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Most children enjoy playing video games, but if your child appears to have a video game obsession that negatively affects other parts of their life, you have every right to be concerned. Video game addiction is significantly more common in children and teens with ADHD than it is in the rest of the general population. Likely, this is due to the dopamine one gets from playing video games. So, how do you know if your child has a video game addiction, and if playing games too much interferes with your child's life? What can you do? Let's talk about the negative consequences of too much time playing video games first, and then, we'll discuss the solutions.
How Do Video Games Impact a Child's Brain?
Interestingly, research suggests that video games can have a beneficial effect on a child's brain. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website, video games may be linked to better cognitive performance in kids. Specifically, recent studies show that kids who play video games for three or more hours daily display higher activity in brain regions associated with memory and attention compared to those who don't play video games.
Alongside this potential boost in cognitive function, feelings of accomplishment are a prevalent result of gameplay, which can be favorable because they may boost confidence. However, there are drawbacks to playing video and computer games, too. Depending on the kind of video game your child plays, negative effects of video games can include but aren't limited to exposure to inappropriate or violent content and a reduction in physical activity. Video game addiction is another possible risk.
Are Video Games Addicting?
If you're a parent wondering, "is my child addicted to videogames?" you're not alone. According to the American Psychiatric Association, it is possible to have a video game addiction. In the most recently updated version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), internet gaming disorder is included in the section recommending conditions for further research. While further research on the condition is needed at this time, it is said that 0.3 to 1.0 percent of the general population would qualify for internet gaming disorder. Regardless, if video games affect a person's daily life negatively, it is something to address.
Is My Child Addicted To Video Games?
How do you know if your child's gaming is a cause for concern? Here are signs of video game addiction to look out for:
- A marked preoccupation with gaming.
- Withdrawal symptoms (such as sadness, anxiety, and irritability) when a child is unable to play or when video games are taken away.
- Needing to spend more time playing video games in order to satisfy urges.
- Unsuccessful attempts to reduce or stop gaming.
- Continuing to play games even though gaming has caused problems in one's life.
- Giving up other activities to play games or a loss of interest in activities one previously enjoyed due to gaming.
- Child lying to others to hide the amount of time one spends playing games.
- Using gaming to relieve negative moods or emotions, such as hopelessness.
- Losing or the risk of losing a relationship or job because of gaming.
In youth, symptoms of video game addiction, such as losing or the risk of losing a relationship or job because of gaming, might show up in other ways, such as reduced academic performance and impaired peer relationships. Gaming addiction can also affect personal hygiene and self-care in some cases. With that said, it's doable for parents to help their children limit or stop playing video games.
Note: If you think your child is playing too much video games, check out this list of top parental control apps to help you manage your child's playing time.
How To Help Your Child Limit or Stop Playing Video Games
If your child lives with a video game addiction, the negative consequences of gameplay will likely outweigh the potential benefits of playing games. Even without gaming addiction, it is necessary to have boundaries when it comes to active screen time. Here's what parents can do to limit or stop their child's video game playing.
Try healthy alternatives, like Joon
Joon is a great example of a video game with real-life benefits for kids. Even better, Joon is a video game designed for kids with ADHD and their parents.
With Joon, parents create a customized list of tasks, also called quests, for their children to complete in real life. These can include personal hygiene tasks like taking a shower or brushing their teeth, school-related tasks, like finishing one's homework, or household chores, like loading the dishwasher. Once the child finishes their tasks, they get rewards that allow them to care for a virtual pet in the game. Joon promotes independence, motivation, and confidence in one's abilities. Since Joon both requires and encourages time spent offline activities, it may even help you reduce your child's overall video game time.
Many parents say that Joon has improved their parent-child relationship, and 90% of kids who use the game complete all of the tasks their parents set. Joon is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars in the App Store, and currently, there are over 3.6k reviews for the app in total. Even better, you can try it for free. Click here to download Joon.
Encourage exercise or other games
Active games, board games, and educational games can be valuable replacements for games that may be passive, violent, or otherwise lack practical use. Dance Dance Revolution and Just Dance are primary examples of games that promote physical activity, as are sports games that require kids to jump or run in place with the controller in their hand. Some games also teach important skills, like math skills and new languages. Other activities that do not require screens should also be encouraged.
Set limits on your child's time playing video games
Parents must set limits on screen time for their kids. Limits on screen time, after all, are protective of eye health, physical development, and mental health. You may limit your child to one hour of time spent playing games on weekdays and two to three hours spent playing games on weekends, for example. It is also relevant to consider when kids are allowed to play games. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids do not engage in screen time at all for at least 30-60 minutes before bed. This is noteworthy, as blue light is known to disrupt sleep.
Note: Joon is an app, but it's not like other games. Designed specifically for kids with ADHD aged 6-12, Joon lets you create a list of age-appropriate tasks for your child to complete in real life. Once your child finishes these tasks, they get points in the game that allow them to care for a virtual pet, called a Doter, of their choice. This motivates children to finish activities and chores outside of the game. Click here to download the Joon app.
Talk openly with your child about your rules
Once you have established rules that you'd like your child to follow regarding time spent playing video games per day, talk openly with your child about these guidelines. Above all else, make sure that you are specific. Your child should know:
- When they are allowed to play video games.
- How long they can play video games each day.
- What time video games need to be put away.
It is also imperative to be firm on these limits, even if it's challenging to stand your ground. Kids with gaming addiction especially may put up a fight, but this does not mean that you should fold on your boundaries. It can be helpful to create structured activities for screen-free times so that your child knows what they should do instead of playing games.
Seek help for video game addiction
Therapy can help kids with internet gaming disorder or video game addiction. Especially if your child has angry outbursts when pulled away from video games, no matter how many warnings you give or how you approach the problem, it is likely time to seek help for your child's video game addiction. Additionally, if other mental health issues, such as a co-occurring mental health condition, play a role in your child's video game addiction or excessive gaming habits, a therapist or counselor may be able to help. For example, if a mental health condition like depression co-occurs with excessive gaming, professional treatment for both concerns could be advantageous. How do you find someone who works with gaming addiction? Talk with your child's doctor about their excessive gaming and ask for a referral to a mental health professional near you. Alternatively, you can search the web for professionals who work with kids experiencing gaming addiction.
Is It Bad to Play Video Games?
With the potential for positive effects of video games in mind, it's not necessary that playing video games is "bad" all around. Instead, it is clear that balance is necessary when it comes to video or computer games. It's also important to think about what kind of games your child uses their screen time on. If your child plays games at a friend's house, you may discuss both the amount of gaming time and the type of games you're comfortable with your child playing with other parents. Gaming addiction differs from the simple enjoyment of video gaming and is a problem that can cause physical symptoms, impact your child's behavior, and impact your child's emotions.
Takeaway
You aren't alone if you're worried about your child's gaming time. Gaming addiction is a real problem that can have negative consequences, including mental and physical health problems. If excessive gaming interferes with your child's life, there are things you can do to help your child spend less time playing games. Healthy alternatives, like active games, educational games, or a to-do app for kids like Joon that doubles as a game, can help alongside other interventions, such as talking openly with children, setting reasonable limits on game time, and seeking professional treatment for gaming addiction and other mental health issues if needed.
About
Dr. Carrie Jackson, PhD
