How to tackle VIDEO GAMES
EXPERT ADVICE TO MANAGE YOUR TEENAGER’S USAGE OF VIDEO GAMES
Earlier this year, Aussie teenager Anathan Pham earned a staggering $4.62 million in prize money, simply by playing video games. However, for the majority of Australian teenagers, video games are more likely to be a pastime than a career path – and for parents, this equates to another media outlet that requires managing.
Psychologist Dr Vasileios Stavropoulos from Melbourne’s Cairnmillar Institute (cairnmillar.edu.au) who has a research interest in gaming disorders, says it’s a mistake to lump all video game play as harmful.
“Some of the potential positive effects of gaming include improved attention skills, increased motor co-ordination, the formation of online friendships and a sense of accomplishment,” explains Dr Stavropoulos.
However, Dr Stavropoulos notes that the design, graphics and responsivity of modern video games coupled with their ability to continuously draw players back in is extremely attractive to the adolescent brain. As a result, parents may feel that their teenagers become
‘addicted’ to video games.
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
There isn’t a set amount of acceptable time for teenagers to play video games, meaning ultimately it is a discretionary decision for families.
However, Dr Stavropoulos says research indicates there are correlations between excessive video game play and a decline in functionality across other adolescent developmental areas, such as academic achievement and socialising with peers.
“Gaming during weekdays should also be significantly lower than playing during the weekend, as this is more often associated with disordered gaming,” Dr Stavropoulos adds.
SIGNS OF UNHEALTHY GAMING
In addition to increased amounts of time playing video games, Dr Stavropoulos says there are behavioural indicators that a teenager’s interest in gaming has gone too far.
“They may be irritable or frustrated when not online,” Dr Stavropoulos explains.
“Or, an adolescent may use gaming to improve the way they feel. For instance, after a school or interpersonal failure, they are directed to gaming.”
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In extreme cases, teenagers may even become physically absent from real-life activities, because they are consumed with playing.
GUIDING GAMEPLAY
Dr Stavropoulos suggests parents check technophobic attitudes and really get to know the context and involvement levels of the video games their children are playing.
“This will help them understand what is it that the adolescent finds attractive.”
If parents feel their teenager’s video game usage has become excessive, Dr Stavropoulos encourages open communication about the issue.
“Every adolescent has a healthy voice and knows when things become problematic - even if they do not admit it.
“Parents should stimulate and reinforce this voice, and highlight the inconsistency between what the adolescent thinks and the way they act.”
In some cases, it may be necessary to enforce external boundaries such as time limitations or even play abstinence, but this needs to be couched alongside an open dialogue.
“Excessive gaming is never the problem. It is the face of the problem,” explains Dr Stavropoulos.
“Something is usually missing in the user’s real life and is compensated by the game’s half-real, half-unreal gaming world.”
FROM ONLINE TO REAL LIFE
While it’s easy to demonise video games, Dr Stavropoulos says one of the under-recognised positives for teenagers is it can be the impetus for real life socialising – particularly for boys.
“This collective participation among adolescents who play the same game provides stimulus for off-line interactions, such as discussions about in-game actions.”