HÜKAM and HÜBAM's Sustainable Living-Oriented Digital Awareness Children's Workshop
A meaningful children's workshop was held as part of a protocol signed between Hitit University and the Çorum Provincial Directorate of National Education. Organized by the Hitit University Women and Family Issues Application and Research Center (HÜKAM) and the Addiction Prevention Application and Research Center (HÜBAM), both operating within Hitit University, the "Little Hands on the Big Screen Children's Workshop" took place on December 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with the participation of 3rd and 4th grade students from Çorum Bahçelievler Primary School. The event was implemented by Şevval Akın and Asiye Nur Kızılay, 2nd-year students from the Child Development Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Hitit University, who are working at HÜKAM within the scope of the İŞKUR Youth Program. HÜKAM Board Member and HÜBAM Deputy Director, Lecturer Dr. Tuğba Gülen coordinated the program.
The workshop aimed to raise children's awareness of screen use through the activities. In the first activity, children were shown how boring it can be to sit still at a computer, demonstrating the difference between one minute of stillness and one minute of movement. In the second activity, they were shown a video that strained their eyes to help them recognize eye strain; then, a story told with nature sounds emphasized the positive effects of resting the eyes, being in nature, and spending time in open spaces. The third activity involved a "Which would you choose?" exercise. Children were asked to choose between three images: one showing children using computers, phones, and tablets, and another showing children playing in a park, having a picnic, and spending time at an amusement park. Children actively participated by leaving their finger paint marks under their chosen images. The fourth activity was a game-based exercise designed to increase digital awareness. In the game "Digital Traffic Light," screen time and break concepts were taught in a fun way. Red meant "put down the screen," yellow meant "consider the time," and green meant "short-term and controlled use." Children played and gained awareness by choosing the correct color according to the given examples.
The workshop contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Healthy and Quality Life), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The event raised awareness among children about the risks of digital addiction at an early age, while also serving as an essential example of social responsibility in promoting healthy lifestyle habits.
