Images collage by author
Sharing My Story
I want to share some thoughts about my niece Mahnoor and hope parents struggling with their kids’ mobile overuse find them helpful. I’ll also talk about changes in Pakistani society related to parenting.
A Sweet Surprise
When I woke up today, Mahnoor stood there holding a paper with this drawing, a flower, a heart, and the letter “5”. It was her way of saying “I love you,” with “5” showing extra affection. I smiled and said, “I love you ten!”
Building Our Bond
Our bond wasn’t always this strong. Before her recent visit to Karachi, Mahnoor would say she didn’t like me when asked about her uncle. But this time, things changed. I gave her lots of attention and met her reasonable needs, which made all the difference. Mahnoor taught me a lot about parenting.
Too Much Phone Time
A few days ago, Mahnoor used her phone so much that her eyes turned red, and she got a headache. That night, she asked her mom to massage her head. It got me thinking: Does Mahnoor have activities besides her phone? Does she love it, or is she just bored and craving attention? Maybe she lacks engaging alternatives.
A New Idea
I realized kids won’t stick to phones if they have fun, creative things to do. I used to think Mahnoor was turning into a “zombie,” glued to her screen all day. But I was wrong.
The Speaker and Mic
Now, let’s talk about the speaker and microphone in the picture. Recently, I was out with my dad and spotted a shop selling them. It reminded me how, as a kid, I dreamed of speaking into a mic. My wishes have changed, but I thought Mahnoor and her sister Hajra might feel the same. So, I bought the speaker and mic on the spot.
Kids Having Fun
When I got home, the girls were excited. They spoke into the mic, played their favorite songs on the speaker, and had a blast. I kept the volume low to avoid bothering the neighbors.
Dance Party Time
Then, I turned off the room’s lights, let the speaker’s disco lights glow, and created a dance party vibe. Mahnoor and Hajra danced to their favorite songs. In Pakistani and Islamic culture, music and dancing aren’t always encouraged. But compared to kids watching endless YouTube Shorts or TikToks without parental control, sometimes for six or eight hours a day, I think supervised dancing is less harmful.
Thinking About Culture
I don’t know what they see on those platforms, and in some cultures, music and dance are even spiritual. I’m not sure if I did the right thing, but the girls had fun and got some physical activity.
Parenting in Cities
On parenting, I’ve noticed how city life in Pakistan affects kids. People don’t trust each other much, so they don’t visit neighbors often. This limits kids’ playtime. Homes are small, with little space for games. Residential streets are busy with bikes, food delivery services like Foodpanda, or ride apps like Bykea, which makes parents hesitant to let kids play outside, even with supervision.
Creative Solutions
So, parents need to understand their kids’ world and offer creative activities that spark joy and exploration, not just the dopamine hit from phones. In Karachi, I’ve seen homes with walls kids can draw on, which wipe clean easily, a great way to encourage creativity.
A Call to Parents
I hope parents with phone addicted kids find this helpful and try new activities. Please share in the comments what else I can do to keep Mahnoor and Hajra engaged in creative, fun ways instead of sticking to their phones.