Break your child's computer-game addiction
ANIJIRA ASSAVANONDA
We're now in a world where the Internet and computers have a great influence on the lives of people. The impacts of a computer on our children is also unavoidable. As a result, most children spend hours in front of a computer, playing games when they should be outdoors playing some sport.
Some are so addicted they cannot perform their daily routine. If banned from using the computer at home, few children turn to the abundant Internet cafe's.
If you have children who are addicted to computer games, the first step is to find out why they are addicted to them.
Easy addiction
If you ask children what glues them to computer games, the answer is most likely to be, "Because it's fun."
To help you better understand the causes of the problem, Dr Bundit Sornpaisarn, director of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rajanagarindra Institute (Camri), has linked this addiction to two major factors - human nature and the environment.
- Human nature
"Children always seek happiness and success in life, and computer games respond directly to their needs. Playing games is fun for children. Besides, games are challenging. When the children win, they feel proud and successful," said Dr Bundit.
This success comes easily when compared to achievement in education or other aspects of life.
"Many children addicted to computer games are losers at home or at school. They might be poor students and can often be lazy children, who are blamed by their parents for lacking responsibility and discipline. But no matter what kind of people they are in reality, they are virtual heroes. When they win, the game honours and rewards them," said Dr Bundit.
He added the changing world also causes adults, including children, to get used to instant happiness, and computer games provides it.
Parents' lack of time to look after children is another factor. Since most parents are working, many leave the child-raising to television and computers.
- Environmental factor
One major factor that causes children to attach to themselves to computer games is a lack of a good outlet for their energy. The recreational space has decreased while spaces like pub, discotheques and Internet cafe's have increased.
"It is true that supply induce demand. As the number of Internet cafe's increase, the places are easier to access and more children will be attracted to them," said the doctor.
The level of addiction
Dr Bundit categorised game addiction into four levels.
- Seeking - Children always look for a chance to play the games whenever they are free. They may rush to the computers right after they finish their homework, or once they wake up in the morning.
- Getting used to - Children are getting used to the habit and gradually increase playing hours.
- Unable to live without the games - Children will easily get frustrated when they can't play a game. Some may turn dull or become angry when the computer breaks down.
- Not performing daily functions - Computer addicted children will perform badly at school. They may skip classes, steal some family's assets or the parents' money to pay for the Internet, and fail to perform their daily functions.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Next
