Side Effects of Video Games : Nowadays children are spending more time on smartphones or laptops than on the playground. They have become addicted to playing video games. They like to sit in a room and play games all day. This is having the biggest impact on their brains. Their mental health is deteriorating. Due to video games they are getting completely disconnected from family and society.
Many parents are also troubled by this habit of their children. Despite many efforts, they are not able to change this habit of their children. In such a situation, let us know how children’s mental health is being affected by playing video games, what should parents do to get rid of this addiction…
Effect of video games on mental health of children
1. Being mentally weak
Children often play video games on their mobile phones for a long time without blinking. This disturbs their concentration and their brain starts losing its ability to function properly. This causes headaches, restlessness and a feeling of heaviness. This makes them lose interest in their studies. Video games keep playing in their minds all the time.
2. Irritability
Using gadgets or playing video games continuously puts a lot of pressure on the brain of children. This causes headache and heaviness in the mind. Due to which they start feeling irritable while talking to parents, family or friends. Due to games, their mind is not focused on anything else.
3. Stress-insomnia
Many children play online games till late at night. This has a bad effect on their eyes. They start having dryness and pain in their eyes. They also start having headaches. Due to which they are unable to sleep and have trouble getting up in the morning. The entire routine of the children gets spoiled and they are unable to do any work with their heart.
4. Loneliness
Due to video game addiction, children start feeling lonely because most of their time is spent playing video games and not with friends or family. This makes them feel sad and they become emotionally weak by considering themselves different from everyone else. They are not able to share their feelings with anyone.
5. Away from family and friends
When children are busy playing video games, they prefer to do everything in one room. They eat alone and not with their parents or family. Not only this, they do not go out to play with their friends, which helps in their physical, mental and social growth. By being busy in video games, they get cut off from everyone and later loneliness starts dominating them.
6. Not being able to share your thoughts
Due to video games, the social circle of children starts shrinking. They hesitate to talk to anyone. They are unable to answer any question properly. They hesitate about everything in school as well. They run away from any kind of conversation and are unable to even share their feelings.
How to get rid of video game addiction in kids
1. Try to reduce their screen time. Do not let them use the phone for more than two hours.
2. Explain things to him/her lovingly, teach him/her gardening, get him/her to do small kitchen chores.
3. Ask them to go play with their friends. Be a part of it yourself.
4. Try to only read or watch good content on the phone.
5. Instead of using the phone, try to talk to children as much as possible.
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