How to identify and get rid of gaming, computer and Internet addiction in children and adolescents?

Dependence of children on the computer: diagnosis, prevention, treatment. How to wean your child from gadgets.

While the computer plays the role of an indispensable working tool, the risk of "pulling" into dependence is minimal, but as soon as the computer environment becomes a means of entertainment, best friend and sincere interlocutor - a person faces the danger of acquiring an addiction.

How to identify computer, gaming and Internet addiction in children and adolescents?

how to identify computer dependency

Children and adolescents are a major risk group for the development of computer addiction. The greatest risk is in adolescence - when a person is looking for himself in the world, he defines goals and guidelines for himself.

Computer addiction can occur at an earlier age, because the child's psyche is most addictive.
The formation of the game dependency goes through the following stages:

1. The stage of easy enthusiasm - there is a feeling of "pleasure" from the game, although the person takes care of these from time to time
2. The stage of entrainment - the computer game becomes a necessity, the game takes a systematic character
3. The dependence stage is the need for the game "falls "in the hierarchy of needs to the level of physiological, without play a person experiences dissatisfaction, anxiety, negative emotions

Symptoms that parents can diagnoseкомпьютер computer and Internet addiction:

1. Losing the sense of time, the child is not able to finish the game or the Internet session on his own and switch to another activity, for example, go for a walk, do homework or go to sleep
2. Loss of interest in real life, other activities. Game time or time in the network is gradually replacing other activities - circles, electives, communication with peers, up to social isolation
3. Feeling of joy while working at the computer and irritation or aggression if the computer is not available
4. Frequent conflicts with others and with yourself
5. Fits of fear, anxiety, nightmarish dreams
6. At the physical level, the child can feel pain and dry eyes, backache, carpal tunnel syndrome
7. A pathological infatuation leads to a violation ofAnka, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, chronic fatigue

tests on computer, gaming and Internet addiction of children and adolescents

user testing helps to identify the first signs of computer addiction and apply preventive programs in time.

The simplicity and transparency of the test questions of American psychologist Kimberly Young enable parents to test a teenager in order to more clearly visualize the depth of pathological dependence on the network.

test Kimberly Young

Evaluation of the test results is carried out on the following scale:

• 29-49 points - the test is free from addiction and perfectly controls itself
• 50-79 points - there are some problems associated with excessive computer enthusiasm
• 80-100 points - significant dependence, may need the help of a specialist( psychologist or even psychotherapist)

The following test is more adapted for diagnosing children and adolescents from computer addiction.

test Yuryeva

Prevention of child's dependencies on gadgets

Prevention of computer addiction

The development of game and Internet addiction is facilitated by the widespread use of computers, the development of a mobile computer environment, the availability of gadget connection to the World Wide Web.

How to prevent the development of gaming or Internet addiction in the child:

1. Show a personal positive example. Children always imitate adults and if parents spend all their free time on the Internet or on games, then the child will behave the same way.
2. Limit the time of working with gadgets. Up to 4 years, it is better not to give the child gadgets in hand at all
3. After 4 years time to communicate with the computer strictly dose
4. Set a firm rule - "a certain number of minutes per day"( from half an hour to 2 hours a day - depending on age), and notviolate it under no circumstances - be consistent
5. Be interested in what your children are doing at the computer. Be near, be with the child.
6. Discuss games in which a child likes to play
7. Teach a child to view games, gadget apps and the Internet as a means of acquiring new skills, obtaining useful information that brings practical value to
8. . To avoid the child completely moving to "virtual worlds", he must have a completeaccess to real and fascinating "worlds" - studios, circles, hikes, communication with nature, creativity, travel, theaters, movies, museums

. How to disaccustom a child from excessive computer enthusiasm?

how to disinfect a child from gadgets

Direct and categorical prohibition is the simplest and most inconclusive decision leading to a conflict between the child and the parent and the aggravation of the problem.
Reasonable approach is to teach the child to correctly treat the computer and the Internet, to allow the child to use the computer, but under parental control and with time limitation.

1. Determine with the child the rules for using the Internet and the computer, determine the amount of time per day for the game and subsequently strictly follow the established rules
2. A good helper in this case can be special programs that allow the user to go to a certain time and turn off the computer after it expires.
3. Offer to the childvarious opportunities for development: sports or creative pursuits, reading, mugs, walks and outdoor games
4. If the child is dependent onsocial networks, talk to him about the feelings and relationships between people in real life.
5. Take your children with you, party at home, support the child in making real friends and spending time with them.

. An excellent way to overcome computer addiction in children.preschool and primary school age is skazkoterapiya.

• Find a ready-made fairy tale or think up your own so that the plot describes the problematic situation in which the child
• got into. Discuss with the kid the behavior and experience of the protagonist, the causes of the problem situation and possible ways out of it
• This helps the child, unconsciously identifying himself withthe main character, will be able to reconsider his behavior

Treatment of computer addiction in adolescents

treatment of computer addiction

What if the symptoms of computer or Internet addiction in podroyet emerged?

Success in overcoming a pernicious habit largely depends on the correct actions of the parents and the individual characteristics of the adolescent.

1. Notations, educational conversations and all the more threats in this case are the means of questionable effectiveness.
2. . It is necessary to limit to a minimum the time spent on a computer that has become dependent. Do not sharply or categorically prohibit a computer or other gadgets
3. Fill in a void formed as a result of abandoning computer games or surfing the network
4. It is very important to find an occupation that will appeal to a teenager, enthrall it. This will sharply reduce the likelihood of the recurrence of the
5. . It is essential to find the cause that led to computer addiction and resolve it

In severe cases, it is difficult to solve the problem on their own, parents face categorical protests, aggression, ignoring any requirements of an adult.

• In such circumstances, the help of a specialist psychologist or psychotherapist
• is necessary. Psychotherapeutic methods of treatment of computer addiction sometimes combine with medication. Prescribe sedatives, antidepressants.
• Teach children from an early age to use computers, gadgets and the Internet for the intended purpose.
• . Educate the user culture in children, teachtheir control over their activities at the computer or in the network
• Remember, to prevent the development of dependence namoth simpler than to overcome it

VIDEO: Computer dependence of a schoolboy