Their world seems to be full of gadgets: iPods, iPhones, Gameboys, PSPs, Playstation and X Box consoles, computers and smartphones. Although I have no idea what most of these electronic gadgets are, kids these days half my age know exactly what they are and how to work them. Almost everywhere you turn, you find a child looking into a small screen and furiously pushing buttons. It is amazing how fast children learn to use new technologies but I strongly believe that these devices have a deleterious effect on our kids. As a result of their addiction with technology, our children's physical, mental, and social health is taking a downward plunge. When children these days are bored they immediately switch on the TV or a gaming console whose games are so addictive that kids no longer go outside to play. Outside play gives kids the physical exercise that their bodies need. Running around, playing soccer or basket ball, riding a bike or skate board, and roller skating tone the heart and respiratory system, build muscles, strengthen bones, increase metabolism, and lift the spirit. Lack in physical activity - due to sitting for hours in front of a screen - causes children to gain weight and lead to weaker eyesight. Statistics show that childhood obesity and childhood diabetes are increasing in worrying numbers in the Kingdom and worldwide. If your child does not get into the habit of regular physical activity at a young age, it will be even more difficult - if not impossible - to stick to an exercise program as an adult. Not going out has another negative impact on our children. Our bodies produce vitamin D only when our skin is exposed to sun light. Children therefore need to be outdoors in the sun for at least 20 minutes a day for their bodies to produce vitamin D, without which the body cannot absorb calcium from food. So, low levels of vitamin D can put our children at risk for osteoporosis later in life. Most parents are unaware of the importance of their children getting enough sunlight for their emotional health, as well as physical. When you do not get enough sunlight, the production of serotonin in the brain is reduced. Serotonin has a soothing and calming effect, and produces a happy feeling. Your child may develop what is called “seasonal affective disorder” if he or she does not get a healthy dose of sunshine. Symptoms include: depression, fatigue, irritability, weight gain, and carbohydrate cravings. Most importantly, this illness is most common in fall and winter when daylight hours are shorter but it could also occur in any season if you are indoors most of the day. Kids were built to run, shout, jump, yell, and climb things. How frustrating is it to find your four year old climbing a mountain made from the sofa pillows in the sitting room? Outdoor playtime gives them the chance to release some of the endless energy they have, get good and dirty and just be kids. Physical play actually helps them to deal with daily stresses and get restful sleep at night. A while ago I started to closely observe my daughter in front of the television. Her eyes appear glazed over, she barely even blinked, didn't respond if I spoke to her, and seemed hypnotized. I did some extra research and found that the brain is not stimulated at all when watching television; it is only in reception mode and does almost no thinking of its own. Advertisers know this fact and they target kids to make them want to buy toys or breakfast cereals loaded with sugar. On a serious level, many studies reveal that lack of enough mental stimulation at a young age, can impair memory and learning in children. Ignoring my children's protests that I am cruel and abnormal, I allow them to watch only one hour of TV on Thursdays and Fridays. With the new “NO TV” rule, the children were miserable for the first couple of days, but then they started re-discovering so may other fun activities. They play hide and seek again, ride their bikes, build amazing structures with Lego, solve puzzles, write songs, and read books they forgot they even had! Each person is comfortable with his or her own parenting style and likes to use different strategies. What is essential is to monitor and control your child's use of TV or computer games. As a parent, you should provide them with plenty of opportunities to have some outdoor fun. By playing with other children they will build social skills of communicating and interacting with other people, as well as problem-solving strategies. If you do not have a backyard you can go to great outdoor places on the weekends. You can go to a park and beach, or swimming pools for children that also offer a restaurant/cafe for the parents. For those of us living in Jeddah or Dahran, you can escape to the sea shore and walk along the Corniche to get some exercise and clear your mind. Just staring out at the endless shimmering water and listening to the waves crash against the rocks can soothe your nerves and help you combat the stress in your life.
