Game is over for today's computer-fixated children

Dubai: Exposure to outdoor activities is essential for children to be flexible and adapt to real-life situations and parents should allow them to be creative, according to an expert in child psychology.

Dr Raymond Hamden, a clinical and forensic psychologist with the Human Relations Institute in Dubai, was talking about the importance of physical activity for children in the context of reports suggesting that overcautious parents are restricting their children's activities out of fear of their getting hurt.

Half of the children who participated in a poll in the UK said they had been prevented from climbing a tree because it was too dangerous, while a third had been banned from playing the tag-game British bulldog.

Dr Hamden added that it has been found that children who are exposed to outdoor games and creative activities show more flexibility, adaptability and independence to new situations, for example when they move to a new country or start university.

When children become interested in electronic entertainment like TV or computers, it takes away the opportunity for them to be creative, lessening the creative functions of the brain.

Self-sufficient

"It is very important for parents to let their children play with nothing in their hand so that they find creative ways to explore what they see," he said.

He maintains that it is OK to get a little hurt in the process because that is how they learn to take risks and be self-sufficient.

"It is very rare in Dubai to have children climb trees, ride bicycles or play adventurous games that involve a lot of running around and jumping, which is one reason why the rate of obesity is so high among the younger population in the UAE. Children are glued to television sets or computers due to lack of choice, and parents also cannot be blamed because most outdoor activities are commercialised here," said Dr Subhash Desai, Pediatrician at the New Medical Centre, Dubai.

Many parents also said that while they recognised the significance of physical activity in their children's overall development, they had no choice but to let their children watch television or play video games at home.

"We do not have any outdoor space where children can go and play. And whatever outdoor activities are available, like training sessions or coaching, are way beyond what we can afford," said Ram Krishnan, a Dubai resident and father of two boys ages 11 and 14.

Maysoon, an Egyptian mother of three, said the only opportunity for children to play is at school.

"My younger son Yousuf is overweight and the doctor has asked him to have rigorous physical activity for at least an hour a day. But there is no playground or park close to the place where we live in Karama, where he can play football or other games."

She added Yousuf still spends most of his time at home watching television or playing on his PlayStation.

Meanwhile, there are parents who argue they do not want their children to have unbridled fun outdoors, as it can get them injured or invite complaints from neighbours.

"I had a bad experience when I sent my son to the nearby park with his friends. They were trying to climb over the compound wall and he fell down and sprained his legs. I had to rush him to the hospital and he was off school for a week," said Jaydeep Agarwal, a marketing executive from India.

Pointing out the lack of choice for children, many parents also said most buildings do not allow children to play in the corridors because it causes a nuisance to other residents.

However, Dr Hamden has suggested ways to keep children engaged in recreational fun that will also help instill qualities of independence and self-sufficiency for instance by letting them change car tyres, or even making their own bed.

Should children be allowed to make mistakes? Where do you draw the line between protecting your children and allowing them to learn through difficult experiences? Do you think children who are overprotected have problems facing the realities of life, especially when they start working?