FAMILY COMMUNICATION AND THE RISKS REDUCTION OF THE ELECTRONIC GAMES FOR CHILDREN DURING THE QUARANTINE PERIOD (CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC): AN EXPLORATORY STUDY
Several studies have indicated that the phenomenon of using electronic games is characterized by a deep impact and wide spread. It has become a mainstay for most people’s daily lives and has spread rapidly in Arab societies in general, as there is hardly a home without it. Rather, fathers, mothers and sons take it with them wherever they go, and spend long periods of time, which are equal to the times they spend in various life activities (أبو العينين study 2010 and بنكخنويل study 2011). Accordingly, our study came to study the methods and objectives of parents’ communication with their children during the quarantine period (the Corona virus pandemic) to reduce the risks of electronic games. This is especially since this period imposed a commitment to home quarantine on all family members for fear of their health, which imposed on parents to search for electronic games to fill the void of their children and entertain them. However, these games have a lot of social, health and psychological effects that call for attention and need to be addressed using communicative methods that are in line with the present time. The study reached a number of results, including: •The percentage of mothers' answers (females) is more than the fathers because mothers are more communicative and attentive than fathers. The rate of their answer to the questions is 77.4%, as they are at home to guide children and take care for them. •Among the communicative methods used in the study sample’s communication with children is rational communication, with a percentage of 67.7%. •The first objective of the study sample’s communication with their children during the quarantine period regarding the dangers of electronic games is to determine the duration and times of using electronic games with a percentage of 41.9%, •According to the answer of the study sample (parents), we find several effects on children as a result of their use of electronic games. In the foreground we find lack of concentration, violence and aggression, isolation, decline in academic level, isolation.
Keywords: Family Communication, Electronic Games, Corona Virus Pandemic.