How can families reduce the stress when device use is constantly clashing with homework, chores, or prayer time? 

Parenting Perspective 

When the use of devices regularly clashes with important responsibilities like homework, chores, or prayer, family life can become very stressful. Parents often feel they are constantly nagging, while children may feel their enjoyment is being unfairly restricted. The key is to create a balanced structure that minimises conflict while reinforcing the family’s core priorities. 

Establish a Predictable Routine 

Create a clear and predictable routine that outlines specific times for responsibilities and for device use. A simple rule like, ‘Homework and chores must be completed first, then you can have your device time,’ removes ambiguity and reduces the need for negotiation. Using a family chart can make this structure visible and help everyone stay on track. 

Link Privileges to Responsibilities 

Help your children understand that access to devices is a privilege, not an entitlement. Frame it clearly: ‘When you complete your daily responsibilities, you earn your screen time.’ This approach fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability without the need for constant scolding. 

Protect Prayer Time as Sacred 

Treat prayer time as a non-negotiable family event rather than as an interruption to other activities. Announce it with positivity: ‘It is time for us to pause and pray together now.’ When children see their parents willingly put their own devices away to prioritise prayer, they learn that worship comes before entertainment. 

Use Calm Reminders, Not Battles 

Instead of shouting when a child is resisting their duties, use gentle warnings followed by calm enforcement. For example: ‘In five minutes, it will be time to start your homework. As soon as it is finished, you can have your screen time back.’ Over time, this consistency will reduce resistance. 

By making this structure a normal and respected habit, parents can lower the daily stress levels and help children learn to naturally balance their responsibilities with their recreation. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islamic teachings guide us to understand that our duties must not be neglected for the sake of entertainment. Responsibilities such as prayer, family roles, and the pursuit of knowledge should always take precedence over leisure. In this context, technology should be a tool that serves our lives, not a force that controls them. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Munafiqun (63), Verses 9: 

‘O you who believe, let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that  then it is they who will be the losers…’ 

This verse is a powerful reminder that distractions, even those we love, must never be allowed to take priority over our primary obligations to Allah Almighty. 

It is recorded in Sunan Nasai, Hadith 466, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The first matter that the servant will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgement is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound.’ 

This teaching establishes prayer as the central pillar of a Muslim’s life, an act of worship that must be protected and prioritised above all other activities. 

By teaching children that worship, work, and family duties form the foundation of a meaningful life, parents help them to see devices in their proper, secondary context. Over time, this understanding fosters an appreciation for balance, where children learn that true fulfilment and peace come from putting their faith and responsibilities first, allowing recreation to take its rightful, complementary place.