They're hardly found outside playing with friends or going to sportsclubs. They hardly get any sun so they are palewhite and oftenly overweight. They barely have any social contact and are very likely to live in a world of their own. Yes dear parents, I am talking about your child's physically and mentally unhealthy gaming behaviour.Results of too much gaming
When you look at the economically wealthy countries, I can easily say that every child from 8 to 18 uses a computer, cellphone, ipod or a console from time to time. Some more often than others. In this blog we seperate those children in two groups. 1 The group of children that earns no physical or mental problems from the world of gaming. 2 The group that suffers from physical and mental problems due to overuse of their electronical gaming systems.
Unhealthy results from too much gaming comes in two forms, physical and mental damage to the body and the mind.
When a child isn't coming to his scientifically proven 30 minutes of exercise a day, than it oftenly isn't a healthy child, the main reason for this is the use of the internet and gaming. Physical results of this are getting fat and having an unhealthy bloodcirculation wich can lead to very dangerous heart and cardiovescular diseases.
But ofcourse when a child is gaming, he isn't socially interacting with other people. Ofcourse some parents are whitnessing their children with headsets and little mics talking to other people from all over the world. This is a little relief to some parents but you should have in mind that the conversations they are having, doesn't have to do anything with the real world, and other people. This can get your child social behaviour problems and other kinds of mental damage.
I will confront you with the bitter truth how sad it may sound. Your gaming child is on a good way to end up as a total 'nobody', without a future or dreams just memories of a past before playing video games. Good examples of games that have no age limits are world of warcraft, runescape and other online platforms. These games can end up being addictions for the rest of their life.
The only time a 'hardcore gamer' is content is when they are playing video games. For the rest they are likely to be very depressed, friendless and lonely. They will never achieve anything respectable in their lives all thanks to their unhealthy gaming habits. They will not get married, not have any kids and nowone to love.
Solving the problem
I wouldn't write this blog just to make you parents more insecure and scared about the whole situation. I have worked out a few simple steps to take care of the problem.
1 How bad is it?
2 Wy is that bad?
3 What to do ?
1 How bad is it?
For some parents this might be a real hard one, but you have to conclude how much physical and mental damage he is taking from his amount of gaming, so think about it meaning it having bad results for the body by eating unhealthy cheap food and getting no movement. Or is it that bad that it has consequenses on his social life. Think about not meeting with friends in the weekends being shy to other people in school.
On the base of those things you should be able to see how bad it actually is.
Why is it that bad?
A normal child automatically decides when to stop gaming and change their occupation. Problematic gaming children don't have this impulse. This can be caused by one or more factors:
1 Your child might have a social behavior problem, you can get more info on this subject of your local doctor.
2 It has no friends and people that care for him. So the only thing he has got left are his video games.
3 Maybe you yourself might be the problem, are you giving him too much money for the games or forbidding him to go play outside or go out in the weekends. Giving in to this might be very difficult to most parents.
What to do?
It is very rare having a case of extreme gaming that is unable to solve. If you have worked out the first two steps you have a better vision on how to solve the problem.
If it is because he has no opportunity to get some good exercise, than you can apply him for a sport that he might like.
Is it because he has no friends, Than you could visit another parent's family so your child can get to know some other people, maybe it is his school that is the cause. If this is the case, than maybe moving to another school might be the best solution.
If it is you that is the problem, than you could go visit a specialist on the subject and talk about how to improve your own behaviour and so after that your child's gaming behaviour.
But just like with a nicotine addiction, the best way to get rid of it is by replacing it with something. The same goes for gaming addiction. A new interest like sport or reading could easily extract him from his gaming consoles.
It is quite something but when you can see the improvement and taste the succes, than the rest will follow more easily afterwards.
Keeping it on the right way
When you're on the right way towards a less gaming more healthy child. Than you are supposed to keep it that way. I'm going to give you some advice on how to detect a downfall and keep it on the right path.
How to keep on improving:
1 Always ask your child about his day, just talking makes him feel important and will give him more confidence
2 Paying attention to the new things like his new soccer club or his new interest in reading books, just showing your interest to those things will make him more enthousiastic.
3 Don't encourage him gaming. This can only make things worse. Try to keep him motivated in other things.
How to notice a downfall:(thinking about gaming again)
1 He looks more tired than usual
2 He is not seeing his friends any more
3 His grades are getting worse
4 He talks less to you
Enjoying a stable relationship and a healthier child
By regiving your child a future without dependence on his gaming console you can also be proud of yourself as an adult of a healthy outgoing child.
Thank you for taking your time by reading my blog. I hoped that it helped you out and if you're going to make a move on it then I wish you all the best
Olivier (18)
