To mark World Children's Day, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language today held the Child's Language Forum in Riyadh. The forum, which brought together specialists and relevant agencies, aims to strengthen Arab children's language and launch initiatives supporting Arabic language learning for children, as part of achieving the academy's strategic goals linked to the Human Capability Development Program under Saudi Vision 2030.

Forum Activities and Objectives

The forum featured numerous activities focused on spreading the Arabic language and strengthening its standing among children, most notably:

  • Three main sessions:
    • Children's Literature and Its Impact on Language Development.
    • Children's Linguistic Rights.
    • Arabic Language and Early Childhood.
  • An accompanying exhibition: showcasing products serving Arab children's language, such as books, stories, activities, educational series, and research publications.

Key forum objectives:

  • Instilling linguistic values in children and raising them with pride in Arab identity.
  • Strengthening integration among agencies concerned with teaching language to children.
  • Presenting a linguistic model applicable across the Arab world.

Innovative Initiatives to Strengthen Children's Language

The academy launched several innovative initiatives at the forum, most notably:

  1. Language tracks for children:
    • Let's Read Poetry: aimed at Arabic-speaking children to teach poetic meter and the arts of poetry.
    • Arabic Songs: aimed at non-Arabic-speaking children, featuring catchy rhythmic texts to teach basic vocabulary.
  2. The "Al-Arabiya for the World for Children" channel project:
    • Offering engaging educational clips to make children love the Arabic language and develop their language skills.
  3. The Guiding Framework for Children's Linguistic Rights:
    • Includes 56 guidance items establishing children's linguistic rights in the areas of identity, education, protection, health and participation.
    • Includes 72 performance indicators, such as the proportion of programs aimed at strengthening linguistic identity, and policies supporting the Arabic language in institutions.

Forum Achievements and Outcomes

  • Strengthening linguistic identity: by incorporating texts that promote the Arabic language into national policies and entertainment and educational production.
  • Protecting children from linguistic discrimination: by ensuring their linguistic rights and strengthening the standing of Arabic in education and media.
  • Enriching children's linguistic vocabulary: by increasing educational and cultural content aimed at Arab children.