Parenting Perspective 

When a child resists turning off the television for dinner, the conflict is rarely about simple defiance. It is more often a struggle with the abrupt emotional shift from a state of entertainment to one of responsibility. Understanding this allows you to respond with empathy and strategy rather than authority alone. 

Recognise the Real Struggle 

Television stimulates a child’s brain with colour, movement, and sound. Suddenly demanding they switch to the quiet, social focus of a meal can feel like emotional whiplash. The protest that follows is their way of communicating, ‘I am not ready to switch worlds yet.’ Recognising this helps you to see the situation from their perspective and address the root of their resistance. 

Create Predictable Transition Signals 

Predictability is the antidote to friction. Begin using gentle countdowns, such as, ‘Dinner will be ready in ten minutes,’ and then repeat the warning at five and two minutes. A visual timer or a short, consistent song can also signal the end of screen time without a single word from you. Over time, your child’s brain learns to anticipate the change rather than react to it. When it is time, shift their attention with calm firmness: ‘The television is ending now, and dinner is beginning. Let us go and wash our hands together.’ Linking this shift to a physical action, like walking to the sink, helps their body to follow the transition instead of fighting it. 

Anchor Connection Before Correction 

When parents shout from another room or switch off the screen mid-scene, a child can feel a sudden loss of control. Instead, approach them and connect first. Touch their shoulder, make eye contact, and speak at their level. You might say, ‘I know you want to finish this scene. Let us pause it, and you can tell me what happens next at dinner.’ You are not giving in; you are honouring their engagement while redirecting their focus. This approach maintains dignity on both sides and reduces the emotional charge that fuels fights. 

Make Dinner an Inviting Experience 

If dinner consistently feels like an unwelcome interruption, the issue may not just be the screen time but the atmosphere at the table. Keep the first few minutes light and inviting. Ask playful questions, share a story, or let your child lead the dua. When the dining table is a place of connection rather than rules, the move from television to a meal becomes less of a loss and more of a gain. Consistent routines, a warm tone, and shared gratitude will slowly rewire your child’s association with dinner into a moment of positive family togetherness. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam does not deny enjoyment; it teaches balance. Entertainment is permissible when it is refreshing, but it should never overshadow family connection or gratitude for our sustenance. Transitions like these become opportunities to show your child how to enjoy blessings without being ruled by them. 

Finding Balance in Daily Life 

Moderation in pleasure and mindfulness in duty are key principles. You can teach your child that turning off the television is not a punishment but a choice to embrace balance and gratitude over excess. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Furqaan (25), Verse 67: 

‘And it is those people that do not spend extravagantly, nor miserly; and (act in such a way) that is a balanced format between these two (extreme characteristics).’ 

Reciting Bismillah together before eating becomes the physical expression of this balanced approach, marking a mindful shift from one activity to the next. 

Self-Control as a Sign of Strength 

When your child protests the end of screen time, they are battling the same impulse that the holy Prophet Muhammad $ﷺ$ described: the struggle between impulse and self-command. By guiding them gently but firmly, you help them practise strength in the prophetic sense. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2609, that the holy Prophet Muhammad $ﷺ$ said: 

‘The strong man is not the one who wrestles, but the one who controls himself when he is angry…’ 

Remind them that every time they manage this shift without shouting or sulking, they are not only earning a reward from Allah Almighty but are also embodying real strength. 

Each evening’s transition is a small rehearsal for life’s bigger tests, teaching a child when to pause pleasure, when to give thanks, and when to return to balance. When handled with warmth, consistency, and faith, even the daily TV-to-dinner battle can become a quiet lesson in discipline, gratitude, and self-mastery.