What are good non-food, non-screen ways to celebrate small wins? 

Parenting Perspective 

Celebrating your child’s small achievements is important for their confidence, but it is easy to fall into the habit of using sweets or screen time as the go-to reward. While convenient, these treats risk creating a dependence on external rewards rather than helping a child value the accomplishment itself.¹ It is far better to focus on celebrations that strengthen connection, highlight effort, and build lasting intrinsic motivation. 

Celebrate Through Shared Experiences 

Offer shared experiences rather than material objects. This could be as simple as going for a walk together, playing their favourite board game, or letting them choose the next family activity. The underlying message is powerful: your positive effort earns shared joy, not just temporary consumption. 

Use Words and Gestures of Recognition 

Simple yet intentional recognition can be incredibly powerful. A heartfelt high-five, a warm hug, or a surprise note left on their desk saying, ‘I am so proud of how you persevered today,’ can make a small win feel memorable without the need for any other incentive. These gestures affirm their effort and show they are seen. 

Give Responsibility as a Reward 

Most children thrive when they feel capable and trusted. Offering a small, age-appropriate privilege can be a wonderful celebration. This might include choosing what the family has for dinner, being the leader of the bedtime story, or picking the family du’a for the evening. This communicates trust and respect, showing them that their good effort leads to greater responsibility and leadership. 

By celebrating in these ways, you help your child learn that success brings connection, recognition, and growth, which are far more valuable than temporary pleasures. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that all good deeds, no matter how small, are valuable and worthy of recognition when performed with sincerity.² Celebrations of a child’s achievements should, therefore, inspire them to thank Allah Almighty and continue striving, rather than fostering an attachment to material rewards. 

Every Good Deed Has Weight 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Zalzalah (99), Verse 7: 

‘ Thus, everyone’s actions equivalent to the measurement of an atom that is good shall be observed by them (on the Day of Judgment).‘ 

This verse reassures us that no effort is too small in the sight of Allah Almighty. By celebrating small wins with joy and gratitude, parents help children connect everyday achievements with the eternal value of good deeds. 

The Value of a Small Act 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 1417, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Save yourself from Hellfire even by giving half a date in charity.’ 

This profound hadith emphasises that even the smallest, good deed holds immense value in the sight of Allah Almighty. When parents celebrate a child’s persistence, kindness, or honesty with simple, non-material gestures, they reinforce the lesson that every effort counts. This approach shifts the focus of celebration from a worldly reward to a spiritual reminder, nurturing humility and sincerity in the child’s heart.