subject: Is Your Child an Online Game Addict? [print this page] The Internet has brought a lot of high-end entertainment to the modern world. One of that is playing video games. When used as a recreational tool, playing internet video games is not that bad at all. The sad thing is it has become an addiction to most young people in our generation. Has your child become a video game addict?
One of the first things you must not do with a child who is a video game addict is to nag him or beat him. That will only instill bitterness in his heart and he will eventually hate you. Instead, show him you are authority and that he has to respect whatever step you would take in order for him to control his behavior.
Make an agreement with your child that he can only use the computer for doing research and making his school assignments. If he wants to play his favorite online video game, tell him he can do it after he's done with his homework and that he can only stay for at least 2 hours.
Having someone to look after your child when you are not around is important. That someone should be a person who has the same principle as you when it comes to disciplining your child so that you can be sure that your child will not spend the whole day sitting in front of the computer playing video games.
Your personal computer must be located in an area inside your house where you can easily monitor whether your child is spending time on the computer when he is supposed to do more important things like doing his homework. Also, remove all kinds of technology from your child's room that can encourage him to play instead of study.
There are other entertaining activities that your child can get himself involved in aside from playing video games. Encourage him to learn a sport that will take his mind off the computer. Give him a new bicycle or a new skateboard. This will force him to get out of the house and join with other kids in the neighborhood. Or you can just stay at home and challenge him to a game of chess or other educational board game.
