Uses of Time

The Barcelona Municipal Education Institute (IMEB) manages 105 nursery schools and 26 Family Parenting Spaces and provides services to almost 11,000 families with children aged 0-3. It has been detected that children aged 0-3 are passive recipients of screens and mobile phones used by adults. It is therefore necessary to join efforts between health and education in order to raise awareness among adults of the harmful use of screens in early childhood.

The objectives of the measure are to promote spaces for exchange between Health and Education professionals to carry out joint work, since they share the same users, and to promote actions and projects that can reduce the presence of screens in early childhood, with the aim of disconnecting from screens and connecting with the neighbourhood. 

At the same time, it also aims to promote the conscious and balanced use of digital technologies by families, enhance resources, actions and educational programs for families and educators in the promotion of healthy screen use, and raise awareness among the population about the risks represented by premature access, excessive use and addictions to the digital environment and access to inappropriate content.

In October 2024, the 0–3 Digital Well-being Conference “Caring and Educating: Growth in Early Childhood Without Screens” was held with the aim of working together with the Municipal Institute of Education of Barcelona (IMEB), the Health Consortium, and the Health Department of the Barcelona City Council in accordance with the Government Measure on Digital Well-being.

From various nursery schools, together with other local agents, strategies are being sought to provide citizens with information and alternatives to screen use (leaflets, questionnaires, talks...).

Time Impacts: 

• Promotion of healthy uses of time.
• Reduction of unwanted loneliness and/or strengthening of social support networks.
• Promotion of social and cultural participation.
   

More information:
Conference “Caring and educating: growth in early childhood without screens”