الأخبار

By Dr Megawati Omar - 

I AM impressed that the rector of International Islamic University Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Dzulkifli Abdul Razak does not use a mobile phone. This is a great feat.

The good professor is setting a good example. We enjoy our devices incredibly as they are fast, efficient and fun. But these very features are slowly turning such devices into a menace.

Addiction to such devices is now a “psychological disorder”.

How often do we see families sitting together in a restaurant, but not talking to each other?

Each member is busy texting or engaged with something on their devices.

Research has shown that the Internet and mobile phones/devices have become an obsession to many.

Psychologists and neuroscientists of University of Southern California have likened it to drug addiction.

Hence, we always feel good when we turn on our devices, but when we don’t, we feel uncomfortable that something is missing. We become anxious without our devices.

How do we reduce Internet and cellphone obsession?

One way is to read books. We can also reduce our addiction if we play childhood games we once indulged in before the existence of mobile phones. Among them were jump-rope, hopscotch, batu seremban, galah panjang, guli, sepak bulu ayam, top spinning, etc. Parents can also indulge their children in kite flying.

To encourage children to play these games, we need to put down our mobile phones and start playing with our children at home.

Childhood games are included in the tourist guides training by Tourism Malaysia. It is important for tourist guides to know these games so that they can explain the games to tourists. It is a pity that these games are left to be mentioned in history books.

Or, we can play the common board games like snakes and ladders, chess, Monopoly, Scrabble, mahjong (without gambling) — which can all be played indoors. These games also stimulate thinking.

Another activity which can reduce phone addiction is embroidery. Why not we pick up embroidery and teach it to our children? Our grandmothers used to do this to pass time. Embroidery offers lots of benefits.

If we are to improve our brain, we need to engage in mental activities such as learning a new language or changing the use of our hands from right to left (or vice versa).

In embroidery and sewing, the brain benefits in the same manner. Precise needling promotes eye, hand and brain coordination.

Phone addiction can be reduced if a family plays together. This may also nurture harmony in the family. A harmonious family will prosper in everything.

DR MEGAWATI OMAR

Shah Alam, Selangor