signs of video game addiction in Kids • Spending non-school hours on the computer playing video games • Falling asleep in school • Not keeping up with assignments • Worsening grades • Lying about computer or video game use • Choosing to use the computer or play video games rather than see friends • Dropping out of social groups (such as clubs or sports) to play games • Stealing money to buy or play video games • Irritability when not playing a video game or computer game • Inability to cut back on game play FROM PARENTFURTHER.COM
that your child is pushing the boundaries,” the ParentFurther site advises.
encouraging responsible gaming The University of Minnesota Extension Office recommends that parents limit video game play to one hour a day. This may seem inadequate to tweens and teens who feel like they just get into a complicated game at the 60-minute mark. Our family has found that during a school day, our schedule is too hectic to allow for video game play, so we usually allow for longer periods of play on the weekends. Whenever my kids play, I encourage them to take breaks, to recognize when they’ve played too long, and to learn to balance their desire to play with their need to do other things. I’m hopeful that by taking a greater interest in what my kids enjoy, while also providing the structure they need to play in a healthier way, we will all benefit. Especially if I can avoid changing any of those virtual diapers.
October 2012 11