What is the best way to introduce children to hobbies that naturally draw them away from screens? 

Parenting Perspective 

Make the Discovery Process Exciting 

Children are far more likely to embrace a new hobby if it is presented as an adventure, not merely as a replacement for screen time. A parent can introduce an activity with genuine enthusiasm: ‘Let’s try painting together today!’ or ‘I wonder how fast we can get these seeds to grow?’ By sparking their natural curiosity, a parent can draw a child’s attention away from a device without the process feeling like a forced trade. 

Match Hobbies to Your Child’s Personality 

Not every child will enjoy the same things. A creative child might love painting, while a more energetic child may prefer gardening or sports. By observing what excites a child and offering hobbies that align with their unique temperament, parents can ensure the activity feels truly fulfilling. This helps children to discover the joy of self-expression and creation things that screens can never fully replicate. 

Make Hobbies a Shared Family Experience 

When parents participate in a hobby alongside their children, it is transformed from a solitary task into a meaningful bonding experience. Cooking a meal, learning a new skill, or exploring the outdoors together creates lasting, positive memories. The child then learns to associate the new hobby with warmth and connection, not just with a rule about having less screen time. 

Spiritual Insight 

Appreciating Blessings Through Action 

The Quran encourages us to actively engage with the world, to walk through the earth, and to enjoy the provision that Allah has given us. Hobbies that involve creativity and exploring the natural world are a practical way of appreciating these blessings. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Mulk (67), Verse 15: 

‘ It is He who has made for you the Earth subservient (to your needs); so, walk (freely) amongst its marvels; and eat of the nourishment He (Allah Almighty) has provided for you; and to Him is the (ultimate) Resurrection.‘ 

Nurturing Strength is Beloved to Allah 

Islam values the development of a strong character. Hobbies that build skills and nurture a person’s physical, mental, or creative strengths are considered positive acts of growth that are beloved to Allah. 

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen, 100, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both.’ 

Finding Fulfilment Beyond the Screen 

By introducing hobbies with excitement, aligning them with a child’s nature, and participating as a family, parents help their children to discover deep fulfilment beyond their screens. Over time, children learn that true joy, creativity, and strength are developed through active engagement with the world and the blessings of Allah, not through passive digital consumption.