New Jersey Teens Who Need Gaming Addiction Help

The need for video game disorder help is apparent when looking at recent statistics. 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. 

Teens may become addicted to video games for different reasons.  Some enjoy a game that satisfies the need for control, bestows a sense of one’s progress, and fosters relationships with friends and others encountered. Yet gamers differ in their individual needs. Each person has their own “player personality” and this variation has spawned a vast industry designed to meet different motivations. Some may want to release aggression, escape reality or oversee building projects.

Others are more motivated by in-game rewards, or have a high “loss aversion” and so find a challenging game unfair or frustrating (while others find it thrilling).  Social media has been gamified as well. 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.

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.

Gaming Addiction Help Program that Serves New Jersey Teens

Located in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, we serve New Jersey 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).  

Video game disorder help is becoming more common because video games are designed to be habit-forming.  Overall, the video game industry generates over $100 billion dollars in revenue per year. Video game designers, like anyone else trying to make a profit, are always looking for ways to get more people playing their games. They accomplish this by making a game just challenging enough to keep you coming back for more but not so hard that the player eventually gives up.

At Camp Pocono Trails, we help teens learn how to live life in balance so that video games are not taking over your teen’s life.  We are the premier video game disorder help program for teens that struggle with digital overuse behaviors including help for internet addiction, family discord, and social problems.  

Camp Pocono Trails Provides Help for New Jersey Teens Needing Gaming Addiction Help

At Camp Pocono Trails, therapists, counselors, nursing and activity staff all work together as a multidisciplinary team to help your child.  By participating in positive peer culture, campers learn how to socialize appropriately and interact in the real world without the use of screens. Over time we will reintroduce your student to screens in a slow, systematic manner.  

We also work with families on how to manage your screen activity as a role model back home.  One effective way to change screen behaviors in your child long-term is to role model. When having a conversation with your child, give them your full attention and be sure you are not also using your iPad or phone.  Don™t check your phone when driving. Don™t check devices while at dinner.

Video game disorder help is only effective if the parents are role modeling the behaviors they want to see with their child.  Children will be more inclined to read if they see a parent reading. They will be more inclined to exercise if they see a parent exercising.  Find a hobby or activity your child might be interested in doing where you can spend time together in lieu of video game playing or browsing the internet.  Researchers also recommend replacing fast-paced recreational games with educational games.

Who does Camp Pocono Trails help?

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

Resources

Gaming Addiction Help: Limit Activity with Microsoft Family

Think about it- if you just limit your child’s use of technology at home, how likely will they be able to manage their use independently when they go off to college, or when they move out of the house and start their first job?  Below is a resource to help your child develop structure, but without the intrinsic motivation to change, you setting up limits alone may only go so far.

Microsoft Family: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12413/microsoft-account-what-is-family

Microsoft family is just one of the many benefits of having a Microsoft account. It™s a free service that helps families stay connected, and keep kids safer on Windows 10 and Xbox One devices, along with Android devices running Microsoft Launcher. You™ll find settings like activity reporting, screen time limits, location sharing, and content restrictions on account.microsoft.com/family, where you can also track kids’ spending and add money to their Microsoft accounts.

Follow Online Safety Tips for Teens With Gaming Addiction Help
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 New Jersey

Camp Pocono Trails helps New Jersey families from cities and towns like Deal Sea Girt Saddle River Spring Lake Stone Harbor Bay Head Englewood Cliffs Rumson Harding Township Avalon