Lesson 8

Lesson 8: Gaming, Addictions and School Refusal

Introduction

In this Lesson, we will delve into the complex relationship between gaming and school attendance, exploring how excessive gaming can contribute to school refusal behaviors and potential addictions. In our experience gaming is a BIG problem and many parents are at their wits’ end trying to deal with the issue, which is why we’ve included a Lesson just on this topic. If it’s not an issue in your home you can skip this module, or stay and increase your learning to help others. We will equip parents with the knowledge and strategies to identify gaming-related issues (and most addiction issues), address them effectively, and guide their children towards a healthier balance between gaming and their overall well-being.

Objectives

Understand the impact of gaming on child attendance and potential addictions.
Identify signs and symptoms of gaming-related issues in children.
Develop effective strategies to address gaming-related concerns and promote a healthy balance between gaming and other aspects of life.
Learn techniques for communicating with children about gaming habits and establishing clear boundaries.
Explore resources and support systems available to parents dealing with gaming-related challenges in their children.

What is Gaming Addiction?

Addiction is a complex phenomenon that can develop in various forms, including gaming addiction. The transition from casual gaming to addiction often involves a gradual process, influenced by a combination of individual and environmental factors.

One of the key factors contributing to gaming addiction is the reinforcing nature of gaming activities. Games are designed to be engaging and stimulating, providing a sense of accomplishment and reward. This positive reinforcement can lead to increased cravings and a desire to continue playing, even when it conflicts with other responsibilities or causes negative consequences such as a lack of sleep.

Another factor that contributes to gaming addiction is the potential for escapism that gaming provides. Games can offer a temporary escape from the stresses and challenges of daily life, providing a sense of control and mastery that may be lacking in other areas. This escapism can become addictive, leading to a reliance on gaming to cope with difficult emotions or avoid unpleasant situations.

Factors contributing to the impact of gaming on a child’s school attendance:

Escapism and Gratification: Gaming can provide an escape from the challenges and responsibilities of daily life, offering instant gratification and a sense of accomplishment. This can make it difficult for children to focus on schoolwork and other obligations.
Social Connections and Competition: Online gaming platforms often provide opportunities for social interaction and competition, which can be particularly appealing to children seeking belonging and peer acceptance. This can lead to prioritizing gaming over school activities and social interactions with non-gaming peers.
Addiction and Loss of Control: Excessive gaming can lead to addiction, characterized by an uncontrollable urge to engage in gaming despite negative consequences. This can result in a loss of control over gaming habits, leading to neglecting schoolwork and other important responsibilities.
Lack of sleep: If your child is allowed to game into the night, it will often result in them not getting enough sleep and not wanting to wake early in the morning to go to school. This is a common symptom if the child does not have a specified bed time, and/or they are allowed to game in their rooms without parental control.

Identifying Gaming-Related Issues

Parents can recognize signs and symptoms that suggest their child may be struggling with gaming-related issues:

Changes in Mood and Behavior: Noticeable changes in mood, such as increased irritability, anxiety, or social withdrawal, can indicate that gaming is affecting a child’s emotional well-being.
Sleep Disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or excessive sleepiness during the day can be signs that gaming is interfering with healthy sleep patterns.
Academic Decline: A sudden decline in academic performance, missed assignments, and lack of interest in school activities can be red flags that gaming is impacting a child’s schoolwork.
Neglect of Other Activities: A loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, such as sports, hobbies, or social interactions, can indicate that gaming is taking over a child’s life.

Impact of Online Gaming on a Child’s Mood and Behavior

Online gaming has become a popular form of entertainment and socialization for children and adolescents. While gaming can offer benefits such as mental stimulation and social interaction, exposure to inappropriate content and interactions with adults can have detrimental effects on a child’s mood and behavior.

When children engage in online gaming with adults, they are exposed to a wider range of language, behaviors, and social norms than they may encounter in their everyday lives. This exposure can lead to the modeling of inappropriate behaviors, including swearing, bullying, and aggression.

Children are particularly susceptible to modeling behavior from adults, as they view adults as authority figures and sources of knowledge. When they observe adults engaging in inappropriate behaviors, they may perceive these actions as acceptable and adopt them into their own behavior. It is imperative that any inappropriate behaviors be punished using the strategies mentioned previously in this Course (See Lessons 1 – 3) and below.

Swearing and bullying can significantly impact a child’s mood, leading to feelings of anger, frustration, and sadness. These negative emotions can interfere with a child’s ability to regulate their emotions, cope with stress, and maintain a positive outlook.

Operant Conditioning to change gaming behaviors

Positive reinforcement

As we learned previously, Positive Reinforcement involves rewarding desired behaviors to increase their likelihood of recurring. When a child exhibits positive behaviors, such as limiting gaming time, using appropriate language, or demonstrating self-control, parents can provide positive reinforcement. This could include praise, privileges, or special treats.

Examples of positive reinforcement for gaming:

Praise: “I’m so proud of you for sticking to your gaming time limits today.”
Privileges: “You’ve been using appropriate language lately, so you can earn an extra hour of gaming time this weekend.”
Special treats: “You’ve done a great job managing your anger today. Let’s go out for ice cream to celebrate.”

Negative Punishment

Negative punishment involves removing a stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a bad behavior. When a child exhibits negative behaviors such as excessive gaming, using bad language, or being aggressive, parents can remove something to encourage a change in behavior.

Examples of negative Punishment for gaming:

Natural consequences: “If you continue to play video games beyond your allotted time, you’ll lose access to your gaming devices until the next day.”
Removal of privileges: “If you use bad language again, you’ll lose your TV privileges for the rest of the evening.”
Time-outs: “If you continue to be aggressive, you’ll need to take a time-out until you can calm down.” **

***NOTE: Putting a child in time-out is a great strategy, but a time-out in their bedroom will NOT act as a deterrent as that is ‘their space’, usually with lots of screens and fun things to do, so it is not an effective strategy. Think about where in your home would act as a deterrent to bad behavior eg. The bathroom with no screens for half an hour with an apology.

Timing and Consistency

The timing and consistency of reinforcement are crucial for effective behavior change. Parents should provide reinforcement promptly after the desired behavior occurs to establish a clear association between the behavior and the consequence. Additionally, parents should maintain consistent reinforcement patterns to ensure that the child understands the expectations and consequences of their actions.

Open Communication and Collaboration

Operant Conditioning should be implemented in a collaborative and supportive manner. Parents should openly discuss their expectations and the implementation of reinforcement techniques with their children. This open communication can help children understand the reasons behind the rules and encourage their cooperation in modifying their behavior.

Seeking Professional Support

If parents encounter difficulties in implementing Operant Conditioning techniques or if a child’s gaming or aggressive behaviors persist despite intervention, seeking professional support from a therapist or counselor is recommended. These professionals can provide individualized guidance and support in developing effective behavior modification strategies.

Remember, the goal of Operant Conditioning is not to punish or control children but rather to promote positive behaviors, encourage self-regulation, and foster a healthy and supportive environment for children’s growth and development.

Practical Strategies

Gaming has become a popular form of entertainment, particularly among children and adolescents. While gaming can offer a range of benefits, such as enhancing cognitive skills and promoting social interaction, excessive gaming can have detrimental effects on a child’s overall well-being, including their academic performance, social relationships, and mental health.

Parents and educators play a crucial role in helping children develop a healthy relationship with gaming and preventing potential negative consequences. Here are some effective strategies to address gaming-related concerns and promote a healthy balance:

Establish Clear Boundaries and Limits:

Here are some practical strategies for parents to help their child reduce gaming time and develop a healthier relationship with gaming:

Set Daily Limits: Determine an appropriate amount of gaming time for your child, considering their age, schoolwork, and other activities. Write a Daily Schedule with your child to set clear boundaries of your expectations (more about this in the Homework Section).
Schedule Gaming Breaks: Incorporate regular breaks into gaming sessions to avoid prolonged exposure and encourage physical activity or non-gaming activities.
Designate Gaming-Free Zones: Establish certain areas in the home, such as bedrooms and dining areas, as gaming-free zones to promote focus on other activities.

Utilize Parental Control Tools:

Employ Parental Control Software: Install parental control software on gaming devices or routers to restrict gaming time, monitor online activity, and filter content.
Manage Internet Access: Set time limits for internet access, particularly during school hours and bedtime, to reduce opportunities for gaming.
Implement Password Restrictions: Change passwords regularly and only provide access to gaming devices when chores are completed or other responsibilities are fulfilled.

Encourage Non-Gaming Activities:

Foster Diverse Interests: Encourage children to explore and develop a variety of interests beyond gaming, such as sports, hobbies, creative pursuits, and social activities. This helps broaden their perspectives, develop new skills, and foster a balanced lifestyle.
Promote Physical Activity: Encourage regular physical activity and outdoor time to counteract the sedentary nature of gaming. Engage children in sports, team activities, or outdoor games to promote physical fitness, social interaction, and stress reduction.
Encourage Social Interaction: Facilitate opportunities for children to connect with friends and engage in non-gaming social activities. Encourage participation in clubs, groups, or community events to foster healthy social interactions.
Promote Creative Expression: Encourage children to engage in creative activities, such as writing, art, music, or drama, to foster self-expression, imagination, and problem-solving skills.
Engage in Shared Activities: Plan and participate in family activities that don’t involve gaming, such as board games, movie nights, outdoor adventures, or cooking together. These shared experiences strengthen family bonds and create positive memories.

Maintain Open Communication and Positive Reinforcement:

Establish Open Dialogue: Maintain open and honest communication with your child about their gaming habits, expressing concerns without judgment or criticism. Active listening and empathy are essential to build trust and understanding.
Focus on Positive Behaviors: Emphasize positive behaviors, such as adhering to gaming limits, engaging in non-gaming activities, and demonstrating responsibility. Acknowledge and praise their efforts to encourage continued progress.
Avoid Negative Labels: Refrain from using negative labels or making comparisons to other children. Instead, focus on addressing specific behaviors and their consequences in a constructive manner.

Exercises:

Using the strategies above, and some of your own, write down other strategies that might be effective to deal with these addictive behaviors.

Case Study:

Ten-year-old Alex spends excessive time playing video games, often staying up late to play and neglecting his schoolwork. His parents notice a decline in his academic performance and difficulty waking up in the morning. They decide to implement a daily gaming schedule, limiting Alex’s gaming time to two hours after schoolwork and homework are completed. They also designate the living room as a gaming-free zone, encouraging family interaction and shared activities.

Case Study:

Sarah, a 12-year-old avid gamer, often prioritizes gaming over social interactions and extracurricular activities. Her parents encourage her to join the school’s drama club, where she discovers a passion for acting and makes new friends. They also plan regular family movie nights and weekend outings to encourage shared experiences and reduce Sarah’s reliance on gaming for entertainment.

Case Study:

Liam, a 14-year-old gamer, struggles to manage his gaming time. His parents implement a reward system, where Liam earns points for completing chores, participating in non-gaming activities, and adhering to gaming limits. These points can be exchanged for privileges, such as extended gaming time or special outings.

Case Study:

Mark, a 16-year-old gamer, experiences intense anxiety and social isolation due to his excessive gaming habits. His parents seek professional help from a therapist who specializes in gaming addiction. Through therapy, Mark learns to manage his gaming habits, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and improve his social interactions.

Addressing gaming-related concerns and promoting a healthy balance requires a collaborative effort from parents, educators, and mental health professionals. By implementing effective strategies, fostering open communication, and providing support when needed, we can help children develop a healthy relationship with gaming and thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Conclusion

Addressing gaming addiction in children requires a collaborative effort from parents, educators, and mental health professionals. By implementing effective strategies, fostering open communication, and providing support when needed, we can help children develop a healthy relationship with gaming and thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Please don’t forget to do the Homework and we’ll see you in Lesson 9 for a bunch of awesome parenting tips to help you create a more harmonious home (bliss). We encourage you to have your say in the private Facebook Page or the Forum and chat to other parents who are facing the same issues.