Summer is nearly upon on us and school is out for most students across the US. For most kids the end of school means the relaxation of the school year rules which equates to all or some of the following:
- Extended or absence of bedtimes,
- Morning sleep-in’s,
- Reduced time outdoors/increased time outdoors,
- Increased TV watching,
- More time spent online, and
- Increased video game playing.
Author Catalina Smith provides you with five alternatives for getting your child away from video games.
If you’re a parent, then you must know how frustrating it is to see your child nowhere but in front of their video games. It’s no secret spending too much time in front of video games will harm your child.
Playing too many video games decreases their attention span and listening skills. They create social phobia and they will be used to having instant entertainment.
The solution to all of this isn’t to confiscate the game console because that will drive your children elsewhere to find some other means to play those games.
Teaching them restraint and how to balance their time is more important. Increasing your child’s awareness of what they’re missing out on will keep them away from the video games even when you’re not around.
‘Dimble games’ has the most fun and creative online games that increase learning. You can work on these five ways to get your child away from video games.
Provide Alternatives
Try to arrange activities and opportunities your child can do during the time they spend on video games. For example, they can spend it by learning a new sport, practicing a old sport or a creative activity like sewing or learning to play a new instrument.
This allows your child to realize what they’re missing out on.
Arrange Activities with their Friends
Plan some indoor or outdoor activities with your child’s friends. These activities don’t have to be expensive or fancy.
Children can play board games together and have fun. This can help them improve their communication and social skills.
Start a Long-term Project
Every child has some interests and dreams. Try to create projects of their interest. Some kids are interested in science or want to build a garden.
Provide them with necessary material so they can create something new and stay busy.
Acknowledge your Child’s Efforts
It’s important to encourage your children’s efforts in their extracurricular efforts because video games provide instant gratification. Psychologist Carol Dweck conducted research and found children who were praised for their talent or intelligence did not take up new tasks to avoid exposing their deficiencies, if any.
Have Family Meals
Playing games is a solitary activity, contributing to making children anti-social. When these children find themselves among people, they don’t know how to react. One way of having communication with them is to have meals together.
When you all sit together to eat as a family and have open discussions, your child will easily communicate with you. Oprah Winfrey once conducted a “family dinner experiment” for a month and by the end, not only were the children more comfortable with their families but also cherished that dependable time with their parents.
Making your child see beyond video games is a difficult task that demands effort, but the results are rewarding.
