How do I teach checking back: ‘Is there anything else?’ after one task? 

Parenting Perspective 

It is common for a child to complete a single task when asked, only to disappear immediately afterwards, assuming their job is done. While this is not necessarily defiance, it indicates that their sense of responsibility is limited to that one action. Teaching your child to return and ask, ‘Is there anything else?’ nurtures initiative, dependability, and an awareness of others’ needs. It transforms helping from a simple chore into a thoughtful act of service. 

Explain the Value of Checking Back 

Children often work with the assumption that completing one task is sufficient. You can explain the bigger picture in simple terms: ‘When you ask, “Is there anything else?”, it shows you care about helping fully, not just partly. It makes life easier for everyone in our family’. 

This helps them see their role within the broader context of family teamwork. 

Model the Behaviour Yourself 

Actively demonstrate this behaviour in your own interactions. For example, after a task, you might say to your partner, ‘Dinner is ready, and I have set the table. Is there anything else you would like me to do?’ Hearing you use the phrase makes it a natural part of the family vocabulary for them to adopt. 

Practise Through Role-Play 

Incorporate practice into ordinary, everyday routines. 

• Ask your child to put their shoes away. When they finish, gently prompt them: ‘What do you say now?’ to encourage them to ask, ‘Is there anything else?’ 

• While helping them with homework, you can model the phrase: ‘I have helped you with this maths problem. Is there anything else?’ 

Consistent repetition in low-pressure situations is the key to building this habit. 

Offer Immediate and Specific Praise 

When your child remembers to check back, offer immediate and specific praise. For instance, ‘Thank you so much for asking if there was more to do. That shows you are becoming very reliable’. 

Behaviour that receives positive attention is far more likely to be repeated. 

Establish Checking Back as a Standard 

Integrate this practice into your family’s definition of what it means to help. You can establish the rule: ‘In our family, helping does not just mean finishing one job. It also means checking back to see if more help is needed’. 

When this is presented as a normal family standard, children are more likely to see it as a given rather than an optional extra. 

An Example Dialogue 

Parent: ‘Please put these books on the shelf’. 

Child: ‘Okay’. (Completes the task) ‘Is there anything else?’ 

Parent: ‘Yes, please close the cupboard door. Thank you for checking back, that was very thoughtful of you’. 

This script reinforces checking back as a natural and appreciated extension of their responsibility. 

Spiritual Insight 

The Islamic faith encourages believers to strive for ihsan (excellence) in their actions, which involves going beyond the bare minimum in acts of service. The simple act of checking back after completing a task reflects this noble spirit, as it shows care, completeness, and sincerity. 

The Principle of Completeness 

The Qur’an teaches that fulfilling duties completely and justly is a component of righteousness. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Rahman (55), Verse 9: 

‘And established that (gravitational) force in equilibrium, and there cannot be any deficiency in the (gravitational) balance.’ 

You can simplify this for a child by saying, ‘When you ask if there is anything else, you are completing your help properly, not leaving it half-done. Allah loves when we do things with excellence’. 

The Virtue of Consistent Helping 

In Islam, the most beloved deeds are those that are performed consistently, even if they seem small. 

It is recorded in Sunan Nisai, Hadith 762, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are continuous, even if they are few.‘ 

This concept can be explained to a child: ‘Helping once is a good deed, but by checking back, you show that you want to continue helping. This consistency makes your effort even more beloved to Allah’. 

By linking the phrase ‘Is there anything else?’ to the principle of ihsan, you help your child understand that true service means going beyond what is merely expected. Over time, this simple habit can build a mindset of thoroughness, responsibility, and sincere kindness, which are qualities that please both the family and Allah Almighty.