In modern families, video games have become a daily pastime for many children. However, with the growing phenomenon of gaming addiction, many parents are concerned about the problem, and they are afraid that their children will be overly addicted to the virtual world and neglect real-life schoolwork and interpersonal interactions.

A child's addiction to gaming not only affects physical and mental health, but can also lead to a decline in academic performance. Prolonged sedentary and staring at a screen during gaming can lead to problems such as vision loss and cervical spondylosis. In addition, over-indulging in games often causes children to neglect their studies, affecting academic performance and may even affect their future development.

Faced with the problem of children's addiction to games, parents can take the following measures:

Setting boundaries is an effective way to manage your child's playtime. Parents can work with their children to set daily or weekly limits on playtime and ensure that these rules are enforced consistently among family members. At the same time, parents should ensure that the rules are clear and reasonable to avoid resistance from their children.

Parents should guide their children to participate in other fun activities, such as sports, art, music, or outdoor activities. This will both reduce your child's reliance on play and help them discover other joys in life. Parents can also serve as role models to participate in these activities with their children and enhance parent-child interaction in the family.

Parents should praise and reward their children when they follow the rules of playtime or actively participate in other activities. This positive feedback will make the child realize that in addition to the achievements in the game, good performance in real life is also something to be proud of and celebrated. Parents should educate their children on how to manage their time and help them create a schedule that balances time for play, study, rest and other activities. Not only does this help reduce playtime, but it also develops your child's self-management skills and forward thinking.

When implementing the above strategies, parents should be aware of the following suggestions:

Parents should ensure that the rules set are consistent among family members and are willing to adjust the strategy according to the child's situation. Overly restrictive rules can cause your child to rebel, while moderate adjustments can help your child adapt and accept the rules better.

Parents need to regularly check the effectiveness of the rules set and make necessary adjustments based on their child's performance. If existing methods do not work, parents should consider switching to other strategies to ensure effective management of their child's gaming behaviour.

Parents should consider seeking professional help if their child is already showing symptoms of gaming addiction, such as significant academic, relational, or physical and mental health.

Professional therapy and counselling can provide children with resources such as psychotherapy, family counselling or support groups to help them overcome gaming addiction. At the same time, professional therapy can also help parents better understand and cope with their children's gaming behavior problems.

Children's addiction to games is a growing social problem, and parents need to take responsibility for guidance and management. By setting boundaries, providing alternative activities, reinforcing positive behaviors, and educating time management, parents can help their children establish healthy play habits that promote healthy physical and mental development. When necessary, parents should seek professional help to solve the problem of their child's addiction to games.

Proofread by Zhuang Wu