Children today do need to keep up with technology, especially in an educational way. Technology and the Internet can be a wonderful tool, if used appropriately and with limits.
However, the gaming side to our children’s technological world is adding extra pressure to our children. Children can experience mood swings, addiction and unhealthy lifestyles, with excess gaming time.
Gaming is reinforcing instant gratification. So many children are not willing to wait, they are getting used to getting the fulfilment straight away at a click or move of a controller. Children are seeking this in so many ways in their lives.
At the press of a button they can build, talk online, compete, and destroy. This is available 24 hours of every single day, if not monitored.
Has your child’s attitude changed i.e mood swings, aggression and anger, withdrawal from family/friends, lazy and not interested in things they used to enjoy?
This could possibly be a gaming problem!?
Things you as a parent/carer could try:
- Put time limits on Internet/Technology usage. (‘Last game’, may take a lot longer and I mean a lot longer than you think!)
- Have ‘No Technology Days’
- Limit the type of online games they play
- Give your child jobs/projects to focus on, instead of the screen
- Don’t allow technology while travelling short distances
- Remind your child to use educational sites i.e Edustar (for those with netbooks for school purposes)
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/mental-wealth/201705/growing-in-false-reality
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/screen_time_6-11_years.html/context/2030