ENGINEER Yousif Al Ameen has designs on prying children away from their computer screens and reigniting the joy of colouring by organising campaigns at kindergartens.
The popular author of a series of educational books for children such as The Smartphone Workbook and The Solar Energy Workbook is organising colouring contests in order to highlight the importance of practical activities.
Concerned by the rise of smartphone usage, Mr Al Ameen started the campaign as a way to introduce the younger generation to other activities to spend their time on.
“Smartphones have completely taken over the lives of many children, some as young as five,” the 65-year-old from Muharraq said. “Most of their games and activities are on their phones and tablets, and it feels like that those devices are taking away their childhood.
“This campaign aims to introduce them to something new, something practical they can do with their hands. Overall, I just want them to experience an actual childhood.
“I am not against technology,” he added. “On the contrary, I love it, I am an engineer after all! But it can also be harmful, especially when children are not monitored properly.
“There is a lot of inappropriate content online that children can be exposed to, which they do not even need to go looking for, it comes to them when they are just casually scrolling through social media.
“Smartphones can also be so addictive that some children are known to suffer from nomophobia, which is the irrational fear of being without a mobile phone.”
His initiative started last month to coincide with National Day celebrations and featured workshops and sessions where children got to colour Mr Al Ameen’s Bahrain Colouring Book.
The first contest was held at a kindergarten in Arad, where children enthusiastically participated and coloured the pages, expressing their love for Bahrain.
It came as part of an initiative to foster patriotism, creativity and encourage children to express themselves while appreciating the beauty of colours and the natural landscapes in different regions of the kingdom.
Following the contest, prizes and certificates were distributed, much to the delight of the participants.
A second contest staged recently at a kindergarten in Busaiteen witnessed scores of children between the ages of four and five picking up pens, crayons and pencils to colour in the same workbook.
Mr Al Ameen is looking to extend the campaign gradually across the country. “I would love to do more, but I am only one person,” he explained. “Slowly, I want to get more kindergartens involved and help more children.
“I will do my best, and hopefully, I can find volunteers to help me, because I know that with effort and teamwork, we can introduce more children than before to the wonderful world of colouring.”
Mr Al Ameen also wants parents to take up the initiative themselves and urges them to monitor their children’s usage of smart devices. “It is not a babysitter, smartphones can be dangerous,” he said. “Also, introduce your children to other activities, perhaps involve them in your hobbies if possible.
“It is up to you to give your sons and daughters a wonderful childhood, one where they experience the real world in front of them, rather than only the digital world.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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