One has to build the foundation to ensure that one’s future is secure. That may mean studying and scoring
well in the areas that one wishes to excel in. This entire process can take
years. Today, the situation on ground has changed. The proliferation of social
media, the dramatic expansion of the entertainment industry has meant that
children today don’t spend too much with themselves enhancing their skills,
knowledge or interests. They seem more focussed on increasing their score on
the latest 3D game that was released online. It is not unusual for six or
seven-year-old kids to be obsessed with online games and the newspapers have
been reporting cases of children playing certain games like PGG for hours on
end. Instead of a hobby that enhances their personality, these games have taken
over the lives of many young people.
For many parents in Goa, these are challenges they are facing
every day. Some are very blunt and make it very clear that games or even the tv
will not be watched everyday while others try to work out a compromise with
their children. Mohsin Khan who has a four-year-old son was candid when he said
“My son is too young to have a hobby. I am trying to get him to read. My father
would make me read the headlines in the newspapers all those years ago. It
helped me and developed my interest in reading. I sadly don’t have the time
because of the demands of my career but I am trying my bit especially over the
weekend. I don’t him watching stupid shows on tv or going on line and stumbling
on things not appropriate for him. The wife and I will have to work out a plan
to ensure he develops interests that will broaden his horizon”.
Nadia Aslam and her husband have three children and have ensured
the kids have interests that will increase their interest. She said “My eldest
son is 13 and is keen on becoming an architect. He is continuously drawing
buildings or other structures. He is very keen on following his passion. My
second son is 9 and is keen on writing a book. He has named his character and
is very keen.” She said as parents they had decided to allow them access to
gadgets for an hour at the most once a week. The television had not been
recharged and was lying unused for months. If they wanted to watch a movie,
they would get a dvd and watch the movie. Nadia said “We are in sync and I am
happy my children have focus”. As a cake artist, people she said came up with
crazy customisations by way of a camera or a burger look on the cake. She said
her children watched all this with much interest and were providing their
feedback and inputs which helped the entire process.
Dimple Oberoi another parent based in Porvorim said she had
ensured her children did not spend all their time in front of a laptop. Both
her sons were passionate about football and spend most of their time outdoors.
They also played inter school matches which stoked their interest in the sport.
Having a hobby will help the child to build confidence, improve
organisational skills, learn problem solving, set achievable goals, gain
attention to detail and possibly make future career choices.
Dr Ravindra Agrawal a psychotherapist said it was important to
have a hobby. He said “A lot of people indulge in activities that can be
labelled a time pass. A hobby helps a person become well rounded and gives a
soft edge to your personality. Our current culture does not promote having a
hobby. Parents don’t help too by pushing a focus on academics”. Hobbies he
emphasised were outside the routine interests. They helped developed emotional
intelligence. The effects of not having a hobby he said were seen in retired professionals
who did not know what to do with all the time on their hands. This he said was
not the preserve of men with women too experiencing this hollowness. Many of
them he said had devoted their life to their children who would then go on to
live their lives leaving their mother feeling left behind. A hobby would
certainly help, he said.
Perhaps
it is never too late to take up an interest.
