How can parents help a 7-year-old who says “real life is boring” compared to games find joy in offline play? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child’s brain becomes accustomed to the high-speed stimulation of video games, the slower pace of real life can genuinely feel “boring.” The goal is not to scold this feeling, but to gently retrain their brain to appreciate the deeper joys of the real world. 

Acknowledge Their Feelings, Reframe the Fun 

Start by validating their experience: ‘I know games are very exciting, with all their sounds and fast action!’ Then, gently introduce the idea that there are different kinds of fun: ‘Real-life fun is the kind that makes our bodies stronger and our minds smarter’. This frames offline play as a different, more beneficial kind of excitement. 

Reintroduce Offline Play Gradually 

A sudden digital detox can backfire. Instead, gradually reduce screen time while intentionally introducing highly engaging, hands-on activities. Think treasure hunts, building forts, messy craft projects, or simple gardening. The key is to replace passive screen time with active, creative, and sensory experiences. 

Be an Active Participant in Their Play 

At this age, your presence is the most powerful motivator. Do not just send your child outside to play; join them. Be the patient in their make-believe hospital, the customer in their Lego shop, or their teammate in a garden race. When you are fully present and engaged, you infuse offline play with the connection and joy that no screen can replicate. 

Celebrate Their Real-World Achievements 

Video games offer constant rewards. Counter this by celebrating their real-world accomplishments. Make a big deal of the tower they built, the picture they drew, or the way they solved a puzzle. This helps them derive a sense of pride and satisfaction from their own efforts, rebuilding their appreciation for tangible achievements. 

By being playful, present, and patient, parents can help their child’s brain “switch back on” to the beautiful, creative, and deeply rewarding world Allah has placed them in. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam reminds us that the physical world is a gift designed for us to explore and that our time and health are blessings to be used wisely. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Mulk (67), Verse 15: 

‘It is He who has made for you the Earth subservient (to your needs); so, walk (freely) amongst its marvels; and eat of the nourishment He (Allah Almighty) has provided for you…’ 

This verse is a divine invitation to engage with the real world. Allah has made the earth a place of beauty, adventure, and sustenance for us. Guiding a child to find joy in nature and physical exploration is a way of helping them accept this beautiful invitation from their Creator. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned us not to squander our most precious resources. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, 6412, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘There are two blessings which many people waste: health and free time.‘ 

This profound hadith teaches us that our health and our time are sacred trusts. Spending hours in a sedentary, virtual world while neglecting the health of our bodies and the opportunity of the real world is a form of wasting these blessings. Encouraging a child to play actively outside is teaching them to be grateful and responsible for stewards of the gifts Allah has given them.