Parenting Perspective 

Children often resist screen limits when they feel sudden or unfair, but clear routines help everyone adapt. Setting two predictable daily screen-free windows works best when they are short, consistent, and respected by all family members, including parents. This shows children that balance, not punishment, is the goal. 

Choose Natural Anchors 

Link the screen-free windows to existing routines so they feel natural. For example: 

• First window: mealtime (e.g., breakfast or dinner) where phones and tablets are kept away. 

• Second window: bedtime wind-down, perhaps the hour before sleep. 

Anchoring to daily habits makes the windows easier to remember and harder to negotiate. 

Create a Shared Agreement 

Discuss with the whole family why these windows matter. Use simple language: ‘This is our time to connect without screens, so our minds can rest.’ Agree together on the times and post them on a chart or fridge for visibility. 

Replace Screens with Clear Alternatives 

Have ready options, such as board games, a short walk, reading aloud, or simply talking. If children know what will fill the gap, they are less likely to resist. 

Model Consistency 

Parents must also put devices aside during these windows. Children copy what they see, and if they notice adults sneaking screens, the rule will collapse. 

Use Gentle Reinforcement 

Acknowledge effort with small words of praise: ‘I liked how you stayed screen-free at dinner today.’ Recognition helps children feel part of the family routine rather than victims of it. 

By establishing two simple, consistent screen-free windows, households create pockets of calm, conversation, and bonding that children will grow to expect and appreciate. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam encourages moderation and mindful use of time. Creating screen-free moments teaches children that life is not meant to be consumed by distractions, but to be lived with balance and remembrance of Allah Almighty. 

Qur’an Guidance 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Asr (103), Verses 1–3: 

‘By the (design of) time (by Allah Almighty); indeed, mankind shall surely (remain in a state of) deprivation (moral deficit), except for those people who are believers and undertake virtuous acts; and encouraging (cultivating within themselves and with one another the realisation and dissemination of) the truth and encouraging (cultivating within themselves and with one another the realisation and accomplishment of) resilience.’ 

This reminds us that time is a trust, and filling it wisely with family connection and worship protects us from wasting it. 

Hadith Reminder 

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

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

This teaches us that unguarded free time can slip away unproductively, while mindful routines preserve it as a blessing. 

By establishing daily screen-free windows, parents align family life with these values. Children learn that discipline with time is not a restriction but a form of gratitude, recognising health, attention, and family presence as blessings from Allah Almighty to be protected.