The question
My daughter is four years old. I was careful with everything that benefits her as much as I could, including completely banning screens.
Until she started sitting with relatives and watching cartoons and such with the other children.
So I allotted her about half an hour or less daily to watch somewhat purposeful things. But I notice that while she's watching she's completely absorbed, doesn't feel anything around her, doesn't hear me when I speak to her. If she's eating she stops eating — just focusing with a strange focus.
I am very anxious about this.
What does this mean?
Our answer
This state of absorption with the scenes is natural and happens. But my advice to you is: don't leave your daughter to the screens. Even occupying her with a toy would be more useful for her than non-tarbawi watching just for entertainment. That is, if you wanted to let her watch, let it be, for example, a documentary about nature and animals — no problem, she learns from it. But cartoons that have nothing in them but colors and dialogues with no aim other than creating an imagination for the child that is not well-considered — I don't advise these. You can get her used to watching with you, so you talk with her about what you're watching, comment, enrich her knowledge, and direct her to what's good for her. But leaving the child at the screens is not something I advise.
I advise you to try the play ideas in the skill-building references in the preparatory level curriculum on our channel. May Allah grant you success and delight your eyes with her.
Have a parenting question of your own? Contact us, or follow our Telegram channel: @estesharatjeel
