Qatar Reads is steering children towards physical books and away from excessive screen time and artificial intelligence (AI), stressing the importance of authentic reading experiences and critical thinking among young readers.
"We only work with physical books. The idea is to encourage kids to read and to get off their phones. We feel that if we send everything online, it will not really encourage them to disconnect,” Marwah Rida from Qatar Reads told the Gulf Times on the sidelines of the 35th Doha International Book Fair.
She said they deliberately avoid using AI-generated material in their programmes and instead focus on authentic content from reputable publishing houses.
According to Rida, the initiative continues to prioritise printed books and in-person engagement as part of its broader mission to strengthen reading habits among children and families in Qatar.
She added that the organisation works closely with local and regional publishing houses, particularly Qatari publishers and those from across the Arab world, to support the regional reading and publishing industry.
"We make sure we work with publishing houses that publish authentic work,” she said. "We avoid AI at all costs within our actual programmes and the books that we send,” Rida stressed.
Apart from distributing books, she said Qatar Reads also organises interactive events to help children engage more deeply with the subjects they read about.
Rida noted that these activities are designed to encourage social interaction and experiential learning. She cited a previous event at the Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, where children learned about the site’s history before taking part in a beach clean-up focused on sustainability and environmental awareness.
"The idea is for children to interact with one another and learn about the things they are reading in person. When they participate in activities like cleaning the beach, it helps solidify these ideas in their minds,” she said.
Rida pointed out that their family reading programme caters to children aged between two and 13 years old. Each month, participating families receive a package delivered directly to their homes, containing two books, a comic sheet and an activity sheet centred around a specific theme.
As part of the initiative, she said Qatar Reads also places customised mailboxes outside participating homes to create excitement around the monthly deliveries and encourage children to look forward to reading activities.
While acknowledging that AI could potentially be used responsibly as an educational tool, Rida expressed concern about overreliance on the technology, particularly among younger generations.
"In my personal opinion, if AI is used correctly, it could encourage children to read more,” she said. "But if you rely on it too much, you stop thinking for yourself and start relying on ideas that already exist.”
Rida warned that excessive dependence on AI could weaken critical thinking, research skills and creativity among students.
"If you put your entire essay into AI, you are not going to critically think or understand deeply what you are talking about. We want children to have their own ideas, come up with their own theories and think independently,” she said.
Rida also cautioned that AI systems often reinforce existing viewpoints rather than challenge users to think critically.
"AI is kind of a yes-man. We do not want children to just rely on AI for everything. It is important to think for yourself and create your own ideas,” she said.
Discussing the impact of the annual Doha Internationla Book Fair (DIBF), Rida said the event continues to help Qatar Reads expand its outreach and connect directly with readers and families interested in literacy and education.
She added that the Qatar Reads booth at the fair includes interactive sections for children and informational spaces for adults, designed to create an engaging and colourful environment for visitors.