The Prophet and children

As is known, Muhammad (PBUH) is described in the Quran as a ''mercy to the worlds.'' We can find the most striking examples of his human aspect outside of prophethood in his relations with children. Far beyond being an ordinary person, he was an exceptional individual who could become childlike with children and he recommended this to others. He treated his children and grandchildren with great compassion and never neglected to direct them to the straight path and to good deeds.  He loved them and treated them tenderly, but did not allow them to neglect matters related to the afterlife.  He showed them how to lead a humane life and never allowed them to neglect their religious duties or to become spoiled.
His ultimate goal was to prepare them for the Hereafter.  His perfect balance in such matters is another dimension of his divinely-inspired intellect.  Anas Ibn Malik, the Messenger’s helper for 10 years, says:
''I have never seen a man who was more compassionate to his family members than Muhammad.''
In one hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “If it weren’t for nursing children, bent-over old people and grazing animals, catastrophe would descend upon you like a flood” (Heysemi, Mecmau’z-Zevaid, X, 227). Thus, he pointed out that “sabiler” (babies in the nursing stage) are the first factor preventing divine wrath. In all of the Prophet’s relations with children it is possible to feel that he gave importance and value to them.
Also, in line with the verses in the Holy Quran, the Prophet firmly forbade discrimination between boys and girls which was current in the society he was sent to and tried to eliminate the ''seeing boys as superior'' tradition that had developed among people on this subject. He loved his granddaughter Umamah.  He often went out with her on his shoulders, and even placed her on his shoulders while praying. When he prostrated, he put her down; when he had finished praying, he placed her on his back again. The Prophet showed this degree of love to Umamah to teach his male followers how to treat girls. In a short time, as a continuation of ignorance, the idea of ''looking down on girls'' or ''burying them in the sand'' was replaced by the understanding that regardless of whether the child was a boy or girl, it would be seen as ''a favor and gift from Allah.'' Here the behavior of the Prophet towards his own girls and hadiths in the form of recommendation and command played an important role.
In many hadiths related to this subject, the Prophet made statements with this common meaning: “Whoever has three (or two or one) girls or sisters and treats them well and does not prefer male children over them and educates them in the best manner, Allah will make them a shield against hell and will put them in heaven” (Ibn Mace, ''Adab'' 3; Tirmizi, ''Birr'' 13; Abu Davud, ''Adab'' 130).
The Messenger was completely balanced in the way he brought up his children.  He loved his children and grandchildren very much, and instilled love in them.  However, he never let his love for them be abused.  None of them deliberately dared to do anything wrong. If they made an unintentional mistake, the Messenger’s protection prevented them from going even slightly astray. He did this by wrapping them in love and an aura of dignity.
Whenever he returned to Medina, he would carry children on his mount. On such occasions, the Messenger embraced not only his grandchildren but also those in his house and those nearby. He conquered their hearts through his compassion. He loved all children.
Furthermore, a kind of physical contact, kissing is an expression of love that the Prophet frequently resorted to. Sources indicate that he kissed his daughter Fatima and his grandchildren Hasan and Hussein (Abu Davud, ''Adab'' 144; Tirmizi, ''Menakib'' 50) and that he recommended it to others.
Seeing the Prophet kissing his grandson Hasan (or Hussein), a person named Akra b. Habis found this behavior strange and said, ''I have ten children, but I never kissed any of them.'' The Prophet gave this meaningful reply: ''The uncompassionate will not be treated mercifully'' (Buhari, ''Adab'' 18; Tirmizi, ''Birr'' 12).
This is the Prophet and his relation to children, a man respected by leaders, cherished and loved by children.

 Source: :Islamiclife