My Son Is Addicted To Video Games – Parenthood

In the field of video games, technology has never stopped advancing,  as has its capacity for entertainment and distraction. 

Some reflect reality in a fascinating way in terms of their details – without taking into account virtual reality games – and this generates a certain “addiction”. Many parents worry when they see their children spending a lot of time in “other worlds”.

Video games: good or bad?

Like so many other things in life, video games have two sides – one that’s good and one that’s not so good. However, in this article we are going to list the positive aspects of this form of entertainment for you so that you can take them into account in the future.

Benefits

• They stimulate coordination between the eyes, ears and hands  ; there are even games that require full body actions, so the need to move may be greater.

• They develop the imagination because they open the doors to new worlds and to an infinity of new situations.
• Video games nurture the ability to tolerate failure  and frustration.
• They reinforce logic and the ability to implement strategies  and make decisions.
• Online or multiplayer games help develop sociability in children.

Disadvantages

• They represent one of the main causes of sedentary lifestyle.
• They can promote violent behavior or aggressive language in children.
• Video games generate a lack of attention to other more educational resources such as books.
• They can lead to the isolation  of the child or the young person.
• The latter could even end up developing an addiction.

When to start worrying about the child?

• He does not interact with other people or children his age.
• His academic performance is affected.
• He is so distracted that he doesn’t even stop to check the time or to meet his basic needs in a satisfactory manner.
• He forgets important tasks or events because he is playing.
• The child does not like to be spoken to when playing.
• He spends a lot of money on video games, accessories and new consoles. If he has to earn it himself, he will show great disinterest in the tasks he has to complete to get his reward.

What to do when video games turn into flaws?

Once we identify harmful behavior – even if it is not yet an addiction – what should we do? The first and irremediable measure must be that of establishing limits. Set him playing times that he will have to respect at all costs.

You can also apply a diet of household chores that he will have to perform in exchange for the time and money to play. In this way, you will develop his sense of responsibility.

Another helpful recommendation is to  leave the game console in a visible location in the house. So you can be more attentive to the time he spends playing and his behavior. This is also good advice to prevent the child from playing in hiding or choosing games with inappropriate content for their age.

Support him in this process

The most common mistake is to prohibit or limit an activity to children without offering another to replace it. For example, if you tell your son that he has to leave his video games behind and don’t offer him anything else, he will think you are against it just on a whim.

The best you can do is try to come up with plans as a family, all together. Sports afternoons or camping can arouse his interest, but he must also be attentive to the options he offers. In fact, you might ask him what he wants to do.

Video games do not in themselves pose a problem when the aforementioned signals do not present themselves. By the time of childhood, it can be a way of expressing their enthusiasm for something.

As the child grows and develops other interests, you will see how they learn to manage their play time separately. You will also be able to see how he learns to integrate the social domain into video games, by organizing game afternoons with relatives who share this passion or with friends.