When our kids reach the age of about 7-11, we start pressuring them to begin praying, memorizing and reading the Arabic Quran. When they resist us or don’t perform these duties on time, we show anger and scold them.
While you might think your scolding is justified and they will turn closer to your style of Islamic teachings because of it, inside, they are probably running further away, fearing Islam and the way you teach it.
It is understood that this world is a test enjoined on us to see which of us are the best in deeds, hence it is also understandable why parents start exerting such pressure on their children from a young age itself. However, simply pressurizing, commanding and inducing the notions of ‘God-Fear’ at a young age is not going to help the case.
Children are naturally attracted to ideas of peace, innocence, love, care, protection and related notions. Attempting to induce the ideas of ‘God-fear’, punishments and the rest will only make them want to avoid it more.
For the upbringing of children with good religious notions, they must be taught it from the very basics, and from what is most needed at that age.
If you want a person to be friends with someone you admire, how would you introduce them? “Hey, meet this guy, he’s amazing, kind, caring and is always going to be there for you!” or,
“Hey, meet this guy, he’s the most powerful here and make sure you don’t do anything bad or else he’s going to stab you in the throat”.