The Best Of …….The Sue Atkins Parenting Show

Show notes:

In this episode:

• Online Gaming Addiction and What to Do About It
• Watch your Wellbeing: Mental Health Advice for Handling the Pandemic
• After Sarah Everard How to Talk to Kids about Respect and Staying Safe in a Dangerous World
• How to Handle Separation, Divorce, and Co-Parenting
• The Huge Benefits Yoga for Kids
• Hybrid Working Tips
• Dan Walker, ‘Strictly’ and The Things Kids Make You Do!
• Surviving a Teething Baby at Night
• NEW for 2022! The TODDLER Roadmap – eCourse, Podcast and Videos and EVERYTHING you need for raising a happy, confident, resilient toddler with strong self-esteem and good mental health undamaged by the pandemic.

Children addicted to online gaming from Episode 207

Sue’s Answer:

If you suspect that your child (or someone else) is addicted to video games, here’s some ideas to help:

• First, gaming addiction isn’t reliant on a certain kind of system or even a certain amount of time. An hour a day on a smartphone, tablet, console, or computer is more than enough to have a full-fledged addiction.
• Second, your child may be able to play video games for hours at a time without becoming addicted. I have a number of clients who are this way; they can take it or leave it. Video game addicts, on the other hand, aren’t the same. Gaming consumes them.
• No matter where they are or who they’re talking to, thoughts about the game pop into their mind:
• “When can I play again?”
• “Maybe if I try this strategy when I’m gaming again, I can do better.”
• “If I leave now, I can have another hour to game.”
• The ecstasy they feel from gaming means everything else in life is simply less joyful.
• Being addicted to video games isn’t reserved for shy or withdrawn people. This addiction can happen to anyone.
• Studies are beginning to show that excessive gaming (approximately 3 hours per week) by youths is linked with increased levels of depression, anxiety, and social phobia, all of which can last years into the future.
• For some kids, it can come down to self-worth. When they beat someone else in StarCraft, Tribes, Age of Empires II, or any of the other games, they receive an instant injection of self-worth. “Wow, I really am pretty good at something.”
• It may not make complete sense to us, but that is a powerful, powerful message, especially for kids who have a strong fear of failure.
• Your child might be addicted to video games if they exhibit the following signs:
• Talk about their game(s) incessantly.
• Play for hours on end (I played for up to 14 hours a day when possible)
• Get defensive when told about their excessive gaming habit
• Get angry or explosive when made to stop.
• Sacrifice basic needs (e.g., sleep) in order to game.
• Hide or downplay time spent gaming.
• Seem preoccupied, depressed, or lonely
• If you’ve determined that your child likely has an addiction, there are a number of ways you can help. You can educate yourself at sites like video-game-addiction.org. https://www.video-game-addiction.org/video-game-addiction-treatment.html

and On-Line Gamers Anonymous https://www.olganon.org/home

• Once you have reviewed treatment options, such as therapists, you then have to take the bold step of actually intervening.
• As a final thought, I’d like to say that not all games are bad and not everyone is prone to addiction.
• The good news is that your child can break the addiction but do seek professional help.

Episode 211 Sue chats to Dr. Asha Patel about the #WatchYourWellbeing campaign to help students take care of their mental health during lockdown

Episode 215 Sarah Everard and how her tragic murder speaks to ALL women but must speak louder to men

‘The Award Winning’ Divorce Journal for Kids

Episode 225 Sue in Conversation with Avril O’Brien, Author of Mitchy Titch – All Around the World – a Fun Book of Yoga for Kids

Episode 236 Hybrid Working Tips to Save Your Sanity  

Episode 240 Dan Walker, Strictly and The Things Kids Make You Do!

Episode 244 Surviving a Teething Baby at Night

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