One of the most positive and beneficial family habits is gathering around the dining table on a midweek evening. The scene goes like this: the mother sets her cup of tea aside and looks at her child, who has returned from school as enthusiastic as ever. He raises his hand as if he were still in the classroom and says, “Today… I want to teach you something new.” The mother smiles, the father listens attentively, and the dining table turns into a small space full of curiosity. Thus begins one of the simplest yet most powerful educational experiences: a weekly family knowledge-sharing session.
This is what Dr. Riyad Bayoumi, Professor of Early Childhood Education, recommends. He adds that this realistic scene is not just a passing moment; it is an educational practice that enhances a child’s intelligence, boosts self-confidence, and strengthens family bonds. Below are five main pillars—each illustrated with a short story and practical advice—to help turn family sharing time into a meaningful weekly activity in a child’s life.
Family Sharing Sessions: A Small Habit with a Lasting Effect
What may seem like a short weekly family activity is, in fact, a cornerstone in building a child’s personality.
Weekly sharing strengthens a child’s understanding, deepens their relationship with parents, gives them confidence to express themselves, and plants a love of knowledge within them.
With a touch of modern technology, the child shifts from being a passive receiver to a young creator who sees the world from a new perspective.
In a time of fast-growing educational challenges, such family interactions remain one of the warmest and most balanced spaces, allowing children to grow with confidence, curiosity, and affection.
First Benefit: Sharing Enhances Understanding and Strengthens Memory
Short Story
Suad, a nine-year-old girl, once came home excited to explain a lesson about the “water cycle” to her family. Standing in front of them, she used small hand gestures to imagine evaporation and condensation. When her father intentionally made a mistake in one step, she corrected him quickly and confidently. Days later, her mother noticed that Suad remembered the lesson more accurately than her classmates.
Insight
When a child explains information to others, the brain organizes, connects, and stores knowledge more deeply. Learning is not just memorization; it is reconstruction of information, which strengthens memory and thinking skills.
Tips for Parents
Ask simple questions during the explanation to activate analytical thinking. Encourage the child to repeat the information in their own way—through drawing, summarizing, or acting it out—because creative repetition reinforces understanding.
Second Benefit: A Short Session Deepens Parent–Child Communication
Short Story
In another home, a mother sat listening to her daughter learning her first five sentences in French. The mother repeated the words with gentle laughter, while the child tried to correct her pronunciation. Soon, the session turned into an intimate moment filled with encouragement and affection.
Insight
Setting aside weekly time to truly listen to a child sends a clear message: “We care about what you are learning, and we care about you.” These moments build deep emotional bonds and increase children’s willingness to communicate with their parents about other aspects of life.
Tips for Parents
Dedicate 15 uninterrupted minutes each week. End the session with a consistent encouraging phrase such as, “We are proud of what you learned today.”
Third Benefit: Sharing Builds Self-Confidence and Expression Skills
Short Story
Omar, a shy fourth-grade student, struggled to speak in front of his classmates. One day, his mother asked him to teach the family something about the benefits of plants. He hesitated at first, but when his younger sister clapped for him, he smiled. Over the weeks, he began starting the session confidently, organizing his ideas and using body language better. A month later, when his teacher asked him to give a short presentation in class, he did so without fear.
Insight
Sharing knowledge strengthens clear speaking, organizing thoughts, facing an audience, and self-expression—skills that will accompany the child throughout life.
Tips for Parents
Praise communication skills rather than focusing on language mistakes. Encourage the use of small note cards to remember key points, just like professional speakers.
Fourth Benefit: Creating a Home Environment That Celebrates Knowledge
Short Story
In a family of five, “Knowledge Day” became a weekly event everyone looked forward to. Each family member brought a question or fact related to what the child had shared the previous week. What began as a simple activity evolved into a household culture that encouraged curiosity, reading, and asking questions.
Insight
When children see that learning is valued at home as much as food and entertainment, it becomes a natural part of daily life. This builds a supportive environment that stimulates curiosity and broadens thinking.
Tips for Parents
Connect what the child shares to everyday life topics such as weather, nature, or cooking. Adopt the idea of a “Question of the Week” that everyone discusses together.
Fifth Benefit: Integrating Artificial Intelligence to Make Learning Visual and Fun
Short Story
Rami, a ten-year-old boy, returned from school eager to explain a geography lesson. Instead of a traditional explanation, his mother opened a simple AI application, and together they created an interactive map with images and colors. Rami proudly presented his work to the family, turning the session into a small creative workshop. The following week, he asked to prepare another presentation about volcanoes using icons and visuals.
Insight
Integrating AI tools transforms learning into an innovative visual experience. It increases motivation and helps children feel like producers of knowledge, not just receivers.
Tips for Parents
Use simple tools, if available, such as image generation, charts, or short presentations. Let the child choose how to present knowledge—through a short video, a poster, or an illustrated story—so they can express their understanding in their own unique way.
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