As a parent, it鈥檚 probably very frustrating to walk in on your child hunched-over and glued to the TV all the time, gaming pad in hand, headphones plugged in, unaware of the environment for hours unending. Then imagine getting that child to concentrate on studying or doing assignments when he or she would rather be gaming — tug of war. In this article, we鈥檒l be sharing tips on how to stop your child鈥檚 video game addiction.聽
First, you should understand that playing video games is not bad. In fact, playing video games have many cognitive benefits such as; expanding the imagination, improving problem-solving skills and boosting brain speed. But as you know, too much of everything is not good. So, when your child鈥檚 video game habit starts interfering with assignments, household chores or sleep time, then you need to take action.聽
How to Stop Video Game Addiction
1.聽 Restrict Access
Many people will advise against cutting your child off from video games completely because of the belief that deprivation will only increase their craving. However, if the situation is critical, then extreme measures need to be considered.聽
Regardless, restricting access to gaming consoles or devices does not have to be infinite. You can decide to keep them hidden for a while or send them off to a relative鈥檚 house till your child has proved he deserves to have the games returned.聽
2. Establish house rules to control screen time
Moderation is essential if you want to keep your child鈥檚 video game addiction in check. The goal of establishing house rules or policies is to have some level of quality control in the home, in order to uphold certain standards within the household. Monitoring daily screen time and reducing the number of time kids spend playing games can help them gradually cut back their urge to play. When there is control, kids eventually learn how to manage their game time.聽
For each rule, create a consequence and make sure your child abides by it. Let鈥檚 say you decide to allocate one hour before dinner on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays as game time. You can then create a consequence that states 鈥渁nyone who is caught playing games outside the allocated game time will forfeit their next two game days鈥�. That is, if your child is caught video gaming when he鈥檚 not supposed to, you鈥檒l take away his game time for the next two days as allocated. This will make your child less likely to break the rules. You may create consequences as you deem fit, but don鈥檛 forget to stay within reasonable limits.
3. Create a routine and track it with a calendar
If you need a more lenient approach on how to stop video game addiction, try getting your child busy doing other activities. Make sure the activities you choose are interesting or engaging. For example, you can create a weekly calendar of activities at different time slots including things like; going outside to ride bikes, solving jigsaw puzzles, local excursions, doing the dishes, or reading aloud to you (after all you鈥檙e always the one reading to them). The list is endless. Prove to them that there are a lot more exciting things to do besides playing video games.
Developing a routine by creating a calendar of activities will help take your child鈥檚 mind off gaming and also help build a healthier habit.
4. Keep gaming devices away from the bedroom or study area
Out of sight is out of mind, and the less they see it, the less likely they are to be tempted to play it. You can鈥檛 be talking about how to stop video game addiction if the games are placed in places where your child spends the most time. Try moving gaming consoles and devices to a central location, preferably a part of the house that鈥檚 open. If your child knows he/she shouldn鈥檛 be playing video games at a certain time, the last place he/she will want is to sneak in for a game where he/she can be spotted. This will also help your child sleep better at night and stay focused during study time.
5. Treat gaming as a reward
It鈥檚 better for your child to see playing video games as a privilege rather than an entitlement. That way he won鈥檛 start sulking or throwing tantrums when you deny him the luxury.聽
Make it clear that doing certain chores or assignments is a way to earn points towards playing video games. So you can decide that each time your son cleans his bathroom, or your daughter does the laundry, they each get a certain amount of points. Ensure they are made aware of the number of points required to earn some video game time.聽
6. Consider cognitive behavioural therapy
According to , playing video games compulsively is a mental health condition. So, taking your child through a behavioural modification therapy might be your last resort for stopping video game addiction if nothing else works. If you鈥檙e not sure where to find help, reach out to the admin at your child鈥檚 school and ask to see a counsellor.聽
In Conclusion,
Stopping your child鈥檚 video game addiction takes a lot of work. You鈥檒l need to exercise patience and be understanding if you want to be triumphant. The good news is, you don鈥檛 have to do it alone. Get your spouse or trusted friend/family member involved. Speaking with a counsellor at your child鈥檚 school can also help you learn how to stop video game addiction in no time.
