Kids and parents often debate when healthy computer gaming is brought up. Do kids have to take breaks or can they go on for hours without pause?
Some experts also say that computer games are healthy for kids, while some may seem to debate this claim.
With the appropriate supervision from their parents and boundaries set, healthy computer gaming may actually be achieved. According to some experts, playing computer games may enhance a child’s creativity, but doing so for prolonged periods of time may have adverse effects on their sleep, school performance, and socialization skills.
Tips for Healthy Computer Gaming
Set limits and boundaries
Parents must set limits and boundaries in order to help their kids attain a healthy computer gaming routine. For instance, set a specific time when kids can play computer games and not just whenever they want to. There should be a schedule for doing chores, studying their lessons, interacting with other kids their age, and playing computer games.
Also, encourage your kids to join clubs, play sports, and hang out with friends instead of being holed up at home and in front of their computers all day. You can also have an activity planned out for them right after they get out of school.
Achieving a healthy routine is possible even with computer gaming added to the equation. All it needs is planning and balancing productivity with rest and recreation.
Monitor your kids
Another way to attain a healthy computer gaming routine is by monitoring what games your kids are playing. As much as possible, try to avoid letting them play violent games at a very young age.
Young kids are still in their formative years and seeing a lot of violence on a daily basis might lead them to project this attitude in real life. You can try to find fun alternatives that will boost their creativity instead of letting them play those that promote violent behavior.
If your kids like playing Minecraft, you can let them play the creative one instead of the survival one. Monitoring your kids is important because what they do in their younger years will be carried over to their teenage and adult years.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Some kids play 4 hours or even up to 8 hours of computer games daily, especially during their vacation time. This would often lead to sickness, getting a blurry vision, and a lack of social skills.
Parents and their kids would also often fight for trying to get their children to go outside of the house to play and socialize with other kids their age. If it has come to this and you feel like your relationship with your child is slowly crumbling away, then seek the help of an expert who can help your child get through their computer game addiction.
Play a game together
Playing a computer game with your child can actually offer a chance to bond. It can open up chances for other conversations about school and what is going on in their lives.
You can invite one of your child’s friends over and have them join in on the fun too! You can all play the most played pc games together!
Playing with another player in person instead of just talking online is a far better way to socialize. It offers a chance at healthy computer gaming. Instead of viewing computer games as the enemy, you can actually view them as a friend that can help you understand your child even better.
Offer incentives
Last but not least, offer incentives. Kids love playing games because they’d get coins or trophies whenever they win. Giving your kids an incentive every time they do something else rather than play games would push them to focus on the task at hand knowing that they will get rewarded in the end.
Takeaway
Achieving a healthy computer gaming routine may be challenging, but not impossible. There are lots of things to do which do not require a computer screen and which could help your kids learn new skills which can be useful in life. All you have to do is get creative.