My Kid Doesn’t Want To Stop Playing Video Games

Video games are definitely fascinating for kids and teens. They stimulate and challenge their abilities. But they can also be addictive.

“My child doesn’t want to stop playing video games”: this  is the desperate cry of more and more mothers and fathers who fail to take their children off the computer in order to lead a normal life.

Discussions between parents and children about time spent on the computer have become a daily routine. Likewise, the number of children and adolescents addicted to video games is increasing.

Like all addictions, it requires psychological treatment. However, as parents, we may notice signs that can detect if our child is unable or unwilling to stop playing video games. So we can act before the situation escalates.

Video games for children: are they safe?

Roblox, the trending video game platform for kids and teens, played a key role in a viral story. In one of the games, the avatar of a 7-year-old girl was raped by two other users.

The platform allows users to create games and virtual worlds. In addition, it guarantees strict filters to protect children and teenagers playing around the world.

However, the game’s creators recognize, in the case of the rape, that players were able to bypass security systems.

Mother Amber Petersen said on Facebook one morning she saw her shocked baby girl looking at the screen. As she approached, she saw the female character of her daughter being raped. Despite the disgust and remorse she felt, she managed to take the necessary screenshots to file a complaint immediately.

The platform, which has 40 million games online, is the favorite of over 60 million actively playing children and teens. Although it is known to be safe, it is obvious that with online gaming nothing is 100% safe.

Effects of video games on children

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children from the age of 6 play video games no more than two hours a day. In fact, moderately playing video games can provide benefits in a number of ways.

The important thing is that the time spent playing games does not interfere with the time devoted to physical activity, rest and sleep.

However, the problem arises when a lack of control of the impulse appears. In this case, psychological consequences may arise.

Neural patterns presented by video game addicts indicate that there is an imbalance in the brain’s reward system. Which is not much different from other addiction disorders.

In addition, in cases where exposure to violent content in certain video games is prolonged, desensitization processes may be triggered. These processes affect areas of the brain related to emotional control and the processes of attention and concentration.

Parents’ responsibility

Children of the 21st century live surrounded by technology. It is an indisputable reality.

However, this does not justify that we cannot control at what age our children have access to different electronic devices. We should also be concerned about the content and the number of hours they spend in front of the screens.

So how can we be surprised that our children are becoming addicted if more and more young people are using smartphones or tablets? What if more and more hours are spent on screens every day?

Parents have a responsibility to keep the enjoyment of video games from spiraling out of control and affecting the normal lives of children and teens. Once they get their first device, we need to be able to set clear and firm rules. These should cover aspects such as playing time or the type of content allowed.

However, it’s not just about setting the rules and overseeing, you also have to set a good example. Let’s avoid, for example, that each time our child needs to tell us something or want to play with us, he finds us absorbed in front of the computer screen or the cell phone. Rules will not work if they are not accompanied by a good example.

Warning signs

When your child does not want to stop playing video games, one of the following signals may appear. You will have to act accordingly before the situation escapes you and jeopardizes the stability of your child. This is because it is important to take action if your child:

• Takes more interest than usual in his games when away from the console or computer and that is the only topic of conversation
• Is defensive, has mood swings, or experiences discouragement, aggression or sadness when not playing
• Spend more and more time playing
• Likes to play less and less with other children and isolates himself
• Cannot quit gaming or reduce time spent playing video games
• Don’t acknowledge or lie about hours spent playing
• Is able to not sleep and / or eat to be in front of the screen longer
• Has bad grades and shows disinterest in studying. The few minutes of play before homework turns into hours of non-stop play
• Goes badly and devotes all his energy to playing without wanting to speak. This is a way for him to escape reality

What if my child doesn’t want to stop playing video games?

When a child or teen doesn’t want to stop playing video games, you need to take steps to ensure their well-being.

However, keep in mind that arguments or restrictions are not necessarily more effective than mutual agreement. Negotiation should be the tool for setting clear boundaries and standards, with love and firmness. You can for example:

• Move the console or computer to a room other than their bedroom,  in a common area that you can monitor
• Only allow your child to play if they have finished their homework and done the household chores.
• Agree with your child on the number of hours of play  allowed per day. You can start with a more flexible period that you will gradually reduce.
• Notify your child when he has 15, 10 and 5 minutes left of play: this way, he will not be surprised when the agreed period is over
• Teach him to save his game: for a child who has made great efforts to move from one level to another, it will be difficult for him to stop the game
• Limit the use of games that are inappropriate for their age or have a high rate of violence
• Encourage other activities to replace the time spent on video games:  you can indeed encourage your child to practice sports, artistic or social activities that allow him to interact with children or adolescents of his age
• Organize family activities: share play time with your children, with a video game or a board game, or go play in a park
• Establish with your child what penalties apply in the event of non-compliance with one of the agreements. Be firm when you need to apply the penalty.

Final reflection

If after having agreed on the formula for controlling play time, you find  that your child cannot control himself, it is surely that he is subject to an addiction. The best thing to do is to call in a specialist.

A child or teenager who does not want to stop playing video games faces serious consequences. These can affect his physical, emotional and mental health. As parents, we must help them overcome this problem. Their safety depends on the proper supervision of parents.