Issue 13 SJC News 2020

I have been talking with a lot of parents/carers about their concerns about remote learning for their boys, and the impact of gaming. Parents often have to sort through conflicting advice on gaming – with some experts saying it is good for young people and while others emphasise the harm.

Some of the health risks of excessive gaming include the impact on sleep, limited physical activity, day-night reversal, headaches, neck pain, etc. Some signs of excessive gaming might be a decline in the young person’s ability to concentrate, lack of interest in relationships with others, change in mood and emotional outbursts, and gaming becoming the young person’s priority.

In this time of remote learning, it can be helpful to sit with your young person and help them plan their day. It is important to keep the dialogue open and for parents to be flexible and open to change. Ask for their input, and assist them to timetable gaming into their day. Talk with your young person about the possible negative impact that gaming can have on their well being..

Some ideas

1. Set some limits

• keep gaming systems outs of bedrooms

• have a digital curfew

• timetable when gaming is permitted

• no games on phones or school computers

• offer a transition task eg dinner is in 30mins, can you walk the dog?

• Check classifications for games, as violent games can lead to young people being unable to empathise with others and to experience heightened negative emotion

2. Monitor your young person’s behaviour before, during and after gaming. Monitor their sleeping patterns and diet, with relation to gaming

3. Game together or as a family

4. Suggest alternatives. This can be difficult when activities are limited during COVID restrictions, however some ideas are

• Exercise together

• Games night

• Movie night

• Starting a new hobby

• Cooking together

Some helpful websites are

Headspace

https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads/Understanding-Gaming-FAF.pdf

ReachOut

https://parents.au.reachout.com/skills-to-build/wellbeing/things-to-try-technology/connect-with-your-teenager-through-gaming

Practical suggestions around filters for devices

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice/taming-technology

Screenagers (2016) is a film that the College has used in the past. It is a documentary created and directed by Delaney Ruston, a physician and film director, to describe growing up in a tech saturated world where it is her opinion that balance needs to be drawn between screen time and screen free time.

https://www.screenagersmovie.com/

Of course gaming offers many positive aspects for your young person. In this time of remote learning gaming can help young people connect with their peers, it provides entertainment, and it gives the young person time to relax. As with anything, it’s keeping the balance.

Mary Holmes

On behalf of the Wellness Team

[email protected]