Post-pandemic, as we see our children and teens use screens more frequently to play video games, it is noticeable that many parents are concerned about the withdrawal of their children from daily activities, such as school, academic activities, eating , play and interact with others. Playing video games is a common and enjoyable activity for teenagers. However, there are still some youngsters who struggle to limit their playing time. we all know that addiction Anything is terrible, and even a regular play routine can sometimes be detrimental to your child’s mental well-being. Playing on screens for an extended period of time can have an impact on a child’s physical and mental health.
Today, Dr. Venkatesh Babu GM, Consultant in Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, will share some insights on how gaming addiction really affects your child’s mental health.
What are the risks of getting caught up in online games?
Online games can give children a sense of withdrawal from the realities of the outside world, and the cultural elements of some games can make children feel like they belong in a group. But without basic instructions on what games to play or when to play them, kids can get into serious trouble. According to Dr. Vankatesh, “Risk factors that make someone prone to online gaming include low self-esteem, poor support system, perceived loneliness, impulsiveness, body image issues, low self-control, and unregulated anxiety.”
Does violence or murder in games like PUBG and Fortnite cause mental health problems?
Games that are violent, like PUBG and Fortnite, can make kids think, feel, and act aggressively, which can be bad for their mental health. These can leave a lasting impression on the minds of young children. According to Dr. Vankatesh, “Children absorb many learned behaviors. Being exposed to many violent behaviors and indulging in acts of violence as a form of achievement or need satisfaction would lead to the conditioning of real-world human behavior and their appropriation of the violence as an acceptable non-verbal expression and sometimes expressed as a right in human exchange”.
How does gaming affect children’s mental health?
Dr. Vankatesh goes on to explain: “Games have both a positive and negative influence on a child’s mind. It would lead to the development of self-esteem and self-expression, but if left unregulated, it would lead to a false sense of self-worth, poor emotional regulation, high impulsivity, and limited social skills.”
What is an internet gaming disorder?
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and unsafe behavior online are common in today’s digital age, and teens are particularly susceptible to these unforeseen issues. Children and adolescents are vulnerable to a variety of long-term Internet gaming-related mental health problems from a young age, including depression, social anxiety, and loneliness. “Internet gaming disorder is a form of behavioral disorder with extreme and poorly regulated indulgence in gaming that is persistent and recurrent to the extent that it begins to interfere with daily work, play, academic activities, and other activities. child’s activities,” says Dr. Babu.
How can parents protect their children?
Parents occasionally work a lot. Using a device, the parents interact and engage with the youngster. Children start to develop an addiction to video games and watching videos online only in this way. Online games provide children with excitement and excitement, which encourages them to play more. However, there are still many things you can take to prevent online gaming addiction from happening, which is a real problem for parents. “The key to protecting children is to teach regulation and not abstinence. First of all, it is important to involve the child in understanding the problem by asking him to reason about her behavior and rationalizing it instead of just making a general correction. It is important to engage the child in green time or non-screen time versus screen time by parents and other family members in a productive and enjoyable way. Parents should be allowed to educate children about digital behavior, safety behaviors, possible abuse and its overall impact, so they should be friendly with the use of technology. It is important for parents to regulate their own screen time when teaching their children because children learn by modeling. Finally, set reasonable rules and limits with strong reinforcement for anything positive from the child,” exclaims Dr. Vankatesh.
For children and adolescents, gaming addiction can be a very significant problem that reduces their overall quality of life. So keep in mind that as challenging as it may be, we want our children to grow up to be successful and content people, even if that includes making difficult decisions about how they use devices as they grow up.
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