How can they set phone-free time when hanging out in person? 

Parenting Perspective 

In today’s world, it is common for children to gather in the same physical space but to be interacting with each other primarily through their screens, only half-listening and half-scrolling. Suggesting a phone-free moment can feel awkward for a child, as though they are rejecting the fun or acting in a way that is ‘too serious.’ Teaching your child how to encourage screen breaks with a sense of warmth and of confidence can help them to rediscover what a friendship can feel like in a state of full presence. 

Helping Them to Reclaim a Sense of Real Connection 

It is helpful to begin by explaining to your child, ‘Our phones are very useful, but a real and true connection with another person needs our eyes and our hearts too.’ This can help them to understand that the act of putting a phone aside is not a punishment, but is in fact an invitation to enjoy the present moment more fully. This positive framing can make the setting of a boundary feel generous, rather than restrictive. 

Coaching Them in Kind and Natural Ways to Suggest It 

Your child does not need to make a big announcement. A friendly and relaxed tone of voice can make all the difference. You can share some simple examples of what they could say in these moments. 

• ‘Let us have ten minutes without our phones. I really want to focus on this game!’ 

• ‘Hey, let us try to keep our phones down while we have our lunch. We can check them again later on.’ 

• ‘How about we have a “no phones” rule until the end of the film?’ 

These lines can sound inviting rather than demanding, as they are helping to set a shared goal, not just to enforce a rule. You can also suggest that your child leads by their own actions, by putting their own phone face down on the table or away in a bag first. 

Creating Small Rituals Around a Sense of Presence 

You can encourage your child to make any phone-free time feel special, not restrictive. They could start each of their meet-ups with their friends with a short ‘catch-up first’ rule, where everyone agrees to talk for a while before they check their messages. The goal is not to forbid the use of phones entirely, but to help the group to feel for themselves how much better a conversation can flow without the constant distraction of checking a screen. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches believers to be fully present, mindful, and sincere in all of their interactions with other people. A sense of divided attention, whether it is in our prayer, in our work, or in our friendships, can weaken the focus of the heart. Encouraging your child to practise some phone-free time with their friends is in beautiful alignment with the Islamic principle of khushu (a conscious sense of presence), of being truly present in the moment with a sense of gratitude and of awareness. 

The Quranic Reminder to Be Mindful and Balanced 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Mu’minoon (23), Verses 1–2: 

‘Indeed, success is for the believers; those people who are focused in their prayers with true humility.’ 

Although this verse speaks specifically about the act of prayer, its essence can be applied to all of the moments in our lives that require our attention. Just as we are encouraged to focus fully in our worship, we should also aim to bring a sense of presence and of sincerity into our relationships with other people. 

The Prophetic Teaching on Presence and Respect 

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen, Hadith 1599, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘When three of you are together, two should not converse privately, ignoring the third, until you mix with others, for that would grieve him.’ 

This hadith teaches us the importance of emotional awareness and of inclusion, of making other people feel seen and valued. When your child is able to put their phone down in order to give a friend their full and undivided attention, they are embodying this beautiful prophetic etiquette, ensuring that no one around them is made to feel unseen or unheard. 

Teaching your child to suggest some phone-free time with their friends is not about restricting their use of technology; it is about reviving their sense of human connection. They can learn that the best of our friendships are able to grow not through an endless stream of messages, but through our shared laughter, our honest talk, and the deep and simple comfort of real company. 

Your own calm guidance can help them to see that being fully present with another person is one of the kindest gifts that they can ever give. Over time, they will discover for themselves that our attention is a form of love in action, a rare and radiant quality in our often-distracted world. 

When they are able to choose to silence their notifications for an hour of real conversation, they will be practising both their emotional intelligence and their spiritual grace, a living proof that our presence, not our pixels, is what can keep our hearts truly connected.