A Simple Guide to Keep Kids Safe Online and Tackle Gaming Addiction

The world is becoming more and more digital, and with it, the rise in digitally-induced mental illnesses such as gaming addiction. With the growing popularity of online games, it’s now becoming much more challenging to find any balance between fun and the risk of addiction. This type of addiction is not well known by many adults, and yet, it’s already being listed among the top-growing addictions in young adults.

Children themselves are oblivious to how addictive the video games they play each day are, nor do they realize the major impact they may have on their daily lives. What often starts as a harmless pastime quickly becomes an all-consuming habit, and before long, missed school assignments, poor sleep patterns, and more become the order of the day.

Game developers, driven by profits, design these games to be as irresistible as possible without considering any of the long-term effects on players, especially the younger ones. Cool features like loot boxes, constant rewards, and endless level-upgrades are strategically built to push kids to play longer and spend more money. Even worse, the majority of games do not take into account the emotional and mental state of children at all.

How Addicting Games Affect Children

Physical effects Kids who spend too much time gaming are more likely to develop poor posture, obesity, and even repetitive strain injuries from long hours of sitting.

Mental effects Addiction to games causes kids to stop sleeping well, as their anxiety and depression spike up. The emotional roller coaster that the games bring makes children feel unanchored and restless.

Intellectual effects As gaming starts to take priority over schoolwork, kids slowly lose focus, forget about assignments, or perform poorly academically from all the time and energy spent on games.

Behavioral effects A gaming-addicted child usually gets irritable, angry, or aggressive, especially if they are interrupted from playing or if they experience setbacks in the game.

Many online games include violence, adult themes, or harmful language that influence your child’s thoughts and actions.

Over time, all the pressure of these very competitive games makes young people feel inadequate and anxious, and have low self-esteem, particularly when they compare themselves to others who are way more skilled. The more your child plays, the more they may feel emotionally drained or detached from real-world activities.

So how do we protect kids from games we don’t even know about that are intentionally designed to keep them hooked?

How to Know When a Kid Has a Gaming Addiction

There are several signs that a child may be struggling with gaming addiction:

• If your child no longer enjoys hobbies, schoolwork, or spending time with family, choosing instead to stay and play online all the time, gaming addiction could be the problem.
• Neglecting responsibilities like homework, chores, or other obligations may indicate a gaming addiction.
• If your child is always thinking or talking about games even when they’re not playing, it’s a warning sign.
• Irritability, anxiety, and depression when they cannot play could indicate addiction, too.
• If your child is hiding or lying about how much time they spend gaming, it’s likely they’ve become too involved in it.

If your child is already deep in gaming addiction, there are some steps you can take that go beyond the typical advice. Firstly, why not use the same methods that keep kids hooked on games for something healthier?

How to Counter Gaming Addiction at Home

Gamify healthy habits Create a rewards system or set challenges for chores or study sessions. turning everyday tasks into opportunities for fun.

Make unplugged time special Turn unplugged time into an enjoyable experience by planning fun activities, like board games or outdoor adventures, to show that taking a break from screens can be rewarding.

Replace gaming with shared interests Discover new hobbies together, like cooking or sports, so your child can develop interests beyond gaming. When they experience how fulfilling other activities are, they’ll naturally be more inclined to spend time on them.

Encourage social connections outside of gaming Help your child build connections outside the digital world with regular playdates, outdoor activities, or family outings that encourage socialization and teamwork.

Make detox a family challenge Instead of just setting rules, create a family challenge to reduce screen time for everyone. This way, everyone is part of the process, which makes the transition easier and more engaging.

Gaming addiction recovery takes time, so be patient with your child, try to be understanding when setbacks happen, and celebrate progress along the way. Parents with kids who love playing online video games need to take the issue of gaming addiction seriously.

If you feel like your child is already beyond your reach or even if you want to protect a child who hasn’t quite gotten into it yet, you’re in the right place. You can find qualified counselors who specialize in gaming addictions to help your child heal.

Contact our office today to find a faith-based child therapist who can help your child tackle their gaming addiction.