Parenting Perspective 

Children often misinterpret a parent’s busyness as a form of personal rejection. By providing them with a visual and predictable way to see when you will be free, you can help them to feel more secure and reduce their frustration. A simple shared calendar can be a powerful tool that turns a hidden schedule into a clear and reassuring family rhythm. 

Step 1: Create a Visible Family Calendar 

This can be a large wall chart, a whiteboard in the kitchen, or a digital family app that is synced across your devices. Use it to mark key times such as work calls, prayer times, and family meals. Using different colours for different activities can make the schedule easier for children to understand at a glance. 

Step 2: Block Out Availability and Boundaries 

Make sure to include dedicated ‘available blocks’ in the calendar, where your children know they will have your undivided attention. For example, you could mark 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM as ‘Family Time’. When a child sees this written down, they learn that waiting patiently has a guaranteed reward. 

Step 3: Teach Teenagers to Use It Proactively 

Show your older children how to check the calendar before they approach you with a non-urgent matter. Encourage them to book a time slot with you if they want to discuss something important. This teaches them to respect boundaries and also gives them a sense of agency over their time with you. 

Step 4: Follow Through Consistently 

A shared calendar is only effective if parents honour what is written on it. If you have scheduled yourself as available at 6:00 PM but then remain glued to your phone, your children will quickly stop trusting the system. Keeping your word is what builds their sense of security. 

By weaving a calendar into your family life, you can reduce interruptions, strengthen predictability, and make your children feel that their time with you is valued and protected. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam places great emphasis on order, trustworthiness, and respecting the value of time. A structured family calendar is more than just a tool for organisation; it is a form of sacred trust (amānah) with your children, showing them that you value their time as much as your own. 

A Quranic Reminder on Fulfilling Commitments 

The Quran reminds us that honouring our promises, even small, everyday ones about how we will spend our time, is a fundamental part of our faith. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Israa (17), Verse 34: 

‘…And fulfil all your promises, as indeed, you will be questioned about all the promises that you have made (in this life).’ 

This reminds us that honouring our scheduled time with our children is an act for which we are accountable. 

The Prophetic Teaching on Keeping Promises 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that keeping one’s word is a sign of a true believer, and that breaking promises is a serious flaw in one’s character. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 33, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.’ 

This teaches us that keeping the time promises we make to our children is not a trivial matter, but a reflection of our integrity as Muslims. 

By sharing a calendar and sticking to it, you are modelling the virtues of justice, reliability, and care. Your children learn that respect for time is both an important family value and a reflection of one’s faith.