Many sunnahs of the Prophet ﷺ are simple, everyday actions — but because they're small, they're easy to forget or overlook. Teaching them to children early makes them second nature by adulthood.
Sunnahs around eating
- Saying Bismillah before eating, and Alhamdulillah after.
- Eating with the right hand.
- Not criticizing food — the Prophet ﷺ never complained about a meal.
- Eating from what's directly in front of you rather than reaching across the plate.
Sunnahs around greetings and speech
- Giving salaam first when entering a room or meeting someone.
- Smiling — the Prophet ﷺ described a smile as a form of charity.
- Speaking gently, and avoiding harsh or unnecessary words.
Small daily sunnahs worth reviving
- Sleeping on the right side, and making a short dua before sleeping.
- Entering the home and bathroom with the correct foot and dua.
- Removing harmful things from a pathway.
- Making dua for someone who sneezes and says Alhamdulillah.
How to teach these without overwhelming a child
Trying to introduce all of these at once rarely works. A simple approach: pick one neglected sunnah per week, explain it briefly, practice it together as a family, and only move to the next once it feels natural. Over a year, that's enough to build dozens of lasting habits.