Thach Thi Lech’s Journey Toward Screen Free Early Learning

Every day I care for three young children at home and take one to kindergarten. Because I do not speak Vietnamese and spend much of my time cooking, cleaning, and managing the household, I often handed the children a mobile phone to keep them entertained. I honestly believed that watching TikTok would help them become smarter and study better someday. I did not know that it could harm their development.

That changed when I joined the in person sessions of the Early Journey of Life programme. Through the support and with guidance from facilitators who understood my language and context, I learned about the risks of screens—poor sleep, vision problems, reduced attention, and behavioural difficulties. I was introduced to simple, traditional ways to support children’s learning: interactive games, folk stories, talking, and using everyday objects from home and nature.

This knowledge transformed me. I now talk and play with the children more and limit screen time. I have shared what I learned with my husband and the children’s grandparents, and together we keep the TV and smartphone off. I want my children to grow up healthy, attentive, and surrounded by love—not screens.