Parent App leads AI integration in early childhood education

Parent App, a leading platform transforming communication and management in early childhood centres, recently hosted an insightful panel discussion at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Business Bay - Dubai, to provide a well needed platform for engaging conversations and sharing best practices.

The event brought together nursery owners, centre leaders, early years practitioners, pediatric healthcare professionals, parenting experts, media personalities, and policymakers, including government representatives to explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in early childhood education and the UAE’s new national AI curriculum initiative.

Strategically moderated by Dana Alqinneh – Head of Pedagogy at Parent, early childhood educator and curriculum consultant, panelists explored pros and cons of AI in early childhood education.

ECEs and nurseries have become the “village” that is essential for the development of young children, as introduced by Nadine Moussallem, Chief Marketing Officer at Parent currently driving growth in the childcare technology sector. “As AI becomes part of early learning environments, educators face the important task of introducing children not just to technology, she stated, but to the ethical understanding of how it interacts with the world around them, planting the seeds for digital citizenship and responsible tech use.”

The UAE government recently unveiled its new progressive initiative focused on integrating AI into national curricula, as early as kindergarten. On the positive side, AI was highlighted for its potential to enhance teaching and learning through data-driven insights, helping identify early signs of developmental challenges and supporting personalised learning approaches.

It also has the potential to streamline administrative tasks, allowing practitioners more time to focus on nurturing children, stated panelist Samina Khanyari, General Manager, Jumeirah International Nurseries, which focuses on implementing innovative educational practices and fostering strong parent-centre partnerships across multiple sites.

According to the App, AI can also play a key role in early intervention. “AI in early childhood education can support early intervention by detecting behavioural changes such as reduced eye contact through image analysis, enhancing developmental monitoring.” revealed Firas El Bizri, CEO, Parent App.

As the discussion concluded, the message was clear: AI is not a creator - it gathers and processes information from external sources but does not generate original thought or replace human insight. To ensure responsible integration, AI should be viewed as a tool - an assistant and facilitator, not a decision-maker. As the education sector continues to embrace innovation, Parent encourages continued discussion, research, and partnership to ensure that technology enhances - rather than replaces - the human connections at the heart of early learning.