Keeping Kids Engaged During the Eid Holidays

Eid brings much-needed downtime, but without a plan, downtime can morph into “device time.” Studies show that excessive holiday screen use is linked to poorer sleep, lower physical activity, and dips in academic focus when school resumes. Here’s a practical, evidence-based guide to help your child enjoy Eid while staying active, curious, and connected to family traditions.

1. Know the healthy screen-time range

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises families to create a media plan, keep screens out of bedrooms, and prioritise quality over quantity, especially for children under 8 years. aap.org

• World Health Organization recommends no more than 1 hour of sedentary screen time per day for under-5s, and a strong focus on active play for all school-age children. aoa.org

Quick rule of thumb: For primary-age kids, aim for ≤2 hours of recreational screen use on a holiday day, balanced by ≥60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous movement.

2. Use screens constructively

Evidence review of 5,000 children found the strongest learning gains from interactive educational apps, especially early-math and literacy games. news.fiu.edu

• Check the apps your school has access to. Use the class logins to get meaningful learning done.

• Curate a short list of high-quality apps (Khan Kids, ScratchJr, Duolingo ABC) and set a timer.

• Join your child for a shared session. Co-viewing boosts comprehension.

• Schedule screen blocks after morning play or family outings, not as the default filler.

3. Plan active, offline anchors

Research on holiday programmes shows that children who stay physically active report better mood and return to school with stronger focus. Aim for one “offline anchor” in the morning and another in the evening so screens never become the default filler.

Morning ideas (beat the heat):

• Cycle shaded paths at Oxygen Park or Lusail Boulevard.

• Join an art or STEAM workshop at Mathaf or M7 Design Hub.

• Take part in an Eid charity drive. Pack food baskets with a local NGO or mosque group.

Evening ideas (family time):

• Head to Aspire Zone for a family kick-about or scooter ride.

• Host a board-game night at home. Rotate who chooses the game each evening.

• Drive to Al-Khor or the Corniche for stargazing and a late-night picnic.

  
  

By anchoring each day with two purposeful, screen-free activities, you give children something to look forward to and naturally limit unstructured device time.

4. Model the balance yourself. Children copy what they see, not just what they’re told

Why it matters

• A 2023 meta-analysis of 42 studies found that parental screen habits are among the strongest predictors of children’s media use, independent of family income or device rules. Children whose parents exceed three hours of leisure screen time per day are 2.2 times more likely to do the same.

• Psychologists call this “social learning”—kids watch how adults regulate attention and imitate those self-control patterns.

Practical ways to model balance during Eid

1. Create visible tech-free zones

   • Park phones in a basket near the front door before mealtimes or family gatherings.

   • Keep bedrooms and majlis areas for conversation, prayer, or reading only.

2. Adopt the “only essential notifications” rule

   • Disable social-media pings; keep calls and urgent family or work channels.

   • Show your child how you customise alerts, turning the phone into a tool, not a toy.

3. Schedule your own digital breaks

   • Use screen-time dashboards (iOS/Android) to set daily limits for recreational apps.

   • Announce, “I’m taking a 30-minute phone break to read or stretch”. Kids notice the cue.

4. Swap scrolling for shared hobbies

   • Demonstrate quick, screen-free micro-activities: brewing Karak together, sketching Eid cards, or practising a new football skill in the garden.

   • Even 10-minute “micro-moments” reinforce that downtime doesn’t have to equal device time.

5. Narrate boundaries out loud

   • Say, “I’m replying to one work message, then the phone goes away until after dinner.”

   • Verbalising the rule externalises it. Children learn how to set their own limits.

6. Reflect as a family

   • End each day with a quick round-table: “What offline moment felt best today?”

   • Celebrate successes (“We all kept phones off the table!”) and reset goals for tomorrow.

Bottom line: When children see parents putting real relationships, movement and reflection ahead of endless scrolling, they absorb that hierarchy of priorities—far more effectively than any lecture or app-lock can teach.

Key takeaway

A healthy Eid break isn’t screen-free, it’s screen-smart. By scheduling enriching offline anchors, choosing purposeful digital activities, and modelling balanced habits, families can nurture body, mind, and spirit, setting children up for a strong return to school.