Suggested alternatives to electronic games

Praise
be to Allah

It is no longer
hidden from anyone how many electronic games there are of all types and how
quickly they have become widespread, and how attached and obsessed many
children are with these games. The negative effects and damage to health
that result from spending a great deal of time playing these games, to the
point of addiction, is also a matter that is well-established and
well-known. Conferences have been held on this topic, and to fight the
problem of addiction to these games special organisations have been set up
in some Western countries.

Undoubtedly the
Muslim who is keen to give his children a good upbringing – and in fact
anyone who is concerned for his children’s psychological, social and
behavioural well-being – will begin to get worried about the overwhelming
impact of electronic games and how most children are becoming infatuated
with them, which makes the question of what is the right way to deal with
these games, and what are suitable alternatives, an urgent question for
anyone who is concerned with giving his children a sound upbringing. Here we
may say:

·       

It should be
understood that the method of imposing a total ban, especially when dealing
with children who already spend a lot of time on these games and are
attached to them, will never work, and may not be appropriate from an
educational point of view. Rather in the case of a child who is in such a
situation, we should focus our efforts on participation and guidance.

·       

Participation
may mean working with the child to choose games that are free from anything
that is contrary to Islamic teachings and that are appropriate to the
child’s age and will not result in psychological or behavioural damage.

·       

Guidance may
mean talking with the child and convincing him of the necessity of putting
limits on the time spent playing, so that it will not adversely affect the
child’s physical well-being, schoolwork or other duties that may benefit
him, even if that has to do with training and playing sports, because that
is also important to the child, and should not be undermined by his becoming
addicted to electronic games. Parents should be patient when trying to
advise their child; they should use a gentle approach and address the matter
in various ways, such as discussing with him, telling him stories, telling
him news about the dangers of computers and some real-life stories, and so
on.

·       

It is important
not to let the child get carried away with what he wants, even if he is not
fully convinced. The father should still use a gentle approach when trying
to stop him and to set time limits for playing; he should use a gradual
approach in that regard as much as possible, and use a variety of
approaches. It is preferable for the child to have done something useful
before letting him play, such as memorising a soorah or hadith, or some
lines of poetry, or doing his homework, tidying his room, or helping with
housework. He should not be allowed to spend more than the set time on
playing electronic games.

·       

The most
important alternative, to which all other alternatives are subordinate, is
that the parents should be prepared to spend time with their children and
have some social interaction with them, by sitting and talking to them, and
watching their progress in some useful activities that they are given to do.
As for the family members, from the father and mother down to the youngest
child, spending most of their time in front of screens and hardly meeting
except for some meals, then the parents start looking for appropriate
alternatives, this is a shortcoming with which you cannot make these
alternatives give the hoped-for results.

·       

Another
alternative is day trips and going out with the children to appropriate
leisure venues, even if that is sometimes done by way of reward for reducing
time spent playing electronic games.

·       

Another
alternative is to get the children involved in some social centres that
provide educational and leisure programs for children. This can have a great
impact in developing the child’s social skills and bringing him out of an
excessive focus on electronic games.

·       

Whatever we may
say on the topic of finding alternatives to these games, this will continue
to be a matter of concern to anyone who has anything to do with the
education and upbringing of children. Parents in particular must raise their
children on the basis of piety and fearing Allah in private and in public,
for that is the best protection against these destructive devices. At the
same time, they must also offer a lot of supplication for their children,
asking Allah to guide them and help them to do that which is good, whilst at
the same time doing their utmost to come up with ideas for appropriate
alternatives to distract their children and help them to spend their time in
useful ways as much as possible. All they can do is strive and try their
best.

And Allah knows
best.