Who says children spend too much time on video games?

The problem with children in the UAE is that they do not have many outdoor play options, writes Maryam Islamil

In each park, there is one swing for tens of children. Lauren Lancaster / The National

Every weekend, there’s a ruckus outside my front door. The bell rings at 5am. “Scooter,” says a boy. My husband, who hates saying “no”, will ask him to come back later. It all starts after that. Bang. Boom. Thud.

Incessant football and kick drills against the fire-hose cupboard – next to my door – last time led me to pray for my school opening. Shrill screams, low moans and whining go on for hours. The other night, at about 10, I thought it was the police knocking on my door. When I opened it, I saw a six-year-old child.

These children never stop playing. These are the shadow children that seemed to have escaped the scrutiny of the Fun City play index, which was highlighted recently in The National.

That article explained how children are losing out on physical activities, as it was pointed out in a Fun City survey, based on 1,000 interviews conducted in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain. The mothers interviewed were aged 18 or older, with children aged between two and 12. The result indicated that young children tend to get engaged in passive activities such as watching television and playing video games.

The article highlighted the concern of Fiona Baker, a researcher and faculty member of the Emirates College for Advanced Education, that children are not brought up properly. The Fun City study was inspired by Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development crisis that occurs during childhood, examining factors for mistrust versus trust and autonomy versus shame and doubt.

The findings suggest that these elements of behaviour may not develop if children spend too much time in front of the screen or play alone.

Anne Fishel and Tristan Gorrdino, in their report Preschoolers and Play in the Digital Age, say: “Imaginative play is important. It involves give and take.” Ms Baker and the authors of the Fun City Children’s Play Index also agree that play is often at its best when it is simple, imaginative and free. However, Ms Fishel and Mr Gorrdino point out that “we don’t know yet the effect of digital play on the brain”.

I agree that an increasing number of children are engaged in digital games. But I invite the Fun City experts to a local park on any Thursday after 4pm, where there is barely any place to sit, while the play area is packed.

Many of those children are not well-mannered. Once a girl tried to snatch the swing from my daughter and I had to intervene. The girl told me: “I want the swing. Ask her to get off now.” Having to deal with these kids, heavy crowds, occasional football hits in the head and arguments with parents and maids, going to the park is not always a pleasurable experience.

The problem is that there are not enough options for children to play outdoors. In each park, there is one swing for tens of children. The ratio is the same for other equipment. Then there is a degree of separation. For example, children in most places play together regardless of their nationality. But there are some children who want to play with those who share the same language, nationality and religion. This can leave a child out of a game or lead to a tussle.

The place where I live is filled with alleys and corridors that are popular with most children. I tolerate them because they do not have many options in terms of outdoor play areas. And when they get some manners, I might even give them the scooter.

Maryam Ismail is a sociologist and teacher who divides her time between the US and the UAE