As gaming addiction has officially been recognized by the World Health Organization as a mental health condition, we ask our experts to provide guidance on what it is and what steps parents can take to protect children from developing the condition.
Gaming Disorder is listed in a draft document that remains to be finalized. It’s significant because the WHO guide is used by doctors to diagnose disease. It lists symptoms such as impaired control over gaming, increased priority and escalation of gaming despite negative consequences.
Issue for parents
The problem this creates for parents is that it can confuse healthy enthusiasm and enjoyment with a clinical disorder. We also need to use these labels carefully so as not to trivialize other mental health issues.
That said, it does offer helpful language to identify when children stray from enjoyment and avoid gaming into less healthy patterns. While children that won’t stop playing when it’s dinner time are certainly not suffering from a disorder, parents should keep an eye on any child who neglects relationships, exercise, school work and personal hygiene in favor of playing games.
Playing together and staying engaged
It’s important that parents don’t just focus on the individual child exhibiting this behavior. My experience is that it’s as much a parenting issue as it is a childhood disorder. The best way to resolve this in most cases is to encourage parents to be present in the gaming world of their children.
Play together, help set healthy limits, and actively find a variety of activities for children to consume online. This approach, particularly started at an early age, will keep gaming safe and sensible for most youngsters.
It’s not easy if you’re not familiar with gaming, but I’ve created succinct weekly videos to help parents who are worried that their children may be addicted to gaming, that can be accessed via my Patreon project.
Addiction can mean something very scary to parents and carers. When parents see that their child won’t get off the tablet, gaming console or computer when called, they may bemoan the fact that their child is “addicted” when they actually mean that their child is “overusing online games.” In situations like this, screen balance and perhaps even a digital detox may be recommended.
With the recent inclusion of ‘gaming disorder’ in the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases, parents need to understand what is gaming disorder and how they can prevent their children from developing this ‘addiction.’
The clinical definition of gaming addiction
Addiction in clinical terms is a pathological state that is diagnosed under certain criteria.
It is important to note that this behavior pattern has lasted at least 12 months and has resulted in difficulties with family, friends, socializing, education and other areas of functioning.
Steps to take to deal with it
If the answers are yes, then parents consider whether their fears over digital media use are well-founded. If the answers are no, then “these particular parents and children may need to put in place regulations and restrictions in order to address problematic use.”
Make sure that games are age-appropriate and content-appropriate
notice how your children interact with their devices and games (aggressive, irritable, may mean that less screen time is needed)
A final point for parents to remember is that studies suggest that gaming disorder affects only a small proportion of people engaged in online gaming. Don’t panic. Parent.
Questions to ask to determine if they have the condition
– Is my child physically healthy and sleeping enough?
– Is my child connecting socially with family and friends (in any form)?
– Is my child engaged with and achieving in school?
– Is my child pursuing interests and hobbies (in any form)?
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