The moments we share with our children matter, whether we're reading a story, playing a game or watching their favourite show.
When parents take an active interest in what children watch and play, everyday digital experiences can become opportunities for conversation, connection and discovery.
Drawing on findings from the TECH Project, led by the Teaching, Learning and Development (TLD) Lab at NYU Abu Dhabi and funded by the Early Childhood Authority (ECA), we've put together five simple ways parents can become more involved in their children's digital experiences.
Here are five things you can try at home!
Tip 1 | Watch your child's favourite shows together and talk about what you see.
Choose a show your child enjoys and share the experience. Talk about your favourite moments, laugh together and ask questions about what's happening on screen. Try asking: "What do you think will happen next?"
Tip 2 | Connect what your child sees on screen to experiences you've shared together.
Connect what your child sees on screen with experiences you've shared together. Whether it's an animal, a place or a familiar character, use their interests to start conversations and revisit family memories.
Try asking: "Does this remind you of somewhere we've been?"
Tip 3 | Join your child in their favourite games and play as a team.
Join your child in their favourite digital games. Take turns, make decisions together and celebrate little wins. Let them teach you how to play, too!
Try asking: "How do we solve this together?"
Tip 4 | Let your child show you what they enjoy and what they've learnt.
Give your child the opportunity to show you what they enjoy. Ask them to explain a game, demonstrate something they've learnt or share what interests them.
Try asking: "Can you show me how this works?"
Tip 5 | Explore your child's questions and discover new things together.
When something sparks your child's curiosity, explore it together. Look up an interesting animal, discover how something works or find answers to their questions. Try saying: "Let's find out together!"
You don't have to do everything at once. Start with one small moment of connection.
LOOK at what interests your child.
ASK questions and give them time to respond.
JOIN in by following their ideas, sharing a reaction or taking a turn.
Sometimes, simply being present and showing an interest is enough to make a moment meaningful.
Every moment matters, with screens also.
Read in Arabic.
