Decision Makers:
Brian Horwell
We, the undersigned parents of Year 1 students at Safa British School, ask the school administration to remove personal iPads and digital tablet devices from the Year 1 curriculum and to introduce student-use personal digital devices only from Year 3 onwards.
We value modern education, but we believe personal screens are not right for children of five and six years old. At this stage, children learn best through hands-on play, stories, writing on paper, physical books, and other tactile materials that help them build attention, language, and early literacy in a natural way. They also need regular face-to-face interaction to grow communication skills, empathy, and the ability to work through small conflicts with others.
We are concerned that individual tablet use can crowd out the human-led learning and active play that young children need most. When screens become part of the daily routine too early, it becomes harder to keep healthy limits on screen time and to protect a balanced start to school life. For many families, this is not about rejecting technology. It is about using it at the right time, in the right way, and after children have had the chance to build a strong foundation without personal devices.
We therefore respectfully ask Safa British School to update its technology policy so that Year 1 remains focused on developmentally appropriate, play-based learning, and personal iPads and tablets are introduced only from Year 3 onwards. We believe this would better support the healthy growth, learning, and wellbeing of our children during these important early years.
19 Comments
There is nothing that a child cannot learn without the use of technology. Online learning was forced into our lives due to COVID. COVID's long gone but tabs have remained unfortunately. Children need books to develop in a structured manner, let's aim at being the role model of a school that erases tabs for young children, focusing on education that is supposed to be.
I would think private schools who get paid well have the resources and educators to teach tender aged children without the use of electronics. Parents are fighting against an electronic filled world as it is. Electronics can be introduced at a later stage.
I believe year 1 is too early. Most kids are 5/6 years in y1 and most parents do their best not to introduce this at home and try to manage screen time, which gets harder if it a requirement in school. There are so many other ways to teacg and learn, there is no need to use an ipad at that age. On top of that hand writing should be prioritized instead of typing. Overall I do not see any benefit to use it at that age. Y3/4 is in my opinion a good time to introduce an ipad.
Its not good to give kids screen at such an early age. They already are away from physical activity given the dubai weather, then they get glued to the screen. Once you take the screen from them they become more irritated and cranky. And above all their hand writting is also not improving. They should study using pencil and notebooks till year 2.
As a parent, I have kept my child away from screens throughout his first six years. Our home is centred around conversation, play, books, and real-world interaction. Since starting school, he is exposed to cartoons and required to use an iPad, and I have clearly noticed a decline in his concentration. I support technology in education, but believe personal screens should be introduced at a more appropriate age.
Children are still developing essential skills such as handwriting, concentration, communication, creativity, and learning through play. Excessive iPad use may increase screen time and reduce opportunities for hands-on activities and meaningful interaction with teachers and classmates. Technology can support learning, but at this young age, it should be used occasionally and purposefully not as the main method of teaching.
I believe that screens are not for children.
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Decision Makers:
Brian Horwell
We, the undersigned parents of Year 1 students at Safa British School, ask the school administration to remove personal iPads and digital tablet devices from the Year 1 curriculum and to introduce student-use personal digital devices only from Year 3 onwards.
We value modern education, but we believe personal screens are not right for children of five and six years old. At this stage, children learn best through hands-on play, stories, writing on paper, physical books, and other tactile materials that help them build attention, language, and early literacy in a natural way. They also need regular face-to-face interaction to grow communication skills, empathy, and the ability to work through small conflicts with others.
We are concerned that individual tablet use can crowd out the human-led learning and active play that young children need most. When screens become part of the daily routine too early, it becomes harder to keep healthy limits on screen time and to protect a balanced start to school life. For many families, this is not about rejecting technology. It is about using it at the right time, in the right way, and after children have had the chance to build a strong foundation without personal devices.
We therefore respectfully ask Safa British School to update its technology policy so that Year 1 remains focused on developmentally appropriate, play-based learning, and personal iPads and tablets are introduced only from Year 3 onwards. We believe this would better support the healthy growth, learning, and wellbeing of our children during these important early years.
19 Comments
These Kids will have to use electronics devices for the rest of their lives getting them hooked on to one officially at this age is not the right way to go.
There is nothing that a child cannot learn without the use of technology. Online learning was forced into our lives due to COVID. COVID's long gone but tabs have remained unfortunately. Children need books to develop in a structured manner, let's aim at being the role model of a school that erases tabs for young children, focusing on education that is supposed to be.
I would think private schools who get paid well have the resources and educators to teach tender aged children without the use of electronics. Parents are fighting against an electronic filled world as it is. Electronics can be introduced at a later stage.
I believe year 1 is too early. Most kids are 5/6 years in y1 and most parents do their best not to introduce this at home and try to manage screen time, which gets harder if it a requirement in school. There are so many other ways to teacg and learn, there is no need to use an ipad at that age. On top of that hand writing should be prioritized instead of typing. Overall I do not see any benefit to use it at that age. Y3/4 is in my opinion a good time to introduce an ipad.
Its not good to give kids screen at such an early age. They already are away from physical activity given the dubai weather, then they get glued to the screen. Once you take the screen from them they become more irritated and cranky. And above all their hand writting is also not improving. They should study using pencil and notebooks till year 2.
As a parent, I have kept my child away from screens throughout his first six years. Our home is centred around conversation, play, books, and real-world interaction. Since starting school, he is exposed to cartoons and required to use an iPad, and I have clearly noticed a decline in his concentration. I support technology in education, but believe personal screens should be introduced at a more appropriate age.
Children are still developing essential skills such as handwriting, concentration, communication, creativity, and learning through play. Excessive iPad use may increase screen time and reduce opportunities for hands-on activities and meaningful interaction with teachers and classmates. Technology can support learning, but at this young age, it should be used occasionally and purposefully not as the main method of teaching.
I believe that screens are not for children.
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These Kids will have to use electronics devices for the rest of their lives getting them hooked on to one officially at this age is not the right way to go.