How can parents spot when a child’s creativity and imagination are being dulled by overuse of ready-made entertainment? 

Parenting Perspective 

An active imagination is a hallmark of a healthy childhood. When a child is overexposed to passive, ready-made entertainment, this innate creativity can begin to diminish. 

A Declining Interest in Open-Ended Play 

One of the earliest signs is a loss of interest in activities that require imagination. If a child who once loved storytelling, free drawing, or building with blocks now struggles to initiate their own fun and complains, ‘There is nothing to do’ unless a screen is available, it suggests their creative muscles are not being exercised. 

A Reduction in Curiosity and Problem-Solving 

Watch for a shift from being an active explorer to a passive consumer. A child whose creative drive is weakening may ask fewer questions, show less interest in how things work, and wait to be entertained rather than inventing their own games or exploring their surroundings. 

A Shift from Creation to Consumption 

Notice the balance between creating and consuming. It is healthy for a child to be inspired by a cartoon and then draw their own characters or make up new stories. It is a warning sign when they only want to passively watch or play pre-designed content, with no desire to create anything new from it. 

A Shortened Attention Span for Offline Tasks 

A brain accustomed to the fast pace of digital media may struggle with the slower, more focused nature of creative work. If your child finds it difficult to concentrate on a puzzle, a craft, or a book for more than a few minutes, it may be a sign that their capacity for deep, imaginative thinking is being affected. 

To rekindle their creativity, it is important to gently reduce their reliance on screens and reintroduce opportunities for open-ended play, including periods of healthy boredom that encourage their imagination to switch back on. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that our minds and senses are precious gifts from Allah, given to us to use actively and gratefully in the world. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Mulk (67), Verse 23: 

‘Say (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), it is He (Allah Almighty) Who has designed you; and developed for you (the faculties of) hearing and vision and the other senses; very few of you are grateful.’ 

This verse reminds us that our faculties our hearing, sight, and hearts (minds) are divine gifts. Using them to actively create, explore, and imagine is a form of gratitude (shukr). Allowing them to become dulled by constant passive consumption can be a form of neglecting these blessings. 

Furthermore, Islam encourages us to be purposeful and excellent in all our endeavours. 

It is recorded in Musnad Ahmad, 1412, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Allah loves that when any of you does something, he does it with excellence.‘ 

This concept of itqan (excellence) encourages us to be active participants in life, not just passive observers. Nurturing a child’s ability to think deeply, solve problems, and create with their hands helps them develop a character of purposefulness and excellence that will benefit them in all aspects of their life.