Children's games like Pokemon stimulate young minds, but parents must exercise control, a child psychologist said yesterday. Dr Naresh Dar, who works at Welcare Hospital, said such games help motivate children's creative thought processes, but a balance must be struck.

"Children do tend to start idolising these game and cartoon characters like Pokemon, and the fine line between fantasy and reality starts fading," he said. "However, this is not a bad thing because it provides a creative stimulus to young minds.

But parents should discuss it with their children and make them understand the difference to prevent them from emulating these characters dangerously. "And overindulgence of any kind is bad, so control has to be there. Children are not mature enough, so parents have to help in the decision-making."

Religious scholars in Dubai are looking into the Pokeman craze to decide whether it is unIslamic. Saudi Arabia has already banned the game, calling it a form of gambling, and Qatar followed with a similar ban. The Ifta Committee at the Dubai Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Department is expected to issue its findings in a Fatwa, or religious edict, on Saturday.

Dar, however, feels Pokemon has benefits for children in expanding their intellect. "It is part of their growing-up process and is a positive influence as long as it doesn't interfere with their studies, religion or other physical activities."

His views are shared by Dubai-based Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Children and Adolescents, Marisa Lobo Biddappa. "Banning it can have a detrimental effect. There was a Pokemon show staged during the Dubai Shopping Festival, and all little children love the character Pikachu," Marisa said.

"Suddenly if they are told that this character they find cute and cuddly has been banned, they are going to be extremely confused. "Also, older children may then resort to discreet methods of playing and collecting, which is not very positive."

Marisa said that collecting, be it Pokemon cards or anything else, is part of a child's growing up years, irrespective of their socio-economic background. "Children tend to use these collections to make friends and increase social interaction. It contributes to the social adjustment of the child. "As they grow older, the collections are usually dictated by peer interest, which usually never lasts more than six months."

To prevent it from becoming an obsessive habit, parents must set out ground rules from the start. How much time and money can be spent on the interest must be clarified.
"But above all, the religious connotations of Pokemon must be clarified," said Marisa.

As well as being labelled a form of gambling, Pokemon has also been accused of promoting Darwin's theory of evolution, which is against Islamic ideology, and featuring symbols representing Zionism, Christianity and Freemasonry. Manufacturers Nintendo deny the game uses religious symbols.