The excessive use of video games in children in times of COVID

How to manage excessive video game use in children and adolescents in the face of the pandemic?

Parents have experienced a recent difficulty in the excessive use of video games at home. In the current context, the limitations to perform social and school recreational activities in a face-to-face manner, has forced everyone to be indoors and stay connected remotely.

In the psychology office, there is an increase in the number of cases of parents requesting help for their children who spend a great amount of hours dedicated to the use of videogamespresenting unsuccessful attempts to moderate this behavior.

The psychological implications of video games

Research carried out by Tejeiro R. showed that the use of video games is fundamental for foster imagination, independence and security in children and adolescents who play them..

In this type of studies, the importance of the parents' work is reflected, in getting involved in these new interests that their children desire, to guide and regulate the type of video game used, focusing on topics that promote their formation in values and personality, trying to avoid those with violent and aggressive content.

However, the excessive use of this entertainment tool can reverse the benefits it can initially provide. One of the usual concerns about video games is the addiction it may cause in your children.

Excessive use of video games in childhood and adolescence.

It has been observed that children and adolescents whose daily routines do not include the practice of physical activity, or whose parents spend very little time with them, are at a higher risk of excessive use of video games..

Finding different interests, such as doing a sports activity, cooking creatively, discussing readings, watching programs or movies together, playing board games, creating art or crafts (such as painting, plasticine, playing an instrument...), or going out to parks or natural spaces, can be an alternative to modulate the behavior of children in front of video games.

Uncontrolled use of video games can contribute to the appearance of attention and concentration disorders, physical or emotional discomfort, as well as induce lifestyles associated with obesity, difficulty in developing discipline, and increase the frequency of poor school performance,

Other factors that influence the uncontrolled use of video games are family problems and interaction styles.

What to do?

Before these cases of children and adolescents that "have been hooked" too much to the video games, part of the strategy that is used in therapy is to offer tools to the parents to modify harmful conducts from a climate of trust, communication, affection and discovery of new tastes and interests that can awaken in their children..

To mention some of the tactics:

• Daily monitoring or supervision of video game use.
• Agree with them clear rules and allow negotiation that does not affect the development of their activities and their person.
• Increase affective communication by validating and recognizing their achievements in everything they do properly and favorably for their development.
• Demonstration of interest and confidence in every expression they make regarding any subject.
• Clearly marking the recommended use of video game hours to be balanced and compatible with their free time and with experiences that contribute to their optimal development.
• Molding of model behaviors in parents, as a reference of behavior and discipline.
• Encourage their interest in new hobbies that can balance their attention, effort, and time invested.

It is important for the applied strategy that there is congruence between parents' behaviors, and that they promote the model of the behavior they wish to modify in their children, in order to achieve a genuine change.

In addition, it is essential to to adapt parenting and home education strategies to society's current circumstances, as evidenced by the coronavirus pandemic crisis.As evidenced by the coronavirus pandemic crisis, flexibility in this regard is crucial to achieve genuine change. Showing flexibility in this aspect is crucial to favor a good development of children.

Support for children, adolescents and families

In our psychology practice we offer psychotherapy services for people of all ages, face-to-face and also by video call.

For further information, please contact us.