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A few days ago, I read the post of @aviral123 in which she was sharing a story of some parents whose child was addicted to a mobile game and even missed school for it. At that moment I decided that I would also discuss this topic some day. Well, today I came here to share my views regarding the impact of mobile games addiction on children.

If you look around, it is evident in almost all families nowadays; kids are given mobile phones at tender ages, and that is why they cannot survive without them. At your home or someone else’s, you will find that young kids are always occupied with their phones, playing games.

Now, the question arises: why do children get so addicted to mobile games?

The main reason is the nature of these games and they are designed in such a way that they are highly appealing to children. These games offer new challenges at every level, and reward players with achievements that make kids feel happy. We all know that children love to explore and take challenges and mobile games offer both in one package. Each time a child finishes a level or gains an achievement, they get a sense of accomplishment which makes them continue playing the game.

This instant gratification is what makes these games so addictive. In real life, achieving something requires hard work and time, but in mobile games, just press a few buttons and you get quick results. This provides children with a temporary escape from the difficulties of real life. I’d say that these games become some sort of a stress buster for them.

I believe that parents also share some of the blame. In today’s busy world, parents often don’t have enough time to spend quality moments with their children. Parents are occupied with their phones and children follow the same example and start playing games on their devices. And before you know it, you are already in the habit of doing it. Parents might think, “Well, at least the kid is busy and not bothering me,” but such an attitude can turn into a problem later on.

Mobile game addiction is also harmful to children’s mental health. When a child is deeply involved in games, they start distancing themselves from real-life responsibilities and social interactions. If they are always in an attempt to win in games and they end up being defeated it results to frustration and anger. Such frustration can over time negatively affect their actual interpersonal relationships.

Another health issue linked to mobile game addiction is sleep disturbances. If children spend a lot of time playing games, they are not able to sleep well. This lack of sleep affects their normal schedule, makes them less attentive, less interested in books and makes them have a bad disposition. All these things can in one way or the other affect their growth and development in the long run.

So, how can we protect children from getting addicted to mobile games?

Although it’s a bit challenging, it’s not impossible. One approach is to set a time limit for your child’s gaming. For example, allow them to play for just an hour a day or only on weekends. This way, your child won’t develop an addiction because they’ll know their time is limited. I guess it remains the parents’ responsibility to ensure that this time limit is not overstepped. In case the child attempts to exceed it, you should just softly tell them to stop and then divert their attention to another activity.

The most important thing is that parents need to be role models for their children. If you spend hours on your phone, your child will do the same. Limit your own mobile usage and get involved in family activities. When your child notices that instead of being glued to your phone all day, you are doing productive things, they will also be encouraged to do the same.

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I trust that you found the information in my article to be valuable. 😊

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^{Author: @waqarahmadshah | Date: 04-Sep-2024 | Achievement 1}