Parenting Perspective 

Parents often notice a baffling contrast: when asked to clear the table or fold laundry, children drag their feet, find excuses, or wander away. Yet when screen time is mentioned, they leap into action with astonishing speed. This contrast is not defiance alone—it reflects how the child’s brain processes pleasure, effort, and reward. 

The Lure of Instant Gratification 

Screens offer immediate excitement: bright colours, fast rewards, and quick entertainment. Chores, in comparison, feel slow, repetitive, and thankless. Children naturally gravitate towards activities that give instant pleasure rather than delayed satisfaction. While adults can see the long-term value of chores, children need help connecting effort to reward. 

Effort Versus Escape 

Chores require physical or mental effort, and they highlight responsibility. Screen time, on the other hand, provides escape from responsibility. For a child, the choice feels obvious: why exert effort when a reward is waiting? Parents need to show that effort itself carries joy and meaning, rather than always being heavy. 

Teaching Balance and Discipline 

The key is not to demonise screens but to teach children how to balance their use. When parents set a clear structure—chores before screens—it links responsibility with privilege. Over time, children learn that tasks must be done first, and then rewards follow. Saying, ‘Screens are for after your chores, not instead of them,’ helps cement this principle. 

Making Chores Meaningful 

Parents can also make chores less of a burden by connecting them to family pride. For example, ‘When you sweep the living room, you make it a comfortable place for everyone to sit together.’ This transforms chores from endless tasks into contributions that matter. 

A Micro-Action to Try 

Introduce a simple routine: no screens until one chosen daily chore is complete. Keep it consistent, and praise not only the finished task but also the timeliness. This steady pattern builds the muscle of discipline. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches moderation in all things and reminds us that discipline is part of true freedom. While entertainment has its place, life’s dignity is built upon responsibility. The one who learns to balance effort and rest, work and play, lives with peace rather than chaos. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Qasas (28), Verse 77: 

‘“And seek (to discover) from what Allah (Almighty) has bestowed upon you for the abode in the Hereafter; and do not forget your (true) functionality in this world; and show favour (onto others) as Allah (Almighty) has shown favour upon you…”.’ 

This verse shows the balance between enjoyment and responsibility. Screens may be part of worldly enjoyment, but they cannot override the duties that prepare us for greater accountability. 

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

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

Strength here includes self-discipline. Teaching children to complete chores before screens strengthens their willpower, making them more capable and resilient. 

By guiding children to see chores as the path to dignity and screens as the reward of balance, parents help them grow into individuals who do not chase escape but embrace responsibility first. Over time, children realise that true satisfaction comes not from rushing to entertainment, but from knowing they have fulfilled their duties with strength and pride.