Let’s be real, gaming is a massive part of Gen-Z culture – and a parent’s nemesis.
From Call of Duty and Fortnite battles to elaboate Minecraft creations, kids born between 1997 and 2012 live in these immersive online domains. They offer entertainment, social connection and even a sense of (Victory Royale) accomplishment.
But the sad reality is that screens aren’t going away anytime soon. Much like electricity, cars and shopping malls, screen time is synonymous with the modern world.
When we were growing up, playing in the park until the wee hours was our idea of fun, and video games were considered a real treat. But, our kids’ lives are vastly different to the “good ol’ days” and we, as parents, need to help them navigate the importance of a balanced lifestyle.
If you’re interested in knowing how we can ensure our gamer kids are thriving both on and off-screen so they can live a rich and fulfilling life, do read on.
We’re in this together!
The Downsides Of Excessive Screen Time
While gaming is fun and all, excessive screen time can have a negative effect on our kids’ well-being. The increased risk of obesity, social withdrawal and bad grades… there are so many things parents should be aware of.
Health
Spending hours glued to a screen can lead to reduced physical activity and other health issues. This can impact our children’s sleeping patterns, posture and overall fitness, increasing their risk of:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Low HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol)
- Poor stress regulation
- Insulin resistance or diabetes
Furthermore, excessive screen time has a detrimental effect on their mental health, with increased risks of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety and aggressive behaviour, as per a National Library of Medine ( NLM ) study.
Too much screen time impacts children’s cognitive, linguistic and social-emotional growth. This means, their problem-solving, communication and relationship-building skills can become severely underdeveloped if we don’t intervene.
Social
Overreliance on online gaming (and screens in general) can limit social-emotional skill development, such as:
- Peer-to-peer interactions
- Developing self-esteem
- Emotion regulation
- The ability to empathise with others
Taken from the same NLM study, excessive PC and video game exposure (not TV screens) showed lower levels of emotional understanding in young boys as opposed to girls of the same age.
Online gaming also opens our children up to the risk of cyberbullying, which can severely impact their mental health and self-confidence.
What makes this even scarier is the psychoneurological – mental, brain and nervous systems – effects of extreme screen time behaviour and dependence on Gen Z kids. Studies have shown decreased social coping skills and the development of withdrawal behaviours that resemble substance addiction!
Academic
Studies have linked excessive screen time to poor academic performance. This could stem from fewer interactions between children and their parents (caused by early childhood screen time exposure) where they practice and learn basic language skills. This poor language development creates a snowball effect that could impact other academic areas.
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Persistent exposure to fast-paced, overstimulating video games (and the constant need to be “online” in general) decreases children’s attention spans. This reduces concentration and focus – possibly tying back to ADHD behaviours – which could be the cause of lower grades.
Additionally, the increased anxiety of juggling jobs and/or schoolwork can be challenging for Gen-Z’ers, especially when their priorities get skewed.
Effective Methods To Reduce Screen Time
Luckily there are ways for parents to efficiently manage their child’s screen use:
Setting limits
- Talk to your child about your concerns and work together to establish a screen time and gaming schedule. Remember, your kid isn’t the enemy here. It’s the dopamine rush that affects the frontal cortex of the brain that has a similar effect as illegal, highly addictive drugs!
- Create a daily schedule that incorporates online gaming alongside homework, chores and physical activity. Or suggest no gaming during the week and leave the Battle Royales for weekends!
- Design “tech-free” zones to encourage responsible screen time management. These could be anything from no TVs or gaming consoles (like an X-box) in the bedroom to no phones at the dinner table. This encourages family time and reduces distractions.
Pro tip : Another suggestion is to find common ground with your kids. Maybe you can join them from time to time in a single Fortnite battle. Thereafter, it’s controllers down for the day. It’s worth a shot!
Encourage other activities
- Look for fun opportunities where family and friends can be involved, like playing a game of tennis, mini spa days, indoor go-karting or arts and crafts at home. This allows kids to break away from the digital world for a few hours.
- Rekindle old passions. Did your kid enjoy drawing, playing a musical instrument or participating in sports before screens consumed their life? Encourage them to revisit these hobbies and passions as a creative, hands-on outlet.
- Get outdoors! Fresh air and being outside have proven mental and physical health benefits. Schedule regular outdoor activities – bike rides, family hikes, beach trips – to counteract the negative effects of excessive screen consumption.
Pro tip: Address underlying issues that may contribute to your child’s excessive screen time and gaming, such as stress, boredom or social isolation.
Parental controls
- Gaming consoles – PlayStation, X-box, Nintendo Switch – have accessible family settings. This allows you to set screen time limits and content restrictions and gives you the ability to monitor and control online interactions.
- Disable (or limit) in-app purchases to prevent unauthorised online game buying (e.g. Robux, V-Bucks, Minecoins).
- Install parental monitoring apps like mSpy , Google Link or Bark on kids’ mobile devices, tablets and computers. These allow you to monitor your child’s digital activity in full incognito mode, from text messages and apps to browser history.
Parent Tip: Creating A Balanced Daily Routine For Kids
The key to managing screen time is balance.
Here’s a suggestion:
- Morning: Mornings should be dedicated to getting ready for school, college or work. Screen time should not be involved in these activities to prevent overstimulation for the rest of the day.
- Afternoon: Gaming should be allowed as a reward (for an hour or two) once homework, school sports and household chores are completed. It’s good to encourage team sports and creative activities like drawing, reading, dancing or photography before online games take preference.
- Evening: Try to keep some evenings open for family time, social interaction with friends. A great tip is to set a screens off time, just give your kids the 30 minute warning to avoid any potential arguments before lights out and setting good bedtime hygiene routines.
Real-Life Success Stories From Other Parents
See this parent’s take on digital devices and managing screen time in their home, taken from Reddit :
“We consider screens to be tools, not toys and my kids don’t have personal devices. So using a laptop to type an essay is totally fine, as is watching art tutorials and exercise videos on YouTube (though we limit that a bit).
But sitting and watching videos [or playing games] for hours on end is using it as a toy. We would rather our kids be more creative.”
Expert Insights On Healthy Screen Time Practices
Dr Victoria Dunckley , psychiatrist, author and screen time expert, confirms excessive screen time has negative effects on children by overstimulating the nervous system. She believes healthy screen time limits are pivotal if parents want to curb behavioural and emotional problems.
The Conversation Continues
How do you manage your children’s screen time? Join the discussion and share your strategies, insights and tips below.
We’d love to hear what you think…
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