Video Game Addiction and Disorder: What Parents Should Do

As we all know, video games are fun and exciting to play, especially among kids. However, they do have their downsides and one of them which this article will focus on is video game addiction and disorder.

Here, you will be educated on what video game addiction and disorder are, the effects, causes, signs, and preventive measures. So keep reading!

Part 1. What is Video Game Addiction and Game Disorder?

Video Game Addiction, also known as Game Disorder, is a concept used to describe the behavioral pattern of a person who cannot control his/her desire for playing video games. That is, the person is obsessed with playing video games.

In 2018, the World Health Organisation acknowledged this concept in their International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). However, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is yet to. This is because the association believes that not everyone obsessed with playing video games is an addict. Some are only enthusiastic about playing video games.

Although both bodies differ in opinions, we cannot deny that video game addiction is an issue threatening the globe, especially in homes with kids being the major victims.

Kids no longer pay attention to their academics. Recent research shows that kids with video game addiction or game disorder often perform poorly in class. Do you know why? Well, this is because the majority of their time is spent playing video games, rather than focusing on their academics.

Sleep disorder is also another threat video game addiction is posing to homes through kids. As stated earlier, video game addiction does affect the way of life or activity of a person, and sleep is one of them. According to the results of some surveys, a few percent of patients diagnosed with insomnia or sleep disorder are victims of video game addiction.

Causes of Video Game Addiction and Disorder

Some of the causes of video game addiction include the following, however, not limited to:

• Depression/anxiety
• Loneliness
• Bad personality
• Peer group influence
• Growing up with parents who are addicted to video game

Signs of Video Game Addiction and Disorder

Just like every other type of addiction, video game addiction does have its warning signs. Some of them are listed below:

• Inability to concentrate on other life activities
• Can't go a day without playing games
• There is little or no time to rest
• Use of video games to control anger or bad moods
• Mental illness or disorder [this is rare and very difficult to diagnose by parents]

Now you know some of the signs a video addict will possess, kindly look out for them in your kids.

Part 2. What's the Benefit of Moderate Gaming for Kids?

Even though video games could be addicting, you cannot shun your kids from engaging in them entirely. The reason is that video games are sometimes beneficial to kids as they have some crucial roles to play in their life.

Find below some of the benefits of gaming for kids:

• Creativeness: This is one of the most amazing benefits a child gets from video games. When your child engages in video games, it improves his/her cognitive ability.
• Team Work: Teamwork is another incredible benefit of video games for kids. Many games require cooperation amongst players for the target goal to be achieved.

Part 3. How to Take Advantage of Gaming While Avoid Addiction?

With all of the overwhelming news about video addiction and disorder given above, preventive measures must be put in place if moderate gaming would be allowed for kids.

There are several preventive measures you could take, but since we now live in a digital world, we will recommend the use of a parental control app. Here we introduce to you the Wondershare FamiSafe app.

With Wondershare FamiSafe, you can track, manage and control your kid’s mobile activities both online and offline right from your comfort zone. You don't have to be tech-literate to operate this app. An internet-enabled device, like a PC, or smartphone is all that's needed and you are good to go. Wondershare FamiSafe app is recommended as the #1 parental control app globally because of the quality services it offers.

Feature

• Supports app blocking
• Provides you with a detailed report of your child's activity on his/her mobile phone
• Allows you to track and manage your child’s screen time usage
• Available on all operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iOS, and Android
• Affordable premium services

Stepwise Guide to Limit Screen Time Activity via Wondershare FamiSafe

To limit screen time on your child’s phone using Wondershare FamiSafe, follow the instructions given in the guide below.

A. Download, Install, and Register FamiSafe Profile

Step 1: Via your mobile app store (Apple or Google Play), download and install a compatible version of the Wondershare FamiSafe app.

Step 2: Next, launch the app, and the prompt Who uses this device? will immediately come up. Select Parent from the options that pop up, and you will be directed to sign-in page. Should you have a profile with Wondershare FamiSafe, enter your details correctly in the appropriate field. If you do not have one, kindly hit the Sign Up tab to create one.

Step 3: Now, the interface below will pop up ok your screen:

Click on the Start icon and Wondershare FamiSafe will immediately generate a pairing code for you to link your device to your child’s own.

B. Pair Your Device to Kid’s Own

Step 1: Just as you’ve done for yourself, install a compatible version of the Wondershare FamiSafe app on your child’s phone via the Apple store.

Step 2: Next, open the app, and then select the Pair with Code option. A new page with an empty field where you enter the 6-digit code generated on your phone will pop up. Enter this code correctly and then tap on Enter to proceed.

Step 3: Create a nickname and enter your child’s age in the appropriate field just as shown below:

Step 4: Next, locate and click on the Enable now feature on your child’s phone, and then toggle the Accessibility option right to grant FamiSafe accessibility to fetch your data from your child’s phone.

C. Limit Screen Time

Follow the bulleted steps below to limit screen time I'm your child’s phone:

• Launch FamiSafe on your phone, and then tap on the Feature icon
• A new interface will pop up with several options. Kindly select Screen Time from the list
• Next, use the +/- signs beside the Remaining icon to increase or decrease screen time usage on your child’s phone

Thomas Jones

chief Editor