With the cold weather and dark evenings, many families may be tempted to find entertainment indoors - and for youngsters, that could mean more video games.
But how can you tell if your child is hooked on gaming and may have an addiction? And what can parents do to help them?
According to experts, a recent report revealed that 8.5% of children aged between 8 and 18 suffer from online gaming addiction. With this in mind, TouchCasino.com has outlined the key gaming addiction signs to look out for in your children, followed by some tips to wean them off gaming.
Read More: The age at which a child can come home from school alone - What safety experts and parents say
Signs your child is addicted to gaming
Increased agitation and aggression
One of the earliest signs of gaming addiction in teenagers and young adults is increased agitation and aggression. As with most addictions, people are prone to intensified mood swings when experiencing withdrawals, making times such as the morning and coming in from school of heightened emotion. Such agitation can be amplified by the type of games your teen is playing; consistent exposure to violent games can subconsciously promote such behaviour. Increased agitation can affect relationships both inside and outside the home environment.
Lack of concentration
Struggling to concentrate or seeming consistently detached and preoccupied is another sign that your child is addicted to gaming. As a result of the intense visual and auditory stimuli of video games, the real world and everyday interactions become dull and unfulfilling in comparison. Such a detachment and lack of interest can quickly begin to affect performance in school and extra-curricular activities.
Changes to schedule
Increased screen time is continuously linked to a lack of sleep which in turn disrupts a child's routine. Such disruption to a teen's schedule will amplify the other symptoms of mood swings and a lack of concentration. Alongside this with any addiction, you can become preoccupied with an activity to the point of neglecting essential daily tasks. Over time, a teenager will put less time into his or her appearance, cleanliness and overall health.
What you can do to help
Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is the key when trying to alter someone’s behaviour for the better. Offering consistent praise for exercising, working hard at school and on homework, and helping around the house will provide gratification and motivation to keep up productive and social activities. Negative reinforcement in this instance could cause resentment and increase urges to play video games.
Alternative activities
Prompting your teen to be social and try new activities will keep them busy and over time, make them more inclined to crave social interaction as opposed to digital stimulus, promoting a healthier relationship with gaming. Even small steps within the home like having dinner together or going on a walk will offer positive distraction and interaction.
No gaming in the bedroom
No gaming in the bedroom is vital when trying to combat a gaming addiction. Having 24-hour access will inevitably lead to late-night gaming and disruption of schedule. Ensuring games are played in communal areas will reduce temptation and allow you to better monitor your teen's gaming habits.
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