What do I change when mornings derail because they check the tablet first? 

Parenting Perspective 

Mornings can be fragile, and one small distraction can easily tip the balance between a feeling of calm and one of chaos. When a child reaches for their tablet before breakfast, they can often fall into a loop of high stimulation from the colours, sounds, and games, which light up the brain before the day has even properly begun. The slow dressing, skipped breakfast, and rushed frustration that can follow are not necessarily signs of defiance, but of dysregulation. Their mind has gone from zero to one hundred before real life has even started. 

The aim is not to demonise the tablet, but to reclaim the family’s morning rhythm. You want to help your child to start their day feeling anchored in connection and readiness, not in a state of reaction. This shift can come from one key change: separating their wake-up time from their screen time. 

Understanding Why the Morning Tablet Is So Appealing 

When your child first wakes, their brain is still groggy and is naturally seeking comfort. The tablet provides an instant and easy reward, waking up the brain’s dopamine system faster than conversation or any other morning routine. This is why abruptly removing it can often lead to a meltdown; you are not just taking away a device, you are removing their ‘emotional caffeine.’ Instead of using punishment, it is more effective to use structure and clear sequencing. The message should be, ‘Screens are not gone forever; they just come a little later in the day.’ 

Restructuring the Morning Routine 

• Shift screen time to a later slot. You can move the tablet time to after breakfast or after they have dressed. This makes it a reward that follows the completion of their morning tasks, rather than something that competes with them. 

• Create a visible ‘Morning Order’ board. You can use simple pictures or words for each step of the routine: Wake up → Wash → Dress → Eat → Screen time. Children often cooperate better when they can see the plan for themselves, instead of having to hear constant verbal reminders. 

• Make the first interaction of the day a human one. Sharing a few words or a warm hug before anyone in the family touches a screen can be a powerful way to start the day. That early moment of connection helps the body to regulate and sets the emotional tone for the hours ahead. 

• Practise ‘screen-last mornings’ as a family rule. When everyone, including the parents, keeps their devices aside until after the key morning routines are complete, the rule becomes a part of the family culture, not just a command for the children. 

When your child succeeds, you can celebrate their progress: ‘You did your whole morning routine before even asking for the tablet today. That shows real self-control!’ 

Spiritual Insight 

The noble Quran calls believers to start their day with a sense of awareness and remembrance, not with distraction. How we begin our morning helps to shape the sense of peace that follows. Replacing early screen use with a more mindful routine mirrors this divine rhythm of beginning the day with purpose and presence. 

Beginning the Day with Presence and Gratitude 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Dhariyaat (51), Verses 17–18: 

‘They used to sleep for only a short part of the night, and in the hours before dawn they would be seeking their forgiveness (from Allah Almighty).‘ 

This verse describes the calm and clarity of those who rise with a sense of mindfulness, with their hearts focused before the demands of the day begin. While young children may not be waking for worship at this age, they can still learn that the morning is a time for peace, not for pixels. 

The Prophetic Example of Blessed Mornings 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 2236, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘O Allah, bless my nation in their early mornings.’ 

This hadith shows that the early hours of the day are a time of great blessing, a time that is meant for clarity, connection, and gentle productivity. When your child begins their day without the immediate distraction of screens, they are in a better position to honour that blessing, stepping into their day feeling alert, peaceful, and ready. Over time, this small change of putting screens last, not first, can become a deeper spiritual practice for the whole family, training the heart to choose mindfulness over immediacy.