How can parents encourage children to explore nature when they are used to instant on-screen gratification? 

Parenting Perspective 

For a child accustomed to the fast rewards of a screen, the quiet pace of nature can feel “boring.” The key is to reintroduce the outdoors not as a chore, but as an exciting world of adventure and discovery. 

Frame Nature as a Zone of Discovery 

Spark their curiosity by turning a simple walk into a mission. You can say, ‘Let us go on a mission to find the tiniest bug,’ or ‘Let us see how many different bird sounds we can record on my phone’. This transforms a passive walk into an active and engaging quest, appealing to their love of a challenge. 

Gamify the Experience with Challenges 

Introduce game-like elements into your outdoor time. Give your child “tools” like a magnifying glass, a bug-collecting jar, or a camera and set them a challenge, such as finding five different types of leaves or photographing three different kinds of flowers. This makes exploration feel purposeful and rewarding for a mind used to levelling up. 

Connect Nature to Storytelling and Memory 

Help your child build a lasting connection to their outdoor adventures. Encourage them to collect interesting pebbles or leaves for a “nature treasure box” or to create stories about the things they see. This process of creating tangible memories helps them to value their real-world experiences and build a personal appreciation for the outdoors. 

By infusing nature with play, imagination, and a sense of purpose, parents can help their child’s brain recalibrate, slowly discovering that the real world is far more magical and inspiring than any screen. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam continually invites us to look at the natural world as a place filled with signs of our Creator’s majesty and wisdom. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Aalai Imran (3), Verse 190: 

‘ Indeed, in the creation of the layers of trans-universal existence and the Earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, are Signs (of the infinite truth) for those who possess (intellectual and rational) understanding.’ 

This verse reminds us that engaging with nature is an act of worship and a path to wisdom. By encouraging a child to explore the outdoors, we are not just helping them unplug; we are opening their eyes and hearts to the divine signs that Allah has placed all around them. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that interacting with nature can be one of the most rewarding acts of charity. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, 2320, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘There is no Muslim who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him.‘ 

This beautiful hadith teaches children that engaging with the earth is a deeply meaningful act. It transforms an activity like gardening from a simple hobby into a source of ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah), showing that caring for Allah’s creation is one of the most rewarding adventures of all.