IT is important not to let a special occasion like Hari Raya be overshadowed by gadgets and distractions which can easily happen without proper discipline.
If you truly want to have a gadget-free Hari Raya, not just to foster meaningful interactions but also reduce gadget dependency, try incorporating these tech-free practices:
Do a social media-free Eid challenge
Oftentimes, a trivial thing could be trying to comply with a certain standard. A way to make it fun is by creating a challenge, similar to truth or dare, making it more engaging, where you can also allocate rewards for those who succeed.
Within a family or among relatives, you can encourage a break from social media and ensure everyone understands the challenge. This is especially effective on the first day of Hari Raya when major gatherings take place, allowing people to focus on real interactions.
2. Reintroduce traditional Raya activities to keep yourself occupied
There are multiple family games that do not involve gadgets, such as board games or watching horror movies on television together. By engaging in these activities, you not only make Raya more meaningful but also strengthen your bonds with each other.
Other activities include storytelling sessions, sharing life updates, or personal ghost stories that will surely entertain the kids. Congregational prayers also align with the goal of being gadget-free, strengthening familial relationships while enlivening the Islamic spirit, making the celebration more memorable.
3. If cutting off seems difficult, allocate specific time for social media usage
Gadget addiction is understandable, as devices are often necessary for entertainment and practicality in daily life. Even at the workplace, duties cannot be carried out without them.
For kids who are hooked on iPads for entertainment, you can limit gadget usage to sharing Raya moments with loved ones who are not reachable offline. Reminding family members before visiting open houses helps teach discipline, especially to children, while also curbing gadget addiction beyond Raya.
4. Allow parental guidance for moderation
For kids, parental guidance can be enforced through screen time limits set on their gadgets. Setting a limit teaches children that further access is restricted.
By conditioning them to accept that gadgets are no longer usable after a certain period, they learn that technology is not the centre of their lives. This lesson is crucial from a young age, as early exposure shapes lifelong habits.
By parents being mindful and practising moderation as adults, this year's Raya can bring a change. Not only will it impact this year’s celebration, but it will also set a precedent for future years when gadgets become even more prevalent, making awareness and control vital.
Being gadgets-free during the festive season not only strengthens family bonds but also serves other benefits, such as teaching children the value of tradition. When they are always on tablets, they might miss out on learning family history and cultural values, which may cause the value of respect to dissipate over time.
It also encourages greater appreciation of Raya traditions, making it important to be present rather than busy capturing everything for social media. The pursuit of social validation is immeasurable and unable to truly satisfy human needs.
What can satisfy us is the food we get to cook and eat together and the number of bunga api we get to play with our cousins during Raya.
These moments become priceless when shared with endless laughter, without the exhaustion that comes from excessive screen time.