Picking berries, sleepovers: How UAE parents are keeping kids off screens this summer

Once filled with the lively sounds of children playing traditional outdoor games, neighbourhoods today are much quieter. In recent years, the UAE has noticed a change in how children spend their free time, with many now opting to stay indoors rather than engaging in outdoor play.

However, many parents still take proactive steps to reduce screen time and reintroduce their children to interactive, screen-free play. This renewed focus on group activities has not only revived the spirit of childhood play but also strengthened family bonds, especially during the summer holidays, when children often grow restless with too much free time.

The nature of play itself has undergone a significant change. Games that once defined neighbourhood childhoods, such as hide-and-seek, role-playing, and football, have given way to indoor-friendly alternatives. Parents often prefer keeping their children safe inside the home, especially since interpersonal connections have weakened and fewer families know their neighbours well.

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Even outdoor play no longer carries the same sense of safety and fun it once did. Many children who play outside are often seen riding e-scooters and electric bicycles, or simply wandering the streets with little awareness of passing cars. What used to be a space for carefree games is now marked by traffic risks and safety concerns.

As previously reported by Khaleej Times, many children are requesting e-scooters and bikes that are not only potentially dangerous but also illegal for children under 16 years old.

Competition mode

Emirati mother Alya Abdullah, a mother of four based in Dubai, described to Khaleej Times how she keeps her children engaged. "I like my children to stay active with different activities. At home, I organise competitions and give out motivation prizes, even if it's just Dh1 for the winner."

During breaks at work, Alya browses social media for trending activities to try out with her children. "We do drawing and colouring contests, and I organise fun games that test their memory, reaction time, or speed, and when I am busy, I let them play in the backyard," she said.

Each year, she organises a berry-picking challenge. "I have my kids pick the berries from the tree as a competition, and then I give them away to our neighbours and family."

Alya doesn't mind screen time as long as it's balanced. "My children still play hide-and-seek and other popular games, though they now go by different names.

"I don't have a built-in pool, so I bought an inflatable one and added water guns and balloons to create a fun, outdoor experience," she added.

Card games

While many children attend summer camps and various summer activities, some still have large blocks of free time, often because they stay up late.

Sharjah-based Reem Hassan, a mother of two children aged 10 and 14, said her children are enrolled in multiple programmes yet still experience boredom. "They play football, swim, join physical activities, and even take summer jobs, but by the weekend, they are bored," she said.

To keep things lively, Reem shops with her children for group games at the start of every summer vacation. "We buy games like Uno, Sequence, and Monopoly, and invite their cousins to stay over. I also buy trivia games with funny dares and cultural questions from bookstores and online."

She's not just an observer, but joins the fun. "I play with them and sometimes paint their faces to break the routine," Reem added.

Online family time

Maryam, a mother of three from Dubai, said her children enjoy sleepovers at their cousins' homes during vacation, and she often hosts relatives as well. "On weekends, I organise cultural competitions for both adults and kids."

She is also open to digital play, provided it's meaningful. "There are so many apps now that offer great challenges — not just cultural trivia but life skills too. Online games like 'Tarbaa' and 'Seen Geem' are some of our favourites."

Maryam added that she prefers online games that allow her children to interact with friends. "They love playing 'Fun Run' and 'We Play' — it gives them a chance to compete, laugh, and stay connected with family and friends."

And when outdoor time is needed, she sets up a pool at her house or lets her kids ride bikes around the neighbourhood.

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