What are some healthy digital habits I can model even if I am not perfect yet? 

Parenting Perspective 

Children learn far more from observation than from instruction. Even if your own screen use is still a work in progress, the small, visible habits you adopt can make a lasting impression. You do not need to wait until you have mastered your own habits to start modelling a better way; showing your child the process of trying is powerful in itself. 

Create and Respect ‘Device-Free’ Zones 

Choose a few key places in your home such as the dining table, the prayer area, or bedrooms and make them consistent device-free zones. When your child sees you respecting these spaces by not bringing your phone into them, it sends a powerful, non-verbal message that certain areas are reserved for presence and connection. 

Narrate Your Purposeful Screen Use 

One simple but effective habit is to briefly say out loud what you are using your phone for before you unlock it. A quick, ‘I am just checking the weather for our walk,’ or, ‘I need to send a quick message to Grandma,’ helps to distinguish between intentional use and mindless scrolling in your child’s mind. It models technology as a tool, not a default escape. 

Practise the ‘Art of the Pause’ 

If your child speaks to you while you are looking at a device, make it a habit to practise the ‘art of the pause’. Stop what you are doing, make direct eye contact, and listen to them fully. Even if you need to return to your task afterwards, that brief moment of prioritising them over your screen speaks volumes about what you value most. 

Visibly and Willingly Switch Off 

Let your children see you putting your phone away. You can even explain the ‘why’ behind the action, saying something like, ‘Right, I am putting my phone on the charger now so we can have some proper family time’. This helps them to connect the action of switching off with the positive value of being present. 

By modelling these small but significant steps, you teach your child that a healthy balance with technology is not about perfection, but about making conscious, repeated choices a lesson that will help them to manage their own digital life with wisdom. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches us to lead by example and to demonstrate our commitment to good habits, even as we are still in the process of improving ourselves. Sincerity in the effort is what truly matters. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Saff (61), Verse 2: 

‘O you who are believers, why do you say (to others that) which you do not do (yourself)?…’ 

This verse reminds us of the importance of aligning our actions with the values we profess. Even taking small, gradual steps to do so ensures that the example we set for our children is a sincere one. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1893, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like that of the one who does it.’ 

This beautiful hadith teaches us those encouraging others through our own positive example, even while we are still striving to be better ourselves, carries immense reward from Allah. By letting your children see you making thoughtful choices with your technology, you are guiding them towards healthier habits and earning a share in the goodness that follows.