Digital gaming and modern parenting

2471 000 000.

That is the estimated number of gamers in the world presently, which is roughly a third of the global population. It may surprise you further that you, as a parent, fall within an age group that generally games more than high school students. According to Gough(2018), adults between the ages of 30 and 49 game more frequently than children. 

With the onset of online multiplayer games, gaming has becoming a global community and is arguably more social than face to face contact for many people. It is a lot of fun for many and is a motivating factor for many children and adolescents. 

But with Twitch and Steam, PUBG and Fortnite, there is a lot out there that parents need to be clued up on to stay connected. Is Minecraft good or not? How much gaming is too much? More and more, parents are becoming aware of the impact of screen time and also have concerns that violent video games result in aggressive behaviour. So let’s take a quick snap shot.

Things you need to know

The gaming industry is massive and it is growing exponentially. This means that gaming is here to stay and learning how to navigate it is every modern parent’s issue to tackle. 

 Gaming has great benefits. Research shows that it improves response time and gamers generally have better attention to detail. They have higher performance on perceptual tasks and there is a positive correlation with gaming and memory (Bavelier, 2014).

Gaming is considered social. Anderson (2018) states that 66% of gamers report making at least 5 friends whilst gaming. As many as 44% report that it makes them happy.

Online gaming can be educational and if used to channel real-world skills, the learning opportunities that games provide are endless (check out TEDx by Jane McGonical).

Gaming is also a concerning habit if over used.

Games often have a lot of violence, but research shows that the causal links to aggression and violence are not direct. No conclusions regarding the causal links between gaming and aggression can be made as yet (Ferguson, 2019). However, consistent exposure to violent material is not as emotionally uplifting as, say, perhaps a fun family games night. So these things need to be balanced.

 Any form of screen time in excess is a concern - for you and for your children. It impacts your sleep quality and dopamine levels, which ultimately has a negative impact on your happiness (Dunkley, 2015). Awareness and moderation is key.

Excessive gaming (and screen time in general) can result in speech delays and decreased attention spans (Lynch, 2018).

Things you can do

Try not to overeact. Remember that they are playing games because it is fun for them.

It is most likely that your children are gaming in some form. Ask them about it and get involved in their games - it will be fun for them to teach you how to play with them.

Balance is key. Spend time gaming with your kids and also spend time outside with them. Show them how to enjoy both and try not to shame them for their enjoyment in digital gaming. 

Games have age restrictions, just like movies. It is important to look them up and restrict if necessary. Some useful resources for parents will be listed below. 

Restrict gaming to the family space for easier monitoring. 

A note on screen time generally

If you have children under the age of 18 months, it is best to avoid screen time altogether. Children between 18 months and 5 years of age shouldn’t watch more than an hour a day and it is advised that you co-watch top quality programmes. For kids over the age of 6 years, there is no specific guideline, but ask yourself this: “what is this screen time taking time away from?” (AAP, 2016). If it is taking excessive time away from other forms of play, try balance the day more effectively. 

Model behaviour to your children - limit your own screen time and explain to them why it is important. 

Teach your children about internet safety and make sure they know not to give out any personal information. 

Make contact with your nearest health care professional if you are concerned about addiction and the safety of your child.

Top notch resources

•  Screen-Free Parenting

• Common Sense Media

• Qustodio 

Sources:

AAP. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-Announces-New-Recommendations-for-Childrens-Media-Use.aspx

Anderson, K. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinanderton/2018/06/25/the-impact-of-gaming-a-benefit-to-society-infographic/#55512d8a269d

Bavelier, D. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/daphne_bavelier_your_brain_on_video_games?language=en 

Dunckley, V. (2015). Retrieved from  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-wealth/201508/screentime-is-making-kids-moody-crazy-and-lazy

Gough, C. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/819412/share-consumers-play-games-frequent-age/

Gough, C. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/748044/number-video-gamers-world/

Lynch, M. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.thetechedvocate.org/can-too-much-screen-time-cause-developmental-delays-in-young-children/

Photo by Kelly Sikkemaon Unsplash