How can I show my child how too much screen time can numb feelings? 

Parenting Perspective 

Help Them Notice How They Feel 

When screens are always within reach, it is easy for children to use them to push away feelings of boredom, sadness, or loneliness. Over time, this habit can numb their emotions instead of helping them to face what is really inside. Teaching your child how screens affect their heart is not about blame; it is about helping them to notice how they feel before, during, and after. Use gentle words: ‘Sometimes when we watch too much, it feels like our real feelings get buried under all the noise.’ 

Swap Screens for ‘Heart-Waking’ Activities 

Help your child to notice how their body and mind feel after a lot of screen time. Ask soft questions: ‘Do you feel calm or restless after you put the screen down? Does your head feel full or empty?’ Encourage small pauses in their daily habits, such as family walks, talking at mealtimes, or reading together before bed. Show them how to swap screens for something that wakes up the heart, like playing, creating, or connecting with people they love. Be honest about your own struggles too: ‘Sometimes I scroll when I feel sad. It helps when I talk to you instead.’ Praise your child for noticing these changes, even if they sometimes slip back into old habits. Over time, these gentle reminders help your child to understand that feelings do not need to be buried under endless scrolling; they can be felt, spoken about, and eased with real connection. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches us to guard our time and our hearts. Allah Almighty says in the noble Quran at Surah Al Asr (103), Verse 1–3: 

‘By the (design of) time (by Allah Almighty). Indeed, mankind shall surely (remain in a state) of deprivation (moral deficit), except for those people who are believers and undertake virtuous acts…’ 

This Ayah reminds your child that time spent numbing feelings does not bring peace; true comfort comes from facing life with trust in Allah Almighty. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 3372, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Dua is worship.’ 

Teach your child to make a simple prayer when they feel the pull to hide behind their screens: ‘Ya Allah, keep my heart awake and my feelings true.’ By tying this habit back to their faith, you help your child to see that their feelings are not a burden to be buried; they are a sign that their heart is alive and needs gentle care. With your steady support, they will learn that life feels fuller when they feel their emotions fully, trusting that Allah Almighty holds every feeling with mercy and love.