UAE Parents Manage Kids' Screen Time

How UAE Parents Keep Kids Away From Screens During Summer Break

For many families in the United Arab Emirates, the summer break poses a challenge: how to provide meaningful, safe, and entertaining activities for children while reducing screen time? Although smart devices have increasingly become central to children's entertainment in recent years, many parents consciously strive to reintroduce traditional games and community experiences into their daily lives.

Resurgence of Community Experiences

In the past, neighborhood playgrounds and parks were filled with the sounds of children. Today, these areas are much quieter, as children more often remain indoors. This is not only due to the allure of digital devices but also for safety reasons. Parents often worry about street traffic, poor community connections, or simply not knowing their neighbors.

Previously, games like hide-and-seek, soccer, or role-play in the yard were daily activities, but now many children travel by electric scooters or bicycles, often unsupervised. Additionally, strict rules in the UAE govern the use of e-scooters: for instance, they are banned for those under 16.

Alternative Solutions for Screen-Free Fun

Parents are becoming increasingly creative in guiding their children back to active, communal experiences. Many organize home competitions: memory games, drawing contests, or speed challenges. Small prizes—such as one dirham—add excitement to the game while also fostering a sense of community.

Some turn to nature for inspiration. Berry picking, for example, not only serves as a playful competition but also as a family ritual, as the gathered produce is shared with relatives and neighbors. Other parents create summer experiences with inflatable pools, water guns, or garden picnics.

Board Games, Sleepovers, and Family Nights

The popularity of board games is also on the rise. Classic games like Uno, Monopoly, or Sequence provide an excellent foundation for family time, especially when cousins or friends join. Additionally, cultural quizzes, card games with humorous tasks, or body painting can enhance the programs.

Parents are often active participants in these programs – they not only supervise but also play alongside the children. This shared playtime helps foster connections and replaces the community experiences that street games once provided.

Online Time – Moderated and Mindfully

Many do not completely ban digital games but instead consciously select apps that are developmental or offer community experiences. Online games like "Tarbaa," "Seen Geem," "Fun Run," or "We Play" give children the opportunity to compete, learn, and not become isolated. These are often supplemented by family quizzes where adults also participate.

Balance and Leading by Example

The key to success lies in conscious balance-seeking. The UAE parenting community increasingly recognizes that technology is not the enemy – it becomes helpful only when used within proper boundaries. The summer break is an ideal time for families to establish new traditions, create new shared experiences, and strengthen those connections that cannot be built behind a screen.

(Source: Based on parents’ accounts.)