How can I make sure my child still feels emotionally safe even when screens are doing the entertaining? 

Parenting Perspective 

For many parents, screens have become more than just a distraction; they are a practical tool for getting through the day. Whether it is to cook dinner, recover from exhaustion, or simply have a moment of quiet, screen time can sometimes feel essential. Yet, this practicality is often accompanied by a quiet worry: is this device creating an emotional distance between us? 

The reassuring answer is that a child’s emotional safety is not determined by the presence of a screen, but by the emotional atmosphere that surrounds its use. A child does not need your constant, undivided attention to feel loved. What they need is the quiet reassurance that your presence, your care, and your connection to them remain steadfast. 

What to do Before Handing Over the Screen 

A simple moment of connection before screen time begins can make all the difference. Look your child in the eyes, offer a warm smile, and say something reassuring like, ‘I will be right here if you need me’, or, ‘Here is something for you to enjoy while I take a short break’. This brief but direct verbal comfort tells your child that they are still seen and valued. 

How to Preserve Emotional Presence During Screen Use 

You do not need to sit beside your child for the entire duration of their screen time, but small points of contact are meaningful. A gentle check-in, a hand on their shoulder as you walk by, or even a warm smile from across the room helps a child feel emotionally held, even when your full attention is elsewhere. These small cues remind them that they have not disappeared from your awareness. 

Reconnection After Screen Time 

Once the screen is turned off, it is important to bridge back into the relationship. A warm, simple question like, ‘What was your favourite part of that show?’ or, ‘Would you like to draw something you saw?’, signals that the screen was just a temporary pause, not a replacement for your connection. 

Emotional safety is not about constant engagement. It is about a child knowing that their parent is still available, still anchored, and still soft-hearted towards them. When screen time is framed by warmth and mindful transitions, a child is far more likely to experience it as a safe part of a connected home, not as a sign of emotional distance. 

Spiritual Insight 

In parenting, it is easy to forget that even our smallest, most mundane actions can carry spiritual weight when they are performed with a good intention. Ensuring a child feels safe and seen in your care even during quiet moments is a spiritual responsibility. 

Parenthood as a Sacred Trust 

This verse reminds us of the immense station of parenthood. It is a sacred relationship tied directly to gratitude, trust, and our ultimate accountability to Allah. When a child feels emotionally secure, it becomes easier for them to grow into adults who honour and trust their parents. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Luqman (31), Verse 14: 

‘Be grateful to Me and to your parents. To Me is the final destination…’ 

The Lasting Impact of a Parent’s Mercy 

Even when parenting feels ordinary, like handing over a device to catch your breath the emotional tone you set shapes your child’s understanding of love, presence, and mercy. Those small moments may be the very reason your child later turns to Allah in supplication for you. 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3660, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘A man will be raised in status in Paradise, and he will ask, “Why is this?” It will be said, “Because your child sought forgiveness for you.”’ 

This Hadith is a beautiful reminder that the quiet, consistent mercy you show your child today can become a source of immense, unforeseen blessings for you in the hereafter.