why you may want to stop telling your kids to stop playing video games

But even if they don’t quite fit the diagnosis criteria, they might be on that screen-studded path toward video game addiction.

Most likely, your kids aren’t suffering from full-blown gaming disorder at this point. It’s most prevalent among males aged 12 – 20, but anyone can experience it. Yet it’s so mainstream that gaming disorder is now considered an official mental health condition officially added to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).Īccording to the World Health Organization, gaming disorder is defined as “a pattern of gaming behavior (digital gaming or video gaming) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.” Individuals with gaming disorder show a pattern of behavior that significantly impairs personal, social, educational, occupational, or other important aspects of their lives for at least 12 months. Video game addiction is nothing to smile about – especially when it affects your kids. But when the game is almost always on – literally – you may be facing more than just your child’s fun and games. Game on! It’s a fun expression used to indicate that a game or competition is about to begin.

Why you may want to stop telling your kids to stop playing video games