How do I handle “Just one more level” when I need action now? 

Parenting Perspective 

It is a familiar scene for many parents: you call your child for dinner or homework, only to be met with the plea, ‘Just one more level!’ What begins as a simple request can quickly turn into a standoff. The challenge in this moment is not just about timing; it is about teaching your child to respect boundaries while still feeling understood. The goal is to move from a power struggle to a sense of cooperation, without anger or constant negotiation. 

Understand the Pull of ‘One More Level’ 

Video games are designed to reward persistence. Levels often end with a sense of excitement or suspense, which makes stopping mid-game feel like a failure. Recognising this helps you to approach the moment with empathy. When you say, ‘Stop now,’ your child’s brain is still in the middle of an adventure. They are not ignoring you out of defiance; they are caught in a reward loop. Understanding this allows you to guide them calmly instead of escalating the situation emotionally. 

Set Expectations Before the Game Starts 

The best way to avoid these battles is to plan ahead. Before your child begins to play, agree on a clear time limit. You could say, ‘You can play for thirty minutes. When the timer rings, I will need you to stop right away, with no extra levels.’ This simple pre-commitment creates clarity and reduces the need for arguments later. When it is time to stop, you can say calmly, ‘The timer has gone off now. Let us pause the game. You can save your progress and come back to it later.’ 

Use a Transition Cue 

Children respond much better to gradual transitions than to abrupt commands. Instead of shouting from another room, you can use a visual or auditory cue five minutes before their time is up. You might say, ‘You have five minutes left, so it is time to finish your round.’ This allows them to close their activity with a sense of dignity. When you later say, ‘Time is up,’ the instruction feels expected rather than forced, which helps to prevent an emotional escalation. 

Maintain a Calm Tone 

When your own sense of urgency is rising, it can be easy to switch to a tone of frustration. The calmer your voice, however, the more effective your words will be. You could try saying, ‘I understand it is hard to stop in the middle of a level, but we agreed you would finish now, and I am holding you to that.’ It is important to avoid sarcasm or shouting, as this will only deepen their resistance. Your steady tone teaches them that discipline can coexist with dignity. 

Reinforce Positive Endings 

When your child stops on time, even if reluctantly, it is important to acknowledge their effort. You might say, ‘I know it was not easy to pause just then. Thank you for listening.’ This recognition strengthens their sense of agency, showing them that stopping is not just an act of obedience, but one of maturity. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, discipline is not about suppression; it is about mastery, learning to act with awareness rather than on impulse. Guiding your child to pause when they are called is a reflection of this spiritual training of the heart, teaching them to respond with presence, not resistance. 

The Quranic Call to Respond with Presence 

The Quran highlights the response of ‘we hear and we obey’ as a mark of spiritual strength. When a child learns to pause and respond promptly to a parent’s call, they are practising this same moral muscle of self-control. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Noor (24), Verse 51: 

‘Indeed, the statement of the believers has always been, when there are summoned (to the pathways directed by) Allah (Almighty) and His Messenger (Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), to arbitrate between them; then they say: “We hear and we obey”, and those are the successful (people).’ 

This is not about blind obedience, but about honouring one’s responsibilities and responding with a present heart. 

The Prophetic Virtue of Self-Restraint 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that true strength is found in restraint. Teaching a child to stop in the middle of a pleasurable activity, to pause willingly, is what nurtures that inner strength. It is a spiritual exercise in controlling their desires, not in suppressing their joy. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 6114, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The strong one is not he who defeats others by strength, but he who controls himself when angry.’ 

Parents, too, can mirror this principle when they hold their own temper steady during these challenging moments. In this way, both parent and child are learning sabr (patience) together. 

When you handle the plea of ‘just one more level’ with a calm consistency, you are not merely setting rules; you are cultivating character. Each pause teaches your child that discipline is not a punishment, but a form of protection, a boundary that keeps their time, their family, and their faith in a healthy balance. 

Over time, you will notice a quiet shift. The pleas may grow shorter and the transitions smoother. Your child can begin to pause not out of fear, but out of habit and a genuine understanding. In that moment, your home’s rhythm aligns with a sense of peace, where love leads, structure supports, and every ‘now’ becomes an invitation to mindfulness rather than a trigger for conflict.