I am so busy managing everything that I barely play or laugh with my child. How can I avoid this damaging our bond? 

Parenting Perspective 

In the rush of daily responsibilities, it is easy for a parent’s playful connection with their child to fade, leaving both feeling distant. Children need moments of unpressured fun to feel loved and secure. Rebuilding this does not require hours of time, but small, intentional acts of presence. 

Schedule Small Pockets of Play 

You do not need to schedule a long play session. Instead, look for tiny, five-minute “play windows” in your existing routine. This could be a silly race to the car, a funny conversation at dinner, or an extra story at bedtime. It is the quality, not the quantity, of these moments that matters. 

Be Fully Present in Those Moments 

When you do have a moment to play, put everything else away and offer your undivided attention. Let your child lead the game, laugh at their jokes, and be fully engaged. Your emotional presence, even for a few minutes, is a powerful signal to your child that they are your priority. 

Acknowledge Your Busyness with Honesty 

It is okay to be honest about your limitations without making excuses. You can say, ‘I have a lot on my mind with work at the moment, but hearing you laugh is the best part of my day’. This validates their importance to you and teaches them that relationships can weather busy seasons. 

Prioritise Consistency Over Duration 

A few minutes of connection every day is more powerful than one long session once a month. Children thrive on predictability. When they can consistently count on having those small, joyful moments with you, your emotional bond remains secure, even during stressful times. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that playfulness and mercy are essential components of a healthy family life, and that these qualities are a reflection of prophetic warmth and a source of divine blessing. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Ar Rum (30), Verse 21: 

‘And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought…‘ 

This verse reminds us that affection (mawaddah) and mercy (rahmah) are the divine foundations of family life. Taking a moment to laugh and play with a child, even when you are tired, is a beautiful expression of this mercy and a way of nurturing the tranquillity Allah has placed in our homes. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ not only permitted play but actively encouraged it. 

It is recorded in Sahih al Bukhari, 6130, that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated about her playtime as a child in the Prophet’s home, saying: 

‘I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ… and he would call them to join and play with me.‘ 

This beautiful hadith shows that the best of creation ﷺ made time for joyful, playful connection with the children in his life. He did not just watch from a distance; he joined in. Emulating this Sunnah enriches our children’s lives and fills our homes with love and presence.