Online Gaming Help for Teens From Idaho
Online Gaming Help for Idaho Teens
Idaho families seek our summer camp for video game addiction because of our unique ability to adapt to the academic curriculum for Idaho campers. Our residential video game addiction help center helps campers develop the internal drive and motivation to focus on academics- not the latest video game.
At the core of our summer camp is the belief that help should not be punitive. We take a natural approach, reconnecting teens with nature, friends, and themselves over time. Video game addiction help is not a simple as taking away the student’s video game system. Screens are everywhere, and teens have become very sophisticated at bypassing
One thing we hear a lot at Camp Pocono Trails is a child’s belief that, All my friends are online, so if you take this away from me, I would be all alone. Video game addiction help is not an all-or-nothing issue. At Camp Pocono Trails, we take a harm reduction approach. This means educating the student on the harmful effects of certain online activities including:
- Online pornography
- Video game violence
- How violence is portrayed in certain games
- How gender roles are portrayed in certain games
- How playing games without set boundaries can interfere with academics, social practice, or achieving your life goals
Using a harm reduction approach, Camp Pocono Trails campers become enlightened as to the habit-forming qualities of video games and social media, in addition to how exposure to different types of online media can change your perceptions of violence or gender roles.
Components of Online Gaming Help
Teens at Camp Pocono Trails receive individual and group therapy for video game addiction and internet overuse habits. We have licensed therapists helping teens develop insight and commit to new routines in life.
We also have family therapy sessions where we help parents best support their teen upon their transition home from Camp Pocono Trails. We discuss in family sessions how parents can reinforce positive feelings when a child sticks to their behavioral contract and we also encourage parents to reinforce negative feelings when the child fails to live up to behavioral expectations.
At Camp Pocono Trails, we focus on meeting each student’s individual needs. We use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a phase progression model. According to Maslow, humans need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance among social groups, regardless of whether these groups are large or small. For example, some large social groups may include clubs, co-workers, religious groups, professional organizations, sports teams, gangs, and online communities. Some examples of small social connections include family members, intimate partners, mentors, colleagues, and confidants.
Humans need to love and be loved by others. Many people become susceptible to loneliness, social anxiety, and clinical depression in the absence of this love or belonging element. This need for belonging may overcome the physiological and security needs, depending on the strength of the peer pressure.
By creating a positive peer environment, your teen to connect with others in a face-to-face setting- without the use of screens.
Residential Treatment Centers for Idaho Teens with Video Game Addictions
Our Pennsylvania based summer camp for video game addictions specializes in getting teens off their screens and back in life. Gaming or video game addiction is very hard to treat. In one surprising study, In one study 84% of addicted gamers were still addicted two years later, demonstrating how difficult gaming addiction is to treat. In the same study, 7% of online gamers were classified as psychologically or behaviorally dependent on online gaming.
This begs the question, “why is gaming so addictive?” According to research in the Journal of Mental Health and Addiction 41% of people who play online video games do so as an, “escape from the real world.” While a temporary escape can be healthy (like watching a movie or going on vacation) escaping when there is schoolwork or chores to be done can be damaging. If your child is choosing video games over interacting with others face to face, a summer camp for video game addiction may be the answer.
There is much debate currently about the effect of video game violence on the real world. According to a study in Pediatrics, as much as 20% of real-life violence may be attributable to media violence. Why is this? Researchers speculate that there is a two-fold issue here. First, constant exposure to video game violence decreases our sensitivity to real-world violence. Seeing a fight at school might seem more normal to a child that has been exposed to ongoing video game violence, making them less likely to intervene or even more likely to instigate violence themselves.
Who does Camp Pocono Trails help?
Camp Pocono Trails helps teens struggling with issues similar to those below:
– School Refusal
– Video game addiction
– Depression
– Social isolation
– Anxiety
– Technology Addiction
– Trauma
– Low Self Esteem
– Social Issues
– Impulse Control
– Autism Spectrum
– Family Conflict
– ADHD
– Poor Communication Skills
– Addictive Behaviors
– Social Anxiety Disorder
Resources
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 playthrough 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? Its up to individual families to make the right choices for their child in regards to what they want their student exposed to.
Online Gaming Help: Know Your ESBR Ratings
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is the non-profit, self-regulatory body that assigns ratings for video games and apps so parents can make informed choices. The ESRB rating system encompasses guidance about age-appropriateness, content, and interactive elements.
As part of its self-regulatory role for the video game industry, the ESRB also enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines and helps ensure responsible web and mobile privacy practices under its Privacy Certified program. ESRB was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
Camp Pocono Trails helps families from Idaho
Camp Pocono Trails helps Idaho families from cities and towns like Eagle Victor Star Meridian Moyie Springs Garden City Boise Melba Lewiston Preston