Parenting Perspective 

Setting screen time boundaries is essential for a child’s wellbeing, but it can lead to feelings of isolation if not handled with care. The key is to approach the process with empathy, collaboration, and a focus on strengthening real-life connections. 

Start with Empathy and a Shared Goal 

Before discussing limits, first acknowledge what screens provide for your child: connection, relaxation, and entertainment. You could say, ‘I understand that screens help you chat with your friends and unwind. My role is to also protect your sleep, mood, and offline friendships’. When children feel their needs are seen, boundaries feel protective rather than punitive. Establish a shared goal together, such as achieving ‘better moods and mornings’ or spending ‘more quality time with friends off-screen’. 

Co-create a Family Media Plan 

Sit together and draft a few clear guidelines that everyone in the family can remember and follow. 

• Times: Screens are switched off by 8:30 pm on school nights and 10:00 pm on weekends. 

• Places: No phones are permitted during meals, in prayer spaces, or in bedrooms overnight. 

• People: Phones should be put down when someone is speaking to you or when guests are present. 

• Purpose: Games and social applications are to be used only after homework and Salah are completed. 

Write this plan on a single page, have everyone sign it, and place it in a visible area like the kitchen. Consistency is the key to reducing arguments. 

Replace Isolation with Connection 

Boundaries can feel isolating when they remove a source of connection without offering an alternative. Therefore, you should pair every limit with a bridge to an offline activity. Invite a friend over for a study session, plan a weekly board game night, or schedule a regular family sports hour. Ask your child, ‘Who would you like to see face-to-face this week?’ Building small, repeatable offline rituals helps meet their social needs away from screens. 

Use Graduated Tools, Not Blanket Bans 

Choose the least restrictive tool that achieves the desired outcome. Start with smaller adjustments first. 

• Notification batching: Silence non-urgent alerts and check them only at set times. 

• App timers: Set generous time caps on certain apps to create clear boundaries. 

• Focused phone zones: Designate a central charging station outside of bedrooms. 

• A clear consequence: If the rules are not followed twice in one week, the next day’s screen time is reduced by fifteen minutes. 

Explain each step calmly: ‘We are trying the smallest change first and will review how it is working in a week’. 

Create Gentle and Predictable Transitions 

The moment of switching off a device is often the most challenging. Use a simple routine to make it smoother: give a 10-minute warning, then a 2-minute warning, and finally use a neutral cue like a kitchen timer. Pair this transition with a soothing next step, such as a warm shower, a quick walk, or time with a reading basket. 

Protect Their Social Dignity 

Agree on graceful scripts your child can use to protect their friendships when screen time rules interrupt conversations: ‘I have to log off by 8:30 pm on school nights, but I will message you tomorrow’. Encourage them to move important chats to earlier in the evening. If read receipts are causing anxiety, consider turning them off to lower the social pressure. 

Model the Behaviour You Expect 

Your actions teach more than your words. Place your own phone in the central charging station and narrate your choices: ‘I am putting my phone away now so I can be fully present with you’. Protecting anchor moments like meals, prayer time, and bedtime with your own undivided attention demonstrates self-control and reinforces family priorities. 

Review Progress Collaboratively 

Hold a short, informal check-in each week. Ask, ‘What helped this week? Where did we struggle? What small adjustment can we try next?’ Keep the process collaborative and focus on progress, not perfection. Celebrate their efforts: ‘You logged off on time four nights this week. That shows real growth’. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islamic teachings frame the management of our time as a sacred trust from Allah Almighty, providing a powerful motivation for setting healthy boundaries around technology. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Asr (103), Verses 1-3: 

‘ By the (design of) time (by Allah Almighty); indeed, mankind shall surely (remain in a state of) deprivation (moral deficit), except for those people who are believers and undertake virtuous acts; and encouraging (cultivating within themselves and with one another the realisation and dissemination of) the truth and encouraging (cultivating within themselves and with one another the realisation and accomplishment of) resilience.‘ 

This surah reminds both parents and children that time is a sacred trust. Every hour lost to mindless scrolling is a part of life that cannot be reclaimed. Teach your child that screen boundaries are not a punishment but a way of honouring the gift of time. When we protect our minutes, we protect our purpose. Family screen rules can then become an act of faith, guarding what truly matters: our connection with Allah Almighty, our health, and our real-world relationships. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 6404, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘There are two blessings which many people waste: health and free time.’ 

This hadith teaches that wasting our health or our time, even through seemingly harmless distractions, is a form of loss. Unchecked screen use can slowly erode both of these blessings. By setting balanced boundaries, we protect these gifts. Encourage your child to view time spent offline as time gained for prayer, learning, movement, or meaningful friendship. Through these reminders, your child can learn that moderation is not about isolation but about preservation. The goal is to live fully, not half-absorbed in a digital world.