Indiansinkuwait.com and Indian Women in Kuwait - IWIK, in association with Gurukul, decided to take a unique initiative and organized for the Indian community a day on which our kids could be introduced to a large number of games which were traditionally played in India; games which involve minimum fuss and expense and yet the returns are immense in terms of the sheer joy and involvement of the mind. It was to communicate this simple message that: ‘the entire family can have fun indoors, with little or no cost and with lots of benefit for the growing minds of the kids’, that this program— Freedom From Gadgets- Season 2 was held on Friday, 6th September at the Kohinoor Hall, Fahaheel from 2pm till 8pm.

This was the second time IIK was conducting this event, after the overwhelming response received for the first event in Gurukul, Salmiya in the month of March.

It was a rare and amazing sight. Hundreds of kids and their parents gathered at one place, and none of them glued to their mobile phones. None of the heads were bent low while peering over a machine; the kids were not slouching over some game on the mobile and the eyes not mindlessly gaping at a screen.

The program was sponsored by Al Muzaini Exchange Company, and it is with the joint endeavours of the staff of indiansinkuwait.com and Gurukul and the volunteers from the community, that this massive program turned out to be a roaring success. There was neither any entry fee and nor any fee to learn and play any of the games. Dedicated volunteers sat and patiently taught the kids the various rules and techniques of the games. The games which were introduced to the kids were: Daadi, Brainvita, Ashta Chamma, Pallamkuzhi, Aadu Puli (tiger and goat game), Gutte, Hopscotch, Carom, Scrabble, Skipping, Spinning Top, Chess, Marbles, and various other Board Games. Mr Kumaran presented variety of various board games like Splendor, Jaipur, Codenames, The Mayor etc.. which all children enjoyed.

There was an atmosphere of sheer joy and delight, as hundreds of kids ran, glided and hopped with delight, enjoying lollipops which they were given on demonstrating their prowess at any of the game stalls. The kids were happy; they were free and at the same time, they remained glued to the chess boards or the carom boards or to the Pallankuzi or Brainvita and to scores of other games aimed at sharpening the mind.

For the parents too, it was a trip down the memory lane, as hundreds of parents were visibly excited at spotting the games which they had played with their parents, friends and grandparents but had not had the chance to play them for several years or even to introduce their kids to them.

Other than the Games, there where also two Seminars for the Parents and the Kids. Large No of Parents attended the"Parenting - Pressures and Pleasures"Seminar which was conducted by Dr Navniit Gandhi and Students 12 years and above along with parents attended "Mind Power"seminar which was conducted by Crawford Wilson D'souza. Both the seminars where free. These two seminars were very beneficial for the attendees.

Many mothers could be seen skipping and playing Hopscotch and Gutte with a child-like delight on their faces, even as fathers were seen wanting to prove that they had not lost their acumen for Marbles and the spinning Top. The parents profusely thanked the organizers for having taken this one-of-a-kind initiative. The kids were seen so happily engrossed in the various games, that not only were they free from gadgets for the entire duration, but even otherwise, there were hardly any scenes of throwing tantrums or getting bored or crying over some thing or the other. In fact, the kids were plainly reluctant to get away from the game stalls even as the closing hour approached.

We have taken a step in the right direction. Now, the onus rests on the parents. If you wish to watch them grow healthier, happier and wiser---play with them and watch with glee as they bloom.

Though the person is anonymous but he or she said something very wise: “Children don’t need more things. The best toy children can have is a parent who gets down on the floor and plays with them.”

It was truly a fun-filled day… a day when Iindiansinkuwait.com and the kids joyously celebrated Freedom From Gadgets!!!