Preventing Video Game Addictions – Help for Parents

By: James Snow

www.RiseAboveAddiction.com

April 4, 2008

Entertainment media sure have changed over the years. More and more parents are becoming aware of what their children are watching on television. And they should. Many parents are getting the message that it is important to know your children’s friends and what activities they will be doing. What about video games? Many parents, put at ease by the memory of Space Invaders, Frogger, or Pac Man, are not so worried about the video games their children are playing. Game makers have made a conscious decision to mature the content of their games with as their original gamers grow older. Like movies, video games now vary in ratings ranging from ‘E’ (everyone) to ‘M’ (mature) and even ‘A’ (adult). As frightening as that should be for parents, it turns out that the content is not the only worry with video gamming. Like smoking, gambling or drinking, video gaming too can become a powerfully destructive addiction. Without noticing, video games can quickly become an unhealthy obsession for your child.

How do you know if video games are becoming an addiction for your child? After all, unlike methamphetamine or tobacco for which there is no safe amount, there is a safe and appropriate level of playing video games. What kinds of things should you watch for in your child? Here are a few starters:

• Does your child play video games every day?
• Does he/she play for hours at a time and complain that it is not enough?
• What happens when your child cannot play video games?
• Is your child ever manipulative to be able to play video games?
• Does your child ever stay up late playing video games on a school night?
• Does your child ever lie about or shrug responsibilities like homework to play video games?
• Does your child have other interests or have they all been replaced by video games?
• Are you constantly battling for your child to put down the video game for even a second?
• Is your child spending excessive amounts of money on video games?

Some of these questions seem silly, but they should at least get you thinking about the level of your child’s addiction to video games. You should also keep in mind that this does not just apply to elementary and middle school aged children, but especially high school, college and beyond. In fact, it is in these older children that addictions can be particularly costly in impacting their college success, early career paths, or relationships. Just remember it is never too early to prevent addiction, and never too late to intervene. So what kinds of things can you do to help prevent your children from becoming addicted to video games? Different things will work better at different ages, and again, here are a few starters:

• Set strict limits on the amount of time they are allowed to play games per day or week. Consider 30 minutes or less per day. Be consistent.
• Make them earn their time playing video games. Perhaps they can earn them by spending an equal amount of time doing something physical or otherwise productive.
• Involve your child in creating rules for gaming, and the consequences for breaking those rules.
• If your child tries to be manipulative about gaming, call them on it, and assign consequences.
• Know how much time spent at friends houses are spent playing video games. Talk to other parents about your plans to restrict gaming.
• Never allow a child to have a gaming console in their bedroom.
• For older children who are perhaps college aged or older, believe it or not, reasoning with them may even work. Talk, talk, talk.
• Bribery is tried and true. Offer them the opportunity to earn other incentives in exchange for decreasing the amount of gaming.
• Help introduce your child to more active hobbies like hiking or playing a sport.

The list could go on, and on. Again, perhaps the most important thing you can do to help your child not become addicted to gaming is to talk with them about it. Rarely in their lives will they say “I wish I had played more video games.” However, there are many which already are saying “I wish I had played less.” Much of the beauty in life is born of work and productivity. Gaming is fun and okay in moderation. The biggest cost however, is what could have been accomplished in its place. Priceless are years of lost productivity and learning. The impacts of gaming addictions are far deeper than most parents realize. Will it impact your child’s life?

This article should not be used as or interpreted as medical advice. Full legal disclaimer.

Copyright © 2008 RiseAboveAddiction.com

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