CHILDREN need education, physical activity, family and relaxation as well as adequate time for sleep (around nine to 12 hours depending on their age). This has become harder to manage as screen time has been increasing a lot in recent decades. A typical day for me —before the era of mobile phones, the internet and social media — was school till about 2pm, lunch, some time for relaxation, an hour or two for homework, and then, depending on the time of the year, playing with friends in the neighbourhood. Cricket, hockey, football, cycling, even gulli danda and pithoo gol garam were all indulged in till around sunset when it became too dark to see anything. Only then would we return home. An hour or so of some schoolwork or Quran study followed before dinner and family time. Bedtime was not much later than 9 pm, after we had time to wind down and read a book for about half an hour.

Though I was not the fittest of children in the neighbourhood, the hockey and cricket we played gave me enough experience to not only have an interest in the games but to be part of teams up to college and university level. And they helped me be comfortable with physical activity and kept me reasonably fit and mobile.

Times have changed. Television has become a lot more enticing. Mobile phones, the internet and social media have made online activities much more attractive, even addictive. The reading culture has taken a hit while audio/ visual engagement has increased. Perceptions and reality of security have changed to the point where many families are........

© Dawn