What is the best way for parents to admit they do not know something about tech without losing respect? 

Parenting Perspective 

Many parents worry that admitting they do not understand a new app, game, or digital feature will cause their children to see them as ‘out of touch’ or less authoritative. In reality, admitting what you do not know with confidence and humility is a powerful way to model honesty and emotional strength. A child’s respect is not lost through a parent’s gaps in technical knowledge, but through how the parent chooses to handle those gaps. 

Show Confidence in Your Humility 

It is powerful to say openly to your child: ‘I do not know how this works yet, but I would like to learn about it from you.’ This demonstrates that not knowing something is not a weakness, but an opportunity for growth. Children respect genuine honesty more than forced authority. 

Balance Openness With Guidance 

Follow up your admission by gently clarifying your role as a parent. You could say: ‘Even if I do not understand every feature of this app, my role is still to guide our family on how it should be used in our home.’ This reminds your child that your authority comes from values and responsibility, not from technical expertise. 

Turn Learning Into a Bonding Opportunity 

Invite your child to be the teacher and show you how a particular platform works. This simple act empowers them and validates their knowledge. At the same time, it can turn into a positive bonding experience, as they see that you value what they know without giving up your parental role. This approach builds respect in both directions. 

Reframe Respect Around Wisdom 

Your children may know more about devices, but they rely on you for guidance on relationships, resilience, and faith. Remind yourself, and if necessary your child, that this is where true leadership in the family is found. Your wisdom is a form of knowledge that they cannot get from a screen. 

By admitting your gaps in tech knowledge without insecurity, you can model the important qualities of humility, adaptability, and wisdom, all of which will deepen your child’s respect for you, not weaken it. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that humility in the face of knowledge is a profound virtue, not a weakness. To openly admit what we do not know is a sign of sincerity, whereas pretending to have knowledge that we do not possess is strongly discouraged. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Isra (17), Verses 36: 

‘And do not pursue (to meddle in matters) with which you have no knowledge; indeed, your hearing (everything you heard), your sight (everything you observed), your conscience (everything you thought), in fact, all of these (your faculties) shall be called for questioning (on the Day of Judgement).’ 

This verse reminds us that it is better to admit a lack of knowledge than it is to speak or act without a proper understanding, as we are accountable for what we claim to know. 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 53, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever is given a fatwa (ruling) without knowledge, his sin will be upon the one who gave it. And whoever gives a fatwa without knowledge, the sin will be upon him.’ 

This teaching highlights the great responsibility that comes with knowledge. It shows that it is far better to admit not knowing something than to offer guidance without a proper understanding, because honesty in knowledge is an integral part of faith. 

By rooting your humility in these faith principles, you can show your children that admitting what you do not know does not diminish respect. Rather, it strengthens honesty, builds trust, and demonstrates a reliance on Allah Almighty. Over time, children will learn that true respect is earned not by pretending to know everything, but by leading with sincerity and wisdom.