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How can parents prevent family media nights from turning into silent phone-scrolling sessions? 

Parenting Perspective 

A family movie night can easily become a disconnected event if everyone is absorbed in their own phone. To protect this valuable bonding time, parents can transform the evening into an engaging and interactive ritual with clear, positive expectations. 

Click below to discover meaningful books that nurture strong values in your child and support you on your parenting journey

Set Clear, Positive Boundaries Beforehand 

Before the movie begins, establish the ground rules as a shared goal. You can say, ‘For our movie night to be special, let us make it a phone-free zone for everyone so we can really enjoy the film and each other’s company’. A designated basket for devices can be a helpful, non-confrontational tool. 

Encourage Active Participation 

Turn passive viewing into an active, shared experience. Pause the film at key moments to ask for opinions, predict what will happen next, or discuss a character’s choice. This naturally keeps everyone’s minds engaged with the main screen and with each other, leaving no mental space for scrolling. 

Lead by Your Own Example 

The most powerful way to enforce this rule is to model it yourself. When your children see you put your phone away and give your undivided attention to the family and the film, they will understand that this is a sincere family value, not just a rule for them. 

Make the Environment Rewarding 

Make the movie night an event to look forward to. Involve everyone in making special snacks, create a comfortable and cosy viewing area, and perhaps end with a fun, five-minute chat about everyone’s favourite scene. This positive atmosphere makes the shared experience more rewarding than the solitary distraction of a phone. 

By structuring the evening with these simple steps, you can transform a disconnected media night into a cherished and meaningful family tradition. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches us to be present and intentional in our interactions, making the most of our shared time as a way of showing gratitude and strengthening bonds. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Asr (103), Verses 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; and encouraging (cultivating within themselves and with one another the realisation and dissemination of) the truth and encouraging (cultivating within themselves and with one another the realisation and accomplishment of) resilience. ‘ 

This powerful surah reminds us that time is a precious commodity. A family movie night where everyone is silently scrolling on their own device is a form of “loss”a lost opportunity for connection and for advising one another to what is good. Being present together is a way of protecting this blessing of time. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave a golden rule for all social interactions. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, 48, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.‘ 

This hadith is a beautiful guide for family time. It teaches us that our presence should be meaningful. We should either contribute positively to the shared experience (“speak good”) or offer our respectful, attentive silence. The distracted silence of scrolling on a phone does not fulfil this high standard of Islamic etiquette. 

Click below to discover meaningful books that nurture strong values in your child and support you on your parenting journey

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