Prevent Your Child From Video Game Addiction

By Randi Morse

Did you know that more than 20 percent of children in the United States are addicted to video games? When we think of addiction, we tend to think of people who have an overwhelming compulsion to imbibe alcohol or use illegal drugs. People can be addicted to almost anything. Addiction is classified as a condition in which a person is physically or mentally dependent on a substance or item and is unable to stop using it without having adverse effects. If you're concerned about your child getting addicted to video games, here are a few things you should watch out for.

Don't start them young - If you're very concerned about your child becoming addicted to video games, don't start them young. Young children tend to develop a taste for certain things; it's why children who are introduced to junk food tend to prefer that over healthy food. While it's easy to distract your child with video games,the long-term situation can become worrisome if you start your child playing video games too early.

Watch for easy access - If your child owns a video game system and has a television in their room, they can play video games at any point in time without you having any idea that they are doing so. Children can even get up in the middle of the night, disrupting sleep patterns and encouraging an addiction to video games. Make sure any video game systems you have are in a public area in your home.

Just one more level - I can't count how many times my son begged for me to allow him to complete " just one more level" before turning the game system off. If you are going to restrict the amount of time your child is allowed to play video games, stick to the exact amount of time you allotted. Children are excellent at manipulating parents to give them just a little more time to do the things they're enjoying. Always stick to your guns.

Trust your gut - Is your gut telling you that the video game your child is playing is too violent for them? Is it telling you that your child is playing video games too often? A parent's instincts are usually right, so if you know your child better than anyone else and your gut is telling you they need less time on a gaming system, trust those instincts. 

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in West Bountiful, Utah.