Are video games bad?
Like most things, the answer is not always black or white, yes or no, or good or bad. When looking at video games and if they are good for kids, it depends on many things. How old is the child, and what type of game is it? Is it a game with a lot of aggression, violence, or mature content? How much time are they spending on the game? Today’s generation of kids are raised in a digital world. Instead of avoiding screen time and video games altogether, parents can benefit from understanding brain health and negotiating healthy boundaries.
If you have ever asked your child to stop playing their favorite game and go take out the trash, you probably have witnessed some big protests and undesirable behavior. What makes it so hard for kids to stop playing? How can parents help their kids enjoy games while preventing addiction and dysregulated behaviors?
Here is a look at the science of how your child’s brain is affected by video games and ways to help navigate a healthy balance and increase emotional regulation after your child plays video games.
Dopamine and the Pleasure Principle
Dopamine, often referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, plays a vital role in the brain's reward system. It is released when we experience pleasurable activities like eating, laughing, or playing video games. Children's brains release dopamine when playing video games, creating a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment. Video games are carefully crafted for this engagement of the brain’s pleasure and reward system.
Wanting More - Addiction and Dopamine Dysregulation
While moderate dopamine release is a natural response to enjoyable activities, excessive gaming can lead to dysregulation. Children who spend extended hours playing video games may become desensitized to dopamine, requiring more intense stimuli to experience the same pleasure. This can lead to addiction-like behaviors, where children crave the next gaming session to satisfy their dopamine cravings.
The Growing Brain and Video Games
Video games can have both positive and negative effects on cognitive development in children. Understanding these impacts requires a deeper dive into specific cognitive functions.
The Positive Effects of Gaming on the Brain
Problem-solving and Critical Thinking
Many video games, especially strategy-type games, challenge players with complex puzzles, scenarios, and decision-making tasks. Engaging in such games can sharpen problem-solving and critical thinking skills in children. These games often require players to devise strategies, anticipate consequences, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Attention and Concentration
Contrary to popular belief, video games can enhance children's attention and concentration when played in moderation. Action games, in particular, demand rapid decision-making and vigilant monitoring of the game environment, improving attention span and reaction time.
Social Interaction
Online multiplayer games foster social interaction among children, enabling them to communicate, collaborate, and compete with peers worldwide. This social engagement can positively impact their social development, promoting teamwork, communication, and conflict-resolution skills. Note: It is important to teach kids and teens about internet safety when they are engaging socially online.
Potential Negative Impacts on Brain Chemistry
Sleep Problems
Excessive gaming, especially before bedtime, can disrupt children's sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation affects the brain's ability to function optimally, leading to mood swings, irritability, and cognitive impairments.
Impulsivity and Aggression
Certain video games with violent or aggressive themes have been associated with increased impulsivity and aggressive behavior in children. These behaviors can disrupt the brain's natural chemistry, potentially leading to long-term behavioral issues.
Stress and Anxiety
Some video games can be highly competitive and stress-inducing. Prolonged exposure to such games may elevate stress and anxiety levels in children. This can trigger the release of stress hormones like cortisol, which can negatively affect brain chemistry and overall well-being.
Understanding the Stress Response and Chronic Stress
The stress response, often referred to as the "fight, flight, or freeze" response, is a primal and automatic nervous system reaction that occurs in response to perceived threats or stressors. When someone faces a situation they find dangerous or stressful, their body starts a series of physical changes to get ready for survival. This is known as the fight or flight response.
The problem is that our nervous system is sometimes unable to tell the difference between when there is a real threat (like being chased by a bear) or a virtual/fake threat (like being shot at in a video game). These automatic responses are designed to enhance the chances of survival in the face of danger, and while they are essential for immediate threats, prolonged or chronic stress can have adverse effects on physical and mental health. These reactions are the body's way of helping the individual stay safe when things get tough. However, staying in this stressful state for a long time isn't healthy, so it's important to learn tools of how to manage it and calm the nervous system.
What’s a Parent to Do? - Parental Guidance and Creating a Healthy Balance
To ensure a healthy balance between video games and brain development in children, parental guidance and moderation are essential.
Setting Limits
Establishing clear boundaries and screen time limits can help prevent excessive gaming. Encourage a balance between video games, physical activity, and other activities. Follow guidelines for screen time, such as those suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It also important to be consistent with limits so your kids learn what to expect. Here are some tips on setting limits: Four Strategies for Setting Limits with Your Kids.
Age-Appropriate Content
Selecting age-appropriate games is crucial. Pay attention to content ratings and consider the game's potential impact on your child's cognitive and emotional development. Remember that just because your child’s friend is playing the game, that doesn’t mean that the game is appropriate for your child. Do your own research and decide what is best for your child’s individual needs.
Teach Your Child About How Video Games Can Affect The Brain
Help them understand that sometimes it really is out of their control, especially when their stress response is activated. Teach them about how video games can become addictive. This is why they need balance and help with regulating their emotions after playing video games. Let them join in discovering what best helps soothe their nervous system after playing a game. Be sure and have these discussions during a time when your child is calm and has not when you are trying to get them to stop playing their favorite game.
Look Out for Changes in Your Child
Regularly monitor your child's gaming behavior and engage in open conversations about their experiences. Look out for signs of addiction, mood changes, or declining academic performance.
Other helpful tips for balance, increased regulation, and peaceful transitions:
Model healthy use of screens and video games. They are watching! Unplug when you get home from work, at dinner, and when driving. Show healthy ways of relaxing and unwinding such as taking a walk, reading a book, having a family game night, or enjoying a nice bubble bath.
Create structured, screen-free times, such as during mealtimes, in the mornings, and before bedtime. Be consistent with the rules.
Consider using apps that control the length of time your child can use a device.
Keep screens out of bedrooms and require devices be charged outside the bedrooms at night.
Join your child when they play video games. Let them teach you. It can create stronger connections and bonds when you show interest in their world.
Create some transition buffers to help your child navigate coming off the screen. Consider using a timer (Alexa or visual timer) and give a 5-minute prompt when the time is almost up. If they are having trouble turning off the game, you can give them choices. “You can choose to turn off the game or I can.”
Allow them extra time to have a break (off a screen) to regulate after coming off the screen before jumping into homework or a chore (or something that they don’t like). Give them time to regulate. Encourage them to hydrate or get a snack.
Require your child to do some emotional regulation or sensory exercises after their screen time. Such as getting some energy out: doing jumping jacks or taking a walk. Take some deep breaths and stretches. Offer some sensory tools such as a stress ball to squeeze. Bonus if you do some of the calming or sensory exercises with them.
Make the transition fun. Have a dance party. If they were victorious in their game, they have to run a victory lap or sing a victory song. If they lost, they have to do 10 jumping jacks and silly poses.
Conclusion
Video games have a huge influence on the developing brain chemistry of children. While they can enhance cognitive skills, promote social interaction, and provide entertainment, they also carry potential risks, including addiction, sleep disruption, and stress-related issues. As responsible caregivers, it's essential to strike a balance, guide our children's gaming experiences, and monitor their well-being. With proper guidance and moderation, video games can be a valuable part of a child's development journey, offering both enjoyment and cognitive growth.
If you're concerned about a child or loved one's use of screen time or possible video game addiction, consult with a child therapist to discuss your needs and treatment options.
