This series is based on our experience of running a school for over fifteen years and working with youths in the community for over two decades. Please visit www.waliulasr.ca/parents for earlier parts.
Filtering content – Online, books and social interactions
It is critical for parents to be aware of content their children are consuming in any format until they develop the intellect and morals to distinguish between right and wrong. Some of the common scenarios we have observed are as follows:
1. The child accidently discovers inappropriate content or gets the link from a friend or cousin. We recommend installing Qustodio (https://www.qustodio.com ) or similar software on devices used by children to prevent accidental exposure. Please note that we do NOT recommend Qustodio as a way to allow children to use devices for entertainment.
2. An increasing number of families recognize the harmful impact of online media but consider books to be safe. Unfortunately, many books promote loathsome ideologies that greatly impact children and how they view life. They can also adversely impact relationships with parents, siblings and future spouse. We have compiled a list of fiction books that have been checked for Haram content under the criteria established by scholars. You can access the list at https://waliulasr.ca/parents . Please email us at info@waliulasr.ca with recommendations for books that can be added to the list.
3. Youths often identify friends from within the community and/or their cousins as individuals who introduced them to inappropriate content or illicit substances. In nearly all cases, parents of the friend or cousin are religious and unaware of the alternate life of their child. It is critical that we have open communication with our children and know the content of their social interactions with everyone until they have attained maturity.
4. Parents should strive to have their children spend time in the company of positive friends who display spiritual and academic excellence, and great Akhlaq. Toxic, ungrateful and negative attitudes are contagious and can be a great impediment to the child achieving excellence.
5. Essays and poems written by children can provide valuable insights to parents about the thought process of the child and the struggles they maybe facing. Asking a child to read out their work provides a great opportunity for parents to hold substantive discussions with children and helps a child excel academically.
Wali ul Asr holds a device-free Sisters Saturday sports and potluck program for all Wali ul Asr middle and high school girls and alumni and a device-free Brothers Sunday sports program for all Wali ul Asr middle and high school boys and alumni. We also hold a Thursday Family program and strongly encourage all Wali ul Asr families to participate in these programs.
May Allah enable us to perform our obligations towards our children who are a great blessing and a sacred Amanah of Allah. The most important of these obligations is to raise them in an environment where they can develop Taqwa (God-consciousness) so that they may achieve true success in this world and the hereafter InshaAlllah
