Is Your Teen Obsessed With Video Games?

In March of this year, the CBC News ran a story on teen use of video games.  This is a tale of (virtual) violence, peer pressure, obsession, and tragedy.

Many parents are concerned or frightened that their children (as young as 8 ) could become too engrossed in video games.  If you have children who are indicating an interest in, or already involved with, video games, please research this phenomenon.   This is one of those many developments that parents have little understanding of and usually no personal experience with.  Don’t wait until you have a situation that concerns you – look into it now!

What To Watch For

Some of the signs that your teen’s video game habit is developing into an unhealthy relationship:

• School performance starts to suffer
• Lying about homework being completed or not assigned, to get more game time
• Reduced interest in activities enjoyed in the past
• Increased irritability and impatience

Personality shifts can include extreme anger, shouting, threats, violence and running away from home.

Be Proactive in Important Arenas of Your Teen’s Life

• Have conversations with your partner or other adult family members to talk over your concerns.
• Set expectations that reflect your family values.  These likely include good study habits, self discipline, life balance, health, family relationships, respectful communications and family time.
• Share your values, concerns and feelings with your child.
• Be respectful of their feelings and thoughts.
• Let them know the limits you are setting for video game time.
• Be consistent enforcing those limits!
• Be very clear what consequences they can expect.  E.G. if grades slip, exactly what will happen around their video games, and for how long.
• Tell them (or work out together with them) what criteria must be met to get video game privileges re-instituted.
• Stay in communication with your teen.
• Do not allow your intelligent and savvy teenager to out-talk you!  Hold your ground.  Sometimes fewer words are better.

What are your challenges around video games?

See the above referenced article at: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/03/03/f-video-gaming.html

For CBC’s investigative documentary on this story, “Top Gun:  When a video gaming obsession turns to addiction and tragedy” (40-minute video), go to: http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2008-2009/top_gun/video.html .