What Can I Say When Kindness Slips Because They Are Rushing? 

Parenting Perspective 

When children are in a hurry, their focus narrows, and consideration for others is often the first thing to be forgotten. They might brush past a sibling without a word, grab the largest slice of toast, or leave a trail of items in their wake. This behaviour typically stems from a focus on speed rather than any ill intent. Your role as a parent is to gently guide them back to mindfulness, showing them that kindness is important even in busy moments, without escalating the situation with a lecture. 

Gently Pause and Point it Out 

Use a calm and observational tone to highlight the missed opportunity for kindness. You could say, ‘Just a moment. In your rush to get past, I do not think you noticed your brother was carrying something heavy and needed help.’ This approach encourages awareness without shaming and helps them see the situation from another perspective. 

Guide Them to a Quick Correction 

Show your child that making amends does not have to be a lengthy process. Encourage them to correct the slip on the spot with a simple prompt like, ‘Let us pause for a second and try that again with a little more care,’ or ‘Can you take just one moment to help him before you go?’ By demonstrating that kindness can be brief, you prove that it fits into even the most hurried of times. 

Introduce a ‘Kindness First’ Mentality 

Create a simple and memorable family motto that can be repeated in hurried situations. A phrase like, ‘Kindness first, then rushing. A moment of care never makes us late,’ can become a powerful reminder that helps to re-prioritise what is important in those moments of haste. 

Acknowledge When They Self-Correct 

Pay close attention to the moments when they catch themselves and adjust their behaviour. Praising their recovery is often more valuable than praising perfection. ‘I really liked how you stopped to hold the door open for me, even though I know you were in a hurry to get outside,’ reinforces that the effort to remember kindness is what truly counts. 

By treating these slips as learning opportunities rather than as failures, you teach your child that kindness is not about being perfect, but about remembering to be considerate, even when life feels rushed. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam champions calmness, thoughtfulness, and gentleness as core virtues in all situations, including moments of haste. Teaching children that their kindness should not be sacrificed for the sake of speed is a way of connecting their everyday behaviour with a deeper sense of spiritual discipline. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Aalai Imran (3), Verse 134: 

‘ Those (the believers are the ones) that spend (in the way of Allah Almighty) in times of abundance and hardship; they suppress their anger; and are forgiving to people; and Allah (Almighty) loves those who are benevolent.‘ 

This verse beautifully illustrates that true goodness is consistent across all circumstances. It is a reminder for children and adults alike that our best character should be present not only in moments of ease, but also during times of hardship, pressure, or hurry. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2594, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Gentleness is not in anything except that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything except that it makes it ugly.’ 

This profound hadith teaches that rushing without kindness strips an action of its beauty and grace. Even when we are pressed for time, a moment of gentleness makes our deeds more pleasing and valuable in the sight of Allah. 

By reminding your child that kindness does not truly delay them but instead beautifies everything they do, you nurture their ability to balance worldly urgency with spiritual empathy. Over time, they learn that true strength lies not in speed alone, but in the ability to move through life without losing one’s gentleness.