Ramadan fasting is an obligatory custom that must be carried out by Muslims who have reached maturity, or reached maturity in Islam.
Although children who have not reached puberty are not required to carry out this obligation, parents need to get their children used to fasting during the month of Ramadan for their own good in the future. Fasting for a whole month is difficult for children, but from here children learn that obeying Allah SWT requires a long process and sacrifice, in this case, sacrificing not to eat and drink while fasting.
Of course, when fasting, it is also forbidden to do things that are forbidden, such as gossiping, hurting others, saying rude things, and the like. However, the most basic thing about fasting is not eating and drinking, even though the parents are economically able to provide delicious food and drinks at home.
Children will also learn to restrain their desires amidst their economic capabilities. That way, children will not have a mentality that requires them to always be obeyed at all times, and so that children learn to restrain something they want, and not rush to get it.
This helps his future to continue to fight, and be patient to achieve what he wants, and involve Allah SWT in every step to get what he wants.
By children participating in the Ramadan fast, it will also teach children to be more empathetic to others. This happens because children feel the difficulties in their lives caused by not eating and drinking during fasting. Children will be able to feel that other people who are not as fortunate economically as they are actually feel this way every day of their lives, while children only feel this way during the month of Ramadan.
The growth of a child's empathy will make him a good human being with a high sense of concern for the difficulties of others. This will later have an impact on the small desire to make others suffer because he knows from his fasting lessons during Ramadan.
This high sense of empathy also makes the child aware that he is nothing, and no one, but a servant who is being tested by his Lord. That way the child will be more humble. The child will be far from arrogance so that he can be more obedient to Allah because he has this understanding.
Children will also learn about responsibility by getting used to fasting. Children who are used to fasting during Ramadan will be more responsible for their religion. When they grow up, children will become devout Muslims because of the habit of worshiping Allah SWT.
Children's mentality will also be better because the patience they practice during fasting means they will not explode when venting their emotions, and they tend to be mentally stronger from the pain or hardship they experience.
Parents must continue to set an example in carrying out the correct Ramadan fast to their children so that they have a direct example in their lives regarding the benefits of this fast.
Parents should not be busy scolding their children to fast, but they themselves do not show any benefits from the worship they are doing other than simply holding back hunger and thirst.
Children are a reflection of their parents. If parents want their children to be able to obey Allah SWT earnestly for their better future as a servant, then there must be a consistent example that they always see at all times when at home.