Game addiction is a clinical disorder with strong negative effects on the social, work, family, financial and economic functioning of the personality. It represents a contemporary form of addiction that manifests itself as a temper tantrum in children. The state of an individual in which playing games has become a dominant life activity can isolate the person from other social currents, and which creates negative consequences for them and their environment.
The time spent playing games is the most commonly mentioned criterion for diagnosing addiction disorder and it is believed that 4 to 6 hours a day is indicative of addiction.
However, this may not be enough of an indicator. Some of the symptoms parents should look out for are altered behavior, spending more time on the computer, failing in school, neglecting obligations and interests, problems with concentration and memory, insomnia and, last but not least, addiction temper tantrums. There are numerous reasons why this behavior occurs so it might be difficult to watch out for them.
When it comes to the child, parents should monitor how they respond when they take away their games or limit their time on the internet. The higher the degree of dissatisfaction, the greater the degree of dependency.
The age limit for children addicted to games is getting lower. Internet addiction now occurs in children aged 11 and 12, in the fifth and sixth grade, while the problem with video games is most common with adolescents aged 15 and 16, but also people aged between 24 and 25.
Unfortunately, most parents don’t recognize this problem in time. They seek help only when they notice serious changes in the behavior of the child, most often at the end of the semester or school year if they find out that the child was skipping school for days and spending their time playing games. This makes the process of treating game addiction even more difficult.
How to prevent game tantrums?
To prevent and address game addiction temper tantrums, there are several things to keep in mind. For starters, we need to spend more quality with our children. Take them for a walk, go to the cinema, read them stories and fairy tales before sleep, play with them.
Parents need to set clear rules when it comes to playing games. Determine how long the child can play to what games they can play. Also, ban extremely violent games. There should be always consequences if they break these rules or if they throw temper tantrums.
There must be communication between the parents and the child. Try to direct your child to sports and physical activity or to creative hobbies such as drawing, painting, and music. Most importantly, teach them how to use technology in a smart way alongside the creative forces. This way, they benefit from it, and not use it simply for fun and games.
When you feel like you need to take a video game away from your kid, do it calmly. Don’t show any signs of aggression, because it may cause them to lash out and throw a fit.
And the most important rule – be a role model for your child! If you don’t want your kid to spend hours in front of the screen, try to set a good example. Parents are also at risk of social media addiction among others, and if your child sees you on your phone all the time, they might take all the wrong lessons.
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