund days.
- Inform the teacher about your child’s sensitivity and request gentle positive correction.
- Comfort your child by telling them that mistakes are part of the learning process. Mistakes are not bad, my son.
- Keep a regular check of the class environment, and praise your child’s effort.
3. Too Many Expectations from the Parents (Never-Ending Comparisons)
One of our teachers informed us that she was teaching Ahmad (a student) a smaller portion because he struggles with attention. One day, his mom said in front of him:
“My friend’s son of his age can recite fluently. Why can’t my son?”
Don’t Compare Your Kids With Others’
Stop comparing your child with others. Every child is unique. Some take longer to learn the Quran; others pick it up quickly. Some children excel in sports, math, or other skills instead. There is nothing wrong with your child. No two children—or humans—are the same in everything. If your child is taking time to learn the Arabic Tajweed, it’s not always because of being careless. Maybe he is genuinely struggling and taking time. Give him some fresh air, and let him go at his pace. And please stop comparing kids. What if you’re compared with the owner of the company where you’re a software engineer? How would you feel? So stay kind.
Effects Leading to Hating Attending the Quran Classes
Statements like: “Look at your cousin, he’s your age, recites better than you”, “Teacher, my friend’s kid is leading Salah in the Masjid, please my boy harder.” I have seen parents comparing their own kids. A fast-learning kid is praised in front of a slow-learning kid. Look, I am not passing any judgment on prestigious parents. They feel concerned about their kids. I totally understand. But sometimes we need to face the truth as well that each kid is created differently.
Case Study of Ihaan & Liban (Students)
I personally teach both of these students at our Institute; they have proven extremely intelligent in understanding Arabic Qaaida and Tajweed Rules. They came to us as freshers of hardly 6-7 years old. Started Arabic Qaaida & Tajweed Rules for the first time in their life. They understood the Qaaida and tajweed rules and began applying them in their own Quranic reading within a month. Would you believe? But, at the same time, they are really uninterested in memorizing duas, nimaaz. Simply, they love understanding and applying, and find it super easy. But find memorizing or cramming anything boring and dislike it. It means they will take longer to memorize Islamic studies.
So, the reason is simple, don’t put extra pressure of expectations. Because this creates fear of being questioned, not preparing lessons, and ultimately disliking Quran classes.
Solutions For Parents Expectation
- Focus on perfection, not the pace. Even if your child perfectly understands two words while struggling with six, appreciate the two that are correct.
- Not every mistake is laziness; some children genuinely struggle. Observe and consult the Quran teacher to provide the right guidance and support without pressure.
- Request the kid’s teacher not to compare siblings in the class. It’s genuinely humiliating. Feel for the slow-learners, please.
- Adjust expectations to match your child’s learning pace, and use positive words and reassurance instead of reminders or criticism. Focus on support, not stress.
4. Boring, Repetitive, Unengaging Classes (Kids Quickly Lose Interest)
Have you ever seen a Quran class—physical or online—where the teacher greets the students and immediately says: “Start reading the last lesson.”
No checking for understanding. No interaction. The child just mimics every word. A Qaaida appears on the screen, but there’s no explanation of why the sounds are pronounced this way or what they mean.
The child becomes a robotic reader, bored and disconnected. This is why many children lose interest in Quran classes. A good teacher is not the one who knows, but the one who can make learning interesting, engaging, and easier.
A Big Challenge For Quran Teachers
How Teachers Should Make Interactive Classes
But, teachers can still make classes super engaging and student-friendly by changing their boring attitude to an energetic, friendly one. Teachers shall use the Zoom app’s free whiteboard and writing tools. Arabic Qaaida lessons shall be explained on the whiteboard, including the shape of the vowel, its name, the sound it produces, etc.
Arabic letters can be drawn on a digital whiteboard. Change the teaching method from “Repeat after me” all the time to an interactive whiteboard explanation of the rules with constant involvement of kids.
Encourage Students To Talk More
Teachers shall let students speak more, ask them questions, and let them freely talk without passing judgment. Keep rolling the topics over the week. If you’ve taught Arabic Qaaida & Tajweed for 3 days, then shift to Nimaaz, duas, etc. For prophet stories and video content, freely access the best YouTube content and share it with the students.
Don’t forget to keep your video camera on. Just by taking this one simple step, the class becomes much more engaging. Treat kids like your own little siblings.
Solutions For Parents Regarding Boring & Repetitive Classes
- Read the above features and solutions for teachers, and choose a teacher who aligns with them.
- Keenly observe the first week and month of classes to spot boredom and the same repetitive method.
- Request the teacher to follow the above instructions.
- If the teacher doesn’t listen, the child feels stuck and bored. Do change the teacher. Don’t waste time.
5. English Speaking/Accent Challenges in Quran Classes (Kids in USA, Australia, and Beyond)
Many children, especially in countries like the USA, Australia, Canada, and other English-speaking regions, struggle in Quran classes not because of a dislike or difficulty with the Quran, but because their teacher’s English explanations are unclear or spoken in an unfamiliar accent. This is particularly common among non-native English-speaking teachers, who may know the Quran perfectly but struggle to explain concepts fluently and understandably.
How Kids Face Issues in Physical Weekend Schools
Some teachers use complex English or formal terminology that children find hard to understand.
“The letter Qaaf is pronounced with the throat constricted while applying tafkheem.”
This is an example of complex terminology. In the process of understanding this very statement, students may forget the pronunciation, the real deal. And we know that in a physical class, with around 20-30 students, it is difficult to ask a question and get personalized answers, especially with language and accent barriers.
Regional Accent Differences
Regional accents can also confuse students. For instance, Fatima may be learning the letter “Jeem” but mispronounces it at home because her teacher’s accent differs from the one in her textbook or audio app. This frustration can make children reluctant to attend physical Quran classes, leading to a dislike of them.
Same Issue in Online Quran Classes
Online Quran classes often amplify accent and fluency challenges. Lack of Spoken English and accent training, poor audio quality, lag, or unclear pronunciation can make it difficult for children to follow along. Unlike physical classrooms, children cannot see subtle mouth movements or gestures that help with correct pronunciation if the video camera is off. This seems like a simple reason, but it is the most common: kids don’t feel motivated to attend, especially online Quran classes.
Solutions For Teaching With Clarity & Correctness
- Should ask the Quran academy whether they provide speaking and accent training to their teachers.
- Check the teacher’s English fluency and accent in free trial classes.
- Request that the teacher conduct class via video call to help kids better understand Arabic pronunciation, including facial expressions, lip-syncing.
- Ask your child regularly if they understood the lesson. Share these concerns with the teacher so pronunciation or explanation issues can be clarified promptly.
6. Conclusion:
Most children don’t struggle with the Quran — they struggle with the environment in which they learn it. When timing, teaching style, communication, and support improve, their motivation and love for the Quran naturally grow. As parents, choosing a gentle approach and the right teacher can completely transform your child’s experience.
If you found our article helpful in addressing your concerns, and you’re looking for a reliable online Quran tutor with these same features. You can contact us for our 5-day free trial Quran classes.