What Effect Does Video Gaming Have on my Rhode Island Teen and is Video Game Addiction Help Needed?
Our Pennsylvania-based video game rehab exists because 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.
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.
One advantage our video game rehab has over outpatient therapy is that we can use a group format to address issues. Our campers are immersed in a healthy, structured environment. We let our campers naturally gravitate towards hobbies and interests they want to explore to take place of screen-based activity. The good news is that help at our video game rehab can be quite fun. We show teens there is a whole other world out there apart from video games.
Looking for a Video Game Addiction Help? A Place for Rhode Island Families to Start
Located in Pennsylvania in the Poconos, our video game rehab offers Rhode Island families effective options for creating life changes. Many parents that enroll their child at Camp Pocono Trails try in-home interventions first. A behavioral contract can work, but parents need to remember that a contract is like a marriage. Both parties need to agree. You can’t just force the rules upon your child. Ask them what they want to work for, and how much time is reasonable to play online after homework is done.
The key to taking back control of the media in your home is to make agreements ahead of time before the video game ever goes on. There should be a clear agreement that spells out the limits and rules about the use of the game. Make it a family rule that your teen must make a schedule before they turn on the game system. Have your teen write down exactly what time they will play from and when the game system needs to be turned off.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization that provides independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media. Its website includes recommendations for age-appropriate content and advice for parents who have concerns about their children and social media/technology.
American Academy of Pediatrics provides a customized “Family Media Plan,” which helps craft a realistic schedule for screen time, taking into account educational requirements, extra-curricular activities, household chores, and other items determined by the family.
However, is gaming is an ongoing source of tension in your family, you may be beyond the stage of trying an in-home intervention. If any attempt to curb your teen’s video game use or cellphone/computer use results in a heated argument, please give us a call today.
Consider the Future Cost of Doing Nothing
We know that teens who play online excessively have lower self-esteem, read less, and score lower on tests. Sitting for long periods of time can result in weight and health issues. Missing out on face-to-face interactions can set your child behind socially.
Teens face many challenges today. Some believe they will be the next Youtube star, or the next champion video game player. Parents often have difficulty arguing this logic with their teen. At Camp Pocono Trails we can introduce your child to more realistic life pursuits in a supportive atmosphere.
At Camp Pocono Trails, we focus on teaching coping skills and develop insight- something no pill has the ability to do. We also take a positive approach. We don’t see your child as “broken,” they simply need to learn new skills and develop new habits. Punitive programs that seek to tear a child down and rebuild them can result in a child simply pushing back harder than before.
Who does Camp Pocono Trails help?
Camp Pocono Trails helps teens struggling with issues similar to those below:
– Family Conflict
– Impulse Control
– Video game addiction
– Addictive Behaviors
– Low Self Esteem
– ADHD
– Poor Communication Skills
– Technology Addiction
– Depression
– Social Issues
– Trauma
– Social Anxiety Disorder
– Social isolation
– Autism Spectrum
– Anxiety
– School Refusal
Resources
Video Game Addiction Help Resource: Setting up Controls on Your Apple Computer and Phone
Apple brand products offer some of the best and hardest to get around controls for parents.
You can learn how to set up parental controls for Apple products here: https://support.apple.com/kb/ph18571?locale=en_US
As a parent, you want your kids to have a safe and happy experience on the Mac. Using Parental Controls preferences, you can manage, monitor, and control the time your kids spend on the Mac, the websites they visit, and the people they chat with. After you set restrictions for a child using a Mac, you can manage parental controls from a different Mac. Both computers must be on the same network.
Video Game Addiction Help Resource: Smartphone and Tablet Resources
Kids are becoming increasingly tech-savvy these days. It’s hard for us as parents to keep up. At Camp Pocono Trails we’ve heard it all – campers bypassing routers, logging on to friend’s routers next door, creating proxies, you name it and we’ve heard it!
Here are some resources specifically for smartphones and tablets. These devices are especially problematic for parents because they are portable and you can’t just block them through your router if your child is connecting at school or a friend’s house:
Android Devices: https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/google-android/android-parental-controls-3461359/
Apple Products: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304
Google Play Store: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/1075738?hl=en
Camp Pocono Trails Helps Rhode Island Families From Cities Such As:
Some examples of cities from Rhode Island which may have families who could use Camp Pocono Trails: Providence Warwick Cranston Pawtucket Jamestown