Screen addiction: Primary schoolchildren playing video games up to 18 hours a day

PRIMARY school aged children are playing video games for up to 18 hours a day as a screen addiction epidemic sweeps through Australian homes.

Are your children addicted to screens?

A SCREEN addiction epidemic is sweeping through Australian homes, with some primary school aged children playing video games for up to 18 hours a day.

The fixation on games such as Minecraft has led some children to skip school, lose friendships and take up to 30 minutes to turn off their devices.

Desperate parents have turned to counsellors to help beat the scourge, as child psychiatrists warn that games on video consoles, iPads and iPhones provide a chemical brain hit that makes them so addictive.

SEE TIPS FOR PARENTS TO AVOID SCREEN ADDICTION BELOW

Melbourne youth worker and counsellor Steven Dupon said children who play computer games have an unhealthy compulsive relationship with them.

“There are so many parents concerned and struggling with the gaming behaviours of their kids,” Mr Dupon said.

“Some of these kids play games for 18 hours a day, drop out of school, have horrendous relationships with their parents, friends and at school.”

Melbourne mother Lisa, 48, said her son David, 8* developed a screen addiction when he was recovering from tonsils surgery.

But as his screen use increased, his behaviour became worse. “He would yell, hit out and he was so horribly distressed and thrashing himself about,” she said.

“He knows he’s been excessive and feels terrible shame and embarrassment. He just says `I can’t stop. This is torture. I don’t deserve to live’.”

But after just one week in therapy she finally has a glimmer of hope.

“I’ve been so happy to see a slight interest in his bike again,” she said.

“I’m hanging onto that. He used to have a lot of friends but he’s not interested in anything other than the game.”

WIRED OF WATCHING

BALWYN restaurant owner and mother-of-two Jenni Norden, 44, knows how obsessive children can be about their screens.

Mr Norden (left) closely monitors the time her sons Leroy, 12, and Otis, 7, spend on their various devices.

During the week it’s about 40 minutes on iPads and iPods, but only after several hours of homework and reading. Her attitude is more relaxed on weekends.

“As long as they are up to date they can use their screens,” she said.

“Leroy will be on his desktop watching movies or YouTube or skyping family interstate.

“Otis has an old laptop... but his iPad is the real issue.

“If I didn’t limit it, he’d be there for hours watching the same videos he’s watched hundreds of times already.

“I am sure this generation of kids will have their brains wired differently as a result.”

Jenni Norden tries to wrestle her son Leroy’s laptop and Otis’s iPad away. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Child psychiatrist Dr Philip Tam said video screen addiction was a “nationwide problem.”

“These computer games give kids great rewards and a sense of satisfaction to the point that we’re seeing an epidemic among young people,” Dr Tam said.

“I’m certainly aware there is a big concern among parents and teachers about the over use of various forms of technology.”

Dr Tam said the games are designed on a reward system which gives children a rush of the feel- good hormone dopamine. Unlike other activities such as reading a book or playing the violin, computer games provide instant rewards.

“They offer instant rewards like nothing else that has been invented by humanity. It’s a hyperactive, enormously rewarding experience and children lack the self-reflective capacity to monitor themselves. I’m not against having fun or advocating no games but it’s about getting a healthy balance.”

Bond University’s report,The Digital Australia 2016, found the average time teenage boys, aged 15-24, spent playing video games is 145 minutes or two-and-a-half hours a day.

Source: Digital Australia 2016, Bond University and IGEA.

But child and adolescent psychologist Collett Smart said the amount of time spent on a digital device is less important than what the child is doing on the device.

“I always tell parents that the amount of time spent on screens alone is not a good enough indication of an addiction,” Ms Smart said.

“Essentially, what you have to work out is what your child is looking at online. They could be spending three hours a day on a reading group, not necessarily gaming.”

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE A SCREEN ADDICTION?

(This questionnaire was developed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders working group on gaming disorder)

1. Do you spend a lot of time thinking about games even when you are not playing or planning when you can play next?

2.Do you feel restless, irritable, moody, angry, anxious, or sad when attempting to cut down or stop gaming or when you are unable to play?

3.Do you feel the need to play for increasing amounts of time, play more exciting games, or use more powerful equipment to get the same amount of excitement you used to get?

4.Do you feel that you should play less, but are unable to cut back on the amount of time you spend playing games?

5. Do you lose interest in or reduce participation in other recreational activities (hobbies, meetings with friends) due to gaming?

6.Do you continue to play games even though you are aware of negative consequences, such as not getting enough sleep, being late to school/work, spending too much money, having arguments with others, or neglecting important duties?

7.Do you lie to family, friends or others about how much you game, or try to keep your family or friends from knowing how much you game?

8.Do you game to escape from or forget about personal problems, or to relieve uncomfortable feelings such as guilt, anxiety, helplessness or depression?

9.Do you risk or lose significant relationships, or job, educational or career opportunities because of gaming?

If four or more of these criteria are met within a one-year period, you can conclude that gaming is having a considerable negative impact on your life and professional help is recommended.

Is your child playing too many video games? Picture: iStock/Getty Images

PARENTING TIPS TO AVOID SCREEN ADDICTION

1.Set game specific limits instead of time limits

2.Put the gaming device in the family room and play too. If you understand the game, you’ll find it easier to manage

3.Choose the right game, making sure the content is age appropriate

4.Practice stopping so they get used to ending the game

5.Get help when gaming gets out of hand. Speak to a professional early if you feel you’re losing control

More details: videogames.org.au/parenting and The Parents’ Guide to Gaming by Steven Dupon.

* The names of Lisa Jackson and her son David have been changed to protect their identities.