What small, visible habits can prove that I value offline time? 

Parenting Perspective 

Children learn what is important to us by observing our daily choices. Small, consistent actions that demonstrate your love for offline life can be more powerful than any lecture about the dangers of screens. 

Make Offline Choices Noticeable 

Make small but clear gestures that show you are choosing an offline activity. For example, sitting with a book and a cup of tea in the living room, rather than scrolling on your phone in another room, makes your choice visible. This helps to normalise quiet, screen-free moments. 

Pair Actions With Simple Words 

As you make these choices, you can add a short, simple comment. Saying something like, ‘I really enjoy just sitting here without my phone,’ helps your child to connect your visible action with the value you place on being present and calm. 

Turn It Into Shared Time 

Whenever it feels natural, invite your child to join you in these simple moments. When they see that offline activities are linked with warmth, connection, and fun, the lesson becomes much stronger than any rule. 

By keeping these habits consistent and easy to see, you create a living example of balance between technology and real life. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam values intentional living and mindful choices, recognising that our small, everyday actions have a profound effect on the hearts and habits of those around us, especially our children. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hashr (59), Verse 18: 

‘O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow…’ 

This verse encourages us to live consciously, making deliberate choices in the present that will benefit us in the future. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2664, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, while there is good in both.’ 

In this context, strength includes the self-control to prioritise what is truly beneficial for our mind, body, and soul over fleeting digital distractions. 

By intentionally choosing and demonstrating small offline habits, you are not only proving the value of real-world presence but also teaching your child the Islamic principle of using our time in ways that nurture the heart, mind, and relationships.