26 Wellbeing
In the project, we delivered activities that spoke to real-life struggles: how to create screen-free zones at home, how to discuss game use with curiosity not criticism, and how to set meaningful routines around bedtime and device storage. We guided families through digital habit-building with empathy and realism, not idealism. We are not looking for instagram lives, we want reality and connection. “We are not looking for instagram lives, we want reality and connection” We also helped school staff see themselves as digital role models. Many hadn’t paused to consider the message sent when adults use phones in corridors or respond to emails mid-conversation. In our staff CPD sessions, we asked leaders to reflect on their own habits and model boundaries openly. One of the most effective moments was when a school leader shared their own challenges switching off at night, and how setting downtime on their device became a simple but powerful act their children noticed. The Digital Wellbeing Research Project brought these ideas to life. With the involvement of five international schools in Dubai and the support of student researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi, we explored the realities of family screen habits and school policies. Participating families took part in workshops, created personalised pledges, and then completed a 21-day digital wellbeing challenge. The results were compelling: parents reported better sleep, more screen-free family time, and stronger connections. Students reported increased pride in their ability to self-regulate. Even more importantly, both groups reflected on their habits with renewed clarity. We also uncovered important tensions. School leaders often believed they were modelling good practice and maintaining effective policies, yet students and parents did not always share that view. Many students wanted to be part of the conversation but felt left out of decisions about school phone use. There was a consistent perception gap between intention and experience. That’s why the research didn’t just help families. It also gave schools a powerful lens to reflect on their own strategies.
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