Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 76
76 children, especially boys. It is extremely important that rules are set and are strictly followed in order to prevent children from becoming unduly influenced by the culture of video games etc. The use of computers is now a regular part of classwork and children are encouraged to use the computer and Internet to complete homework assignments. Parents can place a computer in the family room or other area of the house where they can monitor regularly the child ’ s use of the computer while doing homework. Television should not be used as a babysitter. The more children watch TV, the more they want to keep watching. It becomes a vicious cycle and a parent ’ s job is to monitor the time that children spend on electronics and the effect it is having on other aspects of their lives. Excessive use of electronics results in falling grades, a reduced interest in physical activity and laziness in performing Salat and daily recitation of the Qur ’ an. One should be watchful of these signs and take action quickly. It may be helpful to limit the electronic devices in the home and have basic television service rather than cable television and other streaming services, so that children do not have as much access to channels and are not as exposed to the influence of programs and advertisements which depict immorality. HAZRAT AMMAN JAN ’ S (RA) TARBIYAT The following advice given by Hazrat Amman Jan (ra) is extremely relevant at this stage of a child ’ s life: 1) The first thing that Hazrat Amman Jan (ra) would teach children is to hate lying. Since early childhood she would repeatedly stress the importance of telling the truth. She said that lying is Shirk , which means to associate partners with Allah. No matter what the