Parenting Perspective 

When Chromebooks, chargers, or headphones frequently go missing, it is not usually a result of carelessness but rather the absence of a routine. Children often operate reactively, remembering their devices only when they are needed for a task. The key is to build a simple, visual, and repeatable system that turns technology care into part of the daily rhythm instead of a stressful morning scramble. Establishing one dedicated tech station, a clear and calm spot for charging and storage, can immediately reduce arguments and anxiety. 

Building Predictable Habits for Tech Readiness 

A consistent routine removes the guesswork and morning panic. The goal is to make device management an automatic, predictable part of the day, much like brushing teeth or packing a lunchbox. This structure empowers children by giving them a clear process to follow, which in turn fosters independence and reduces your need to manage their belongings for them. 

Creating a Designated Tech Station 

The foundation of an effective routine is a physical, designated space. This creates a visual cue that prompts the desired action. 

• Choose a Location: Select a consistent area in the house, such as a corner of the dining room or a shelf near a socket, and label it the ‘charging zone’ or ‘device home’. 

• Organise the Space: Add a power strip, cable organisers to prevent tangles, and labelled baskets or trays for headphones and accessories. A neat and functional space is more inviting to use. 

• Establish an Anchor Habit: Every evening, make putting devices away part of the wind-down routine. Pair this task with an existing anchor habit, such as placing devices on to charge immediately after brushing teeth or before storytime. This helps the new routine become automatic. 

• Prepare the Night Before: Encourage your child to check the battery level each night and pack the Chromebook into their school bag before bed, not during the morning rush. 

Teaching Accountability Through Shared Responsibility 

Ownership must be taught, not simply assumed. Guide your child to take the lead in managing their tech, which helps them internalise the importance of being prepared. 

• Lead the Check: Allow your child to lead the nightly check while you observe. You can prompt them by saying, ‘Let us see if everything is ready for your learning tomorrow’. 

• Praise the Effort: Acknowledge their consistency to reinforce self-discipline. A comment like, ‘I appreciate how you remembered your charger tonight without any reminders,’ validates their effort. 

• Allow Natural Consequences: Avoid rescuing them every time they forget. A missed charge, and the inconvenience that follows, is often the most effective teacher of responsibility. 

By keeping the process simple and consistent, the routine becomes part of their character, helping them to become more organised, calm, and dependable. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that organisation, care for one’s belongings, and reliability are expressions of faith. Ensuring readiness and fulfilling daily duties reflect sincerity and amanah (trustworthiness). A small act, such as charging a Chromebook, can become a moment of mindfulness and gratitude when it is framed as preparation for seeking knowledge in the path of Allah Almighty. 

Trustworthiness and Responsibility as Amanah 

Responsibility is a sacred trust (amanah) in Islam.¹ Teaching children to care for their devices and prepare for the next day is part of fulfilling this trust in small but significant ways. It connects a practical duty to a higher spiritual purpose. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Ahzaab (33), Verse 72: 

‘Indeed, We (Allah Almighty) presented (other species) within the layers of trans-universal existence and the Earth and the mountains to be entrusted (with discretion in their actions); so, they refused to bear (the weight of that discretion); and feared (the consequences) from (making the wrong choices); but mankind chose to bear (the burden of such discretion); indeed, (as it turned out some of mankind) became unjust and ignorant (in making those choices).‘ 

You can help your child understand this concept by saying, ‘When you take good care of your belongings and prepare for school, you are showing Allah that you can be trusted with responsibility’. 

Excellence (Ihsan) in Every Small Deed 

Discipline and excellence are deeply connected to faith. The concept of ihsan is to perform every act with beauty and proficiency, as if one can see Allah Almighty. This transforms even mundane habits into quiet acts of worship. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1955, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Allah has prescribed excellence (ihsan) in all things.’ 

Remind your child that plugging in their Chromebook or keeping their headphones untangled can also be done with ihsan. By embedding this mindset, the tech routine becomes more than simple organisation; it becomes a spiritual exercise in gratitude, reliability, and care, cultivating a heart trained in faith-driven excellence.