‘Overdependence on house help affecting kids in UAE’
Dubai is a unique place where you get ‘buy’ getting things done, regrets psychologist
Abu Dhabi: Overdependence on house help in the UAE is resulting in behavioural and social problems among children, a Dubai-based-psychologist has warned.
Dr Raymond H. Hamden, clinical and forensic psychologist at the Human Relations Institute and Clinic, said: “Dubai is a unique place where you get ‘buy’ getting things done. But the luxury of affordable house help should not take away from a family’s own sense of responsibility.”
Urging that parents teach children to do things around the house, with minimal assistance from house help, he said children otherwise would grow up with a false security, with no sense of independence, adaptability, responsibility or respectfulness.
“How many kids here can cut grass or do their beds?” he asked. “We have teens who order fast food from their first floor villa rooms, call their parents downstairs on their cellphones and ask that they pay for their food and send it up with the house help.”
He said lack of good parenting is often compensated with monetary benefits. “We’ve these moms and dads who feel guilty that they don’t find enough time with their kids, so they spend generously on them. So it’s not unusual to find these youngsters driving around in swanky cars and spending thousands of dirhams in a nightclub. ”
Dr Hamden, who sees a number of children growing up with personality disorders, learning problems, violent behaviour, lack of social skills, depression and anxiety, said they are all offshoots of faulty upbringing.
He said hyperactivity among kids could be a result of bad diet. “The food they have must be low in carbohydrates and free from sugar and caffeine. Instead of candy, chips and soft drinks, give them fruit, vegetables and water. Similarly, limit the time they spend on computers and TV – studies have shown TV takes away 95 per cent of the opportunity to be creative. A lot of bad behaviour can be traced back to TV violence and visual experiences of sexuality, vulgarity and aggression.”
Dr Hamden said far from the misconception that only “crazy” people see psychologists, 90 per cent of the cases are normal people with adjustment problems.
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