SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)

Ways to foster a lifelong love of reading among children across the Gulf shaped discussions at the Abu Dhabi stop of the third Reading for Pleasure Conference on Thursday.

Organised by the Emirates Literature Foundation and hosted by the Higher Colleges of Technology, the event brought together international and regional speakers to discuss bilingualism and reading culture.

It moved between Dubai, Al Ain, and Abu Dhabi from September 28 to October 1.

Aletihad spoke to experts on preserving Arabic and promoting bilingualism among younger generations.

Family, Culture and Heritage 

Dr Halima Hamed, a lecturer at Higher Colleges of Technology, highlighted the changing relationship between younger generations and Arabic as children increasingly grow up using more than one language.

“Bi- and multilingualism are now the norm rather than the exception,” she said, noting that children naturally move between languages depending on the people, purposes and settings involved.

Her research with Arabic-speaking families also found that children associate Arabic strongly with family, culture, and heritage.

This relationship, she noted, extends beyond communication to children's sense of identity and belonging.

Through Arabic, children can access family stories, literature, poetry, proverbs, and traditions that carry meanings and values across generations.

And for children to develop a meaningful connection with their heritage, however, they need opportunities to actively participate in it. 

“For me, that is where belonging develops: not simply from learning about one’s heritage, but from being able to participate in it and contribute to it,” Dr Halima said.

She also stressed that passing Arabic to future generations requires adapting to children's increasingly digital and multilingual lives.

“We cannot preserve Arabic by keeping it in the past; we need to make sure it has a meaningful place in children’s present and future.”

Storytelling, reading, and digital tools, including AI, can connect children with Arabic.

Families can also strengthen language and identity through reading, family stories, as well as conversations with grandparents.

“If the family is where language and identity first take root, then the wider community has a responsibility to help those roots grow.”

Asset to Nurture

Dr Fatima Said, Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics at Zayed University, similarly highlighted the benefits of raising children in both Arabic and English.

She said bilingualism supports children’s family ties, cultural identity, and development without causing confusion or delays.

“For parents, the message is reassuring; bilingualism is not a risk to manage but an asset to nurture,” she said.

At home, Dr Fatima said, Arabic is most effective when it becomes part of ordinary family life rather than another formal lesson.

“The most successful families treat Arabic as part of everyday life, not as a lesson.”

Reading, storytelling, play, and conversations with grandparents can provide children with natural exposure to Arabic, her research found.

“The lesson is simple, Arabic thrives when it is warm, natural and supported by people children love.”

Dr Fatima advised parents not to pressure children who understand Arabic but tend to reply in English.

“When a child understands Arabic but answers in English, the goal is not to force a switch. It is to make Arabic feel warm, useful and normal.”

Parents can gently encourage Arabic and use shared reading to build children’s vocabulary and confidence without pressure.

“The aim is not to defeat English, but to give Arabic a secure, affectionate place in the child’s world.”