Can screen time help me teach my child Arabic?
Believe it or not, screen time can be extremely beneficial for children, if done right! In the context of what we care about (learning Arabic), it can be a very useful tool.
There are so many warnings out there about how harmful screen time can be for children, and that is very true. It can lead to “tunnel vision”, where they completely disconnect from the real world, and if left for too long can lead to aggressive behaviour once you’ve taken screen time away.
That’s why experts have set a list of rules, including no actual screen time for children under 18 months old, and up to 1 hour for children ages 2 and 3. This can gradually increase as your child grows older. However, let’s face it, technology is a part of our daily lives, and depriving your child from using it would be a disservice to them. Screens and technology can be an extremely useful tool, if you know how to use it right. You can learn coding, maths, and even a language, including Arabic. Here are some tips for how to make screen time useful, and some rules to follow.
Set rules with your child from the start.
Leave a timer, and then give them a 5 minute warning before their time is up. Even if they are allowed 2 hours of screen time a day, split it throughout the day. Children thrive on routines and love to know what to expect. With time, they’ll know when to turn it off themselves.
The type of content they consume
Not all screen time is created equal. You must preview what your child is watching to make sure it matches the learning outcomes you want, is age appropriate and matches your belief system. Think of the learning outcomes you’d like, and look for the appropriate content to match.
Make sure it’s a two way street.
It’s always better when the screen time and technology your child is using is interactive. That means they aren’t just passively watching, but also taking part in what they are doing. A wonderful example is an application called “hellosaurus”. In this application, they have wonderful educational videos which can pause and ask your child to contribute to the action happening in the video.
Quality is everything
When taking an approach to teaching a language like Arabic, you need content that is high quality and attractive. You know how your kids just LOVE Peppa Pig, Daniel Tiger, Paw Patrol? They need that hero character in Arabic too, and that’s what we’ve introduced in the Adam Wa Mishmish cartoon brand and application. Fun catchy songs and animations that then lead your child to different types of content including books, printables and activities.
Participate in your child’s screen time
When you take part in watching with your child, you can engage in conversation and make it an interactive experience. This makes it quality time for the both of you, and fun educational time that your child can benefit from. That’s why in the Adam Wa Mishmish application, we give plenty of opportunities for parents and kids to watch together, but also do things together. So after you’ve gone through our flashcards, stories and animated episodes, we then give you the chance to print an activity sheet and go over the key words you’ve been learning. You can also watch an activity video, then apply it in real life. Pick the colors, materials, and discuss the process of your creation, thereby building a fun interactive learning environment.
According to childhood development experts, the first 5 years of a child’s life are essential for their development. Language is a big part of a child’s ability to communicate and express themselves-leading to a general sense of wellbeing. Help them build a strong foundation for their mother tongue from an early age, even from birth, and help them build positive associations with it. Make use of what screens have to offer in this sense.
Children need to see colorful graphics, music that they can truly enjoy, and characters that they can relate to. And we have exactly what you’re looking for:
YES – Learn Arabic with Adam Wa Mishmish is HERE! We are bringing our colorful content straight to your device, for creative, enjoyable and interactive Arabic learning for you and your child. Ahlan Wa Sahlan! The app includes colorful flashcards, books, at home activities and so much more. Since many parents are hesitant to send their children to preschool, considering that COVID 19 is still spreading globally, with our app, you won’t have to! Your child can learn their mother tongue from the comfort of their home, with their favorite superheroes beside them; AKA YOU – their parents.
So start their learning journey now! And allow Adam Wa Mishmish help you make your Arab child, a proud one.
