The addiction to video games is a reality and more and more young children are affected. In this digital age where there are countless electronic devices, it is very easy to access any device with which to entertain. This means that children have all kinds of technological entertainment on hand and video game addiction is becoming a serious problem that must be eradicated.
Regardless of whether it is an addiction to a type of game, a video game machine or a mobile device with which to entertain themselves, it is essential to teach children to use these tools in an appropriate way. Without this becoming a problem that, unfortunately, is becoming more and more common and it is already treated individually in the consultations of health professionals.
What to do with a child addicted to video games
To start it is necessary assume a child has an addiction, something that is not easy at all. When talking about addictions, one always tends to think about older substances and things. But any situation or action that becomes indispensable, which limits social life and alters behavior, can become an addiction, even in children.
Do you want to know if your child is addicted to video games? Think about the time you spend alone, playing video games, with your mobile or your computer. Does he get angry when you take the game away to do any other activity? If you have stopped doing other things that you used to like, if you prefer to stay in your room before going out to play in the street, your school performance is declining, or you have mood swings, you may be seeing signs of a video game addiction.
Strategies for managing a video game addiction
Children need to see with their own eyes what they are doing wrong, in a very obvious and striking way with which they can understand where the problem is. When a child spends several hours a day playing video games, they are missing the opportunity to do other things. That is what you have to make him see, for it, let him play several days as long as he wants. Write down the hours you spend playing and when.
After a few days, sit down with your child and show him how much time he has spent with his game. AND also show him everything he could have done in that time, like going out to play, seeing your friends, having a good snack, going out to do fun things or anything else that might matter to you. It is also very important to make him understand that video games are only fun when played responsibly.
These strategies will help you control the problem if you have a child addicted to video games:
- Set schedules: For example 30 minutes in the afternoon after doing homework. Then you will have to do another activity.
- Propose alternativesBefore you tell him to stop playing video games, look for activities that might be interesting for your child. This makes it more difficult for you to reject the plan.
- Play video games with your child: Preventing the child from isolating himself is essential and who better to play with him than yourself. Ask him to show you what it is, how to play and share a game as a family. Two things can happen, either he loves it and wants to play with you, or he gets bored of teaching you and stops playing. In any case it will be a good solution.
Do not hesitate to consult a specialist if you feel that the situation is getting out of hand and you cannot control your child's video game addiction. There are already documented cases of children with addiction to certain video games that they have only managed to eliminate with psychological therapy. Before the addiction worsens, seek professional help, both for the child's problem and for solving a family situation that can become complicated.