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Digital Wellbeing in Early Childhood Phase I
Digital Wellbeing in Early Childhood Phase II

Digital Wellbeing in Early Childhood
Phase I

The Digital Wellbeing in Early Childhood Project, led by the Emirates Safer Internet Society (eSafe), funded by the Walt Disney Company, aims to safeguard children's online experiences in the United Arab Emirates. Recognizing the evolving digital landscape and its profound impact on young minds, this initiative encompasses a multifaceted approach to mitigate online risks within early years settings.

In the first phase of this project, started in January 2022, eSafe helped to build the knowledge of first-time parents for maximizing the cognitive, physical, and social benefits of technology use while minimizing the risks to their children. eSafe worked with several early childhood learning centres and elementary schools within the United Arab Emirates to train256 parents of young children.

In the second phase of this project, which was initiated in June 2023, eSafe has provided training to 192 early childhood educators to the potential online risks and threats and help them cultivate a healthy and empowering online environment in the classroom.

Additionally, a number of resources have been developed under this intiative:

1. A quick reference e-guide (bilingual- Arabic & English) for first-time parents on internet use with young children.

2. An educational video on responsible use of digital technology for young navigators in English with Arabic sub-titles.

3. A training resource (bi-lingual -Arabic & English) -the digital safety guide for early childhood educators.

e-Guide

Video

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Digital Wellbeing in Early Childhood
Phase II

The Digital Safety for Early Childhood Educators training session, tailored specifically for teachers in the UAE, has successfully equipped participants with a deep understanding of digital safety concepts and principles. Through this training, educators have gained the necessary knowledge and skills to e¬ectively teach children some of the most challenging concepts for young children to grasp about online safety, fostering a culture of responsible digital citizenship. Key topics covered in the training included defining digital/online safety, emphasising its importance for young children, exploring its relevance to classroom device usage, and examining evidence-based research findings on technology use among children aged 4-8 years.

The training also highlighted the significance of positive relationships in both online and offline settings. Educators understand that families provide essential needs, friends offer a sense of belonging, and various activities foster achievement and accomplishment. In today's digital age, children value online friendships as much as those in their physical communities or families.The Digital Safety for Early Childhood Educators training provides comprehensive resources enabling educators to extend their learning and independently create engaging, age-appropriate lessons focused on high-quality questioning to develop young children's understanding of digital safety concepts.The Digital Safety for Early Childhood Educators training module o¬ffers various methods to engage children in learning digital safety, fostering educator confidence in creating engaging lessons with high-quality questions for a deep understanding of the concepts, built on the experience of how young children learn.

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Training Video

Training Report

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The Digital Safety Guide For Early Childhood Educators

This guide is designed to support early childhood educators to introduce digital safety into early years classrooms effectively for young learners (aged 4-8 years). Within the guide, activities are designed for young learners aged 4-8 years. These activities aim to make learning about digital safety enjoyable, interactive, and age-appropriate.

Educators e-Guide

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