What’s a fair plan for choosing TV shows so siblings can wait turns calmly? 

Parenting Perspective 

Few household debates spiral faster than “Who gets to pick the show?” What starts as screen-time excitement can quickly turn into rivalry, sulks, or shouting. Beneath the noise, though, is something simple: each child wanting to feel seen and heard. Fairness, not entertainment, is the real battleground. 

Your goal is not just to manage screen time but to teach equity, patience, and flexibility—how to take turns without resentment. When fairness feels predictable, calm follows naturally. 

Why Fairness Matters 

Children equate “fair” with “equal,” but fairness in families often means shared trust. When one sibling feels their voice matters as much as the other’s, they can wait more easily. A clear plan removes uncertainty, and uncertainty is what drives most outbursts. 

• “We are making a plan so everyone gets a turn, not just to watch what they love, but to practise kindness while waiting.” 

That framing shifts the focus from entitlement to cooperation. 

Creating a Simple, Predictable Plan 

Design a turn-taking system that everyone can see and understand. Keep it visual and consistent so no one feels the rules shift midweek. Some effective approaches include: 

• The Daily Turn Rule: Each child gets to choose the show on alternating days. 

• The Episode Rule: One show or one episode per turn, then it switches. 

• The Coin or Card Rule: A physical token (like a laminated name card or coin) passes between siblings to mark whose turn it is. 

Post the plan somewhere visible (on the fridge or near the TV) and refer to it instead of re-explaining. When the system speaks, arguments shrink. 

Teaching Calm Waiting 

Children do not only need fairness; they need a way to cope while waiting. Coach them through strategies like: 

• Doing a quiet activity nearby (drawing, Lego, or reading). 

• Counting the number of episodes calmly instead of complaining. 

• Saying, “I will get my turn next,” out loud to remind themselves. 

Waiting becomes easier when they feel time is guaranteed, not stolen. 

• “You can always count on your turn; it might not be now, but it is coming.” 

This reassurance lowers the anxiety that fuels interruptions and protests. 

Handling Disputes Without Power Struggles 

When an argument does flare up, avoid taking sides. Point to the plan: 

• “Let us check our chart; whose turn is it today?” 

If both refuse to yield, pause the privilege for a short time: 

• “We will start again when we are ready to follow the plan calmly.” 

This consequence feels neutral, not a punishment, but a reset. Over time, they will learn that peace keeps privileges, while arguing pauses them. Praise the small wins: “You waited while your sibling chose; that showed real patience.” The TV plan becomes a family system that teaches emotional fairness. 

Spiritual Insight 

The noble Quran reminds believers to be fair even in the smallest decisions. Fairness is not only a moral principle; it is an act of iman (faith). When you build equity into family routines, you are modelling one of Allah Almighty’s most loved qualities: justice with compassion. 

Justice and Consideration in Everyday Choices 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Nahal (16), Verse 90: 

‘Indeed, Allah (Almighty) orders you to promote justice and benevolence; and to be generous towards (positively developing) those that are within your jurisdiction; and to prevent that which is immoral, acts of irrationality, and cruelty; and He (Allah Almighty) offers this enlightened direction so that you continue to realise (the true pathway of Islam).’ 

This verse makes fairness a form of worship. A shared TV plan that honours each child’s voice becomes a small reflection of that divine justice, teaching children that equality is not about getting their way but about respecting the system that keeps peace. Each calm turn is a practice in discipline and empathy, the beginnings of adl (balance) within the home. 

The Prophet’s ﷺ Example of Fairness Among Loved Ones 

It is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 3544, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Fear Allah and be just among your children.’ 

This guidance captures the essence of family harmony. The Prophet ﷺ urged fairness not only in material gifts but in time, attention, and affection. A fair rotation of turns mirrors that prophetic fairness; every child feels valued, none feel overlooked. 

You can gently remind them, “When we take turns with kindness, we are doing what the Prophet ﷺ loved; fairness with peace.” In practising this small fairness, your children learn a lifelong truth: justice does not just belong in courts and communities; it begins in the living room, in the moments when love chooses balance over winning.