Online Gaming Help for Teens From California

Online Gaming Help that Serves California Teens

At Camp Pocono Trails, we help teens learn how to live life in balance.  We are the premier summer camp for teens that struggle with digital overuse behaviors including help for internet addiction, family discord, and social problems.  

Our program helps teens from California with the following issues:

  • Video Game Addiction
  • Social Media Misuse/Overuse
  • Smartphone Addiction/Internet Addiction
  • Building motivation, setting goals and catching back up on anything the video game addiction has affected.

Located in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, our summer camp for video game addiction also serves California teens.  Our 24/7 overnight program is a viable solution for families seeking the very best option for their teen who overuses video games and related online habits (excessive Youtube watching, online pornography, social media).  

Our summer camp for video game addiction provides help in group and individual therapy to self-reflect and build insight.  Additionally, we help our residents find practical coping skills to align their daily routine with their long-term goals.

It™s not enough for the participant to acknowledge they have a problem- although that is a good starting place.  Campers at our summer camp for video game addiction also leave with the skills and tools to be successful well beyond the structure of Camp Pocono Trails.

We Help California Teens in a Residential Treatment Center Setting

Residential help for video game addiction is uncharted territory for most parents.  Parents today are tasked with raising the very first generation of teenagers immersed in a world of technology.  Screens are everywhere- teens bring internet-connected smartphones to school and often have access to games on the bus, in class, in the lunchroom, and back home again until mom or dad return from work.  For most families, gaming addiction is an issue that requires high levels of intervention.

Most families that come to Camp Pocono Trails have tried just about everything.  Setting limits, taking electronics away, and lecturing have not worked. Even if we were capable of completely eliminating video games in a child’s life, would we be setting the child up for success after high school is over?

Our summer camp for video game addiction is the top option available for most families.  Your child will not just simply be limited in their game usage- they will learn how to implement these limits going forward, and will develop the motivation to limit screen use, so you don™t have to be the screen police.

How Frequently are Campers from California Going Online?

Why we need summer camps for video game addiction is apparent. According to Pew Research 92% of teens report going online daily, of that 24% go online almost constantly.  Now imagine what your child could have accomplished if they used this online time in a productive way- studying for school, making friends, or playing sports to build physical activity. 

22% of teenagers log on to their favorite social media site more than 10 times a day, according to a study in Pediatrics.  The constant checking of social media has been linked to depression and low self-esteem as campers compare themselves with others online.  The feeling of less “likes” or “friends” online can lead to a reinforcement of these negative feelings.

To the teenager, it can feel like video games are the only escape or the only way to connect.  Our summer camp for video game addiction will provide opportunities for in-person interaction so that your child can catch up socially with their peers and learn to feel successful offline.

According to Nielson, the average American devotes about 10 hours and 39 minutes each day to consuming media “ 65% of awake hours.  For college campers, it’s especially worrisome, as Science Daily reports female college campers spend 62% of waking hours on cell phones (males 50%).

Early intervention is the key, as research has found these habits begin in the teen years. 90% of 9th-grade girls and 70% of boys in one study used screens for more than 2-hours per day.

Who does Camp Pocono Trails help?

Camp Pocono Trails helps teens struggling with issues similar to those below:
– Anxiety
– Video game addiction
– Addictive Behaviors
– Social isolation
– Social Anxiety Disorder
– Technology Addiction
– Social Issues
– Low Self Esteem
– ADHD
– Impulse Control
– Trauma
– Family Conflict
– Autism Spectrum
– Poor Communication Skills
– School Refusal
– Depression

Resources

Online Gaming Help: First Steps with the Xbox

As parents, our job is to prepare our children for the independence of adulthood.  Below is a valuable resource for parents you may want to try as a first step:

Xbox LIVE Healthy Gaming Guide

This guide is designed to help you be safe and comfortable while using your Xbox 360™ and Xbox® to play video games.

Things to consider:

  • Position: Make sure your position is not encouraging discomfort.
  • Forces: Even low forces can cause injury, especially when repeated over time.
  • Breaks: Stepping away at regular intervals is important.
  • Health: Keep a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
  • Tools for Families: Find out how to use ratings, parental controls, and more.

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/Live/HealthyGamingGuide

 

Online Gaming Help: The Basics of Safety


One important tip for video games or online digital media is to watch it or play together with your child.  Do not let your child keep their game system in their bedroom. Instead, keep your video game system in shared family spaces to stay familiar with how your children are using it. You can assist your student to make smart entertainment choices by discussing the game or media together.  One good way to start is to watch a Youtube œplaythrough video before you purchase a game.

Communicate. Make online activity a daily topic of conversation.  Ask your children questions about playing new games, meeting new people online, favorite websites and other interests. Encourage your child to ask questions, too.

Set guidelines. Determine what video gaming and online rules work best for your family, and work with your children to establish technology rules.  Examine if violence is part of the game your child wants to play. How often does violence appear? Is it rewarded in some way? It™s up to individual families to make the right choices for their child in regards to what they want their student exposed to.

Camp Pocono Trails helps families from California

Camp Pocono Trails helps California families from cities and towns like Atherton Los Altos Hills Hillsborough Portola Valley Belvedere Rolling Hills Woodside Beverly Hills Montecito Hidden Hills