Parenting Perspective 

Prioritise Real Conversation 

In today’s world, screens are everywhere, and many parents worry about how they affect their child’s speech and confidence. A little well-chosen screen time can support language learning if you watch and talk together, but too much passive watching can limit real conversation. Children learn best through warm, face-to-face interaction; your tone, expressions, and back-and-forth exchanges build the pathways in their brain for strong communication. 

Try to make screens an occasional tool, not the main teacher. Choose programmes that encourage your child to repeat words, sing, or answer questions. Sit with them, pause to ask what they see, or copy new words together. It is vital to balance this with plenty of screen-free time every day: family meals, walks, chores, and bedtime chats are precious opportunities for real conversation. If you notice your child becoming restless or silent after too much screen time, gently reset your routine. Small changes like screen-free mornings or a family story time can protect your child’s natural curiosity and keep their language skills blooming. 

Spiritual Insight 

A Trust to Guard 

Islam teaches us to guard what enters our hearts and minds, and this applies to what we watch and hear too. A child’s early years are a trust (Amanah) from Allah Almighty, and we are asked to protect this trust wisely. The noble Quran reminds us that our senses shape our inner state. Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Israa (17), Verse 36: 

‘And do not pursue (to meddle in matters) with which you have no knowledge; indeed, your hearing (everything you heard), your sight (everything you observed), your conscience (everything you thought), in fact, all of your (faculties) shall be called for questioning (on the Day of Judgement).’ 

Screens can bring benefit when used with care, but they should never replace the warmth of human words and presence. 

Shaping Habits with Love 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 3138, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Every child is born upon the Fitrah. Then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a Magian.’ 

This Hadith reminds us that parents shape not only a child’s faith but also their habits and ways of thinking. Managing screen time with love and clear boundaries protects your child’s Fitrah, preserving their natural curiosity and readiness to learn through real human interaction. Use screens wisely; choose content that strengthens faith, respect, and good language. Take breaks together to say ‘Alhamdulillah’ for the time you spend talking, laughing, and learning as a family. By protecting your child from the passive overuse of screens, you honour the trust Allah Almighty placed in you to nurture a healthy, thoughtful child whose words will, Insha Allah, be guided by truth and goodness.