It is really a serious question as it is happening in many homes. I agree with respected Dr. Rao. I like to say, encourage kids to play football, hockey and similar kind of other games. As these games would be a good exercise as well. Give kids a limited time to use net just for checking e-mails or news etc. Advice may not work.

It is a difficult process.

1. First identify that it is addiction and it needs to be cured.

2. You should have an open discussion about it and identify what he/she should be doing in a day in terms of the expected duties and free time available for games either physical or video.

3. Follow up on these activities on a regular basis (daily) to see that he/she is doing it.

4. No excuses for any deviation. Don't encourage unnecessary leniency during this process.

There are some useful information available on the net and try to follow those advices as well.

http://www.addictionrecov.org/addictions/?AID=45

http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Video-Game-Addiction

http://www.techaddiction.ca/computer_game_addiction.html

It is really a serious question as it is happening in many homes. I agree with respected Dr. Rao. I like to say, encourage kids to play football, hockey and similar kind of other games. As these games would be a good exercise as well. Give kids a limited time to use net just for checking e-mails or news etc. Advice may not work.

We learned from medical doctors that there are serious physical consequences of computer's games  addiction by the children & these include carpal tunnel (i.e.  the area of the wrist that houses the main nerve and tendons - becomes irritated or swollen) , migraines, sleep disturbances, backaches, eating irregularities, and poor personal hygiene. Some of these are immediately noticeable by the parents.

I really tried hard to convince male & female teachers in my town to give the  children more home works  for their own advantage (a way to keep them away from the computer). The children have energy & some of them are hyperactive so sports ought to be encouraged. Add to it, many cultural competitions between teams ought to be made to educate the children but they must be motivated by worthy prizes.  

Thank you @Nageswara,  @Asmat  and @Nizar  for participating in this important debate. As rightly pointed out by @Asmat Ali "Advice may not work". So, what are some good practical measures or alternatives? How to approach the problem? What this as well as SMS (instant messaging) doing to our society as the whole (and to our kids in special) is getting worse? We must re-think about these Hi-Tech IT stuffs before it gets too late.

There are many ways in guiding kids or adults when they are addicted to online computer games. Persuation is the main way in guiding them. At the same time you can encourage them to spend their time in sports or other activities.

The use of social networks and hyper-connected devices is growing following a power-law, and there's no way to stop it. The average we're facing in sociability factors currently is not comparable with any other epoch in the human history, both for quantity of information we share each other, as for the speed of the power growth. If compared to the perception of a mature individual in the range of 25~45 years, the mass of information to share that a young person (7~21) feels as "absolutely necessary" is immeasurably greater — this is because social systems are tending to neutralize the concept of private property and the phenomenology of asynchronously storage. The media on which you record the resources that you will enjoy, in fact, tend to be:

• #1. distributed, in the offer, by remote framework
• # 2. distributed, in the storage, to remote mass memories
• # 3. distributed, at the level of calculation and process, far from the hardware that will use the high-end level product

The opposite tendency, contrasting the spread of large massive umbrella frameworks, is based on end-to-end networks, fractalized and distributed among individuals who use only the physical backbone of the Internet, and not its upper services. However, this trend does not solve the issue of continuous connectivity. On the contrary, it is driven to grow and increase to ensure the networks to be efficiently fractalized, thus burdening on the connection-rate for each individual in the network.

For these reasons, our kids are absolutely out of the control of our previous experiences, and it is not allowed to them not to join the ecosystem of the information — as its services coincide more and more with the basic supply of primary goods.

I agree with the dear colleagues who identify in such intense, continuos dialogue with our kids, and new generations of young people the only way to resist to the immense flow of necessary digital goods, and processes, and intelligences, that's coming towards them — as the 1st generation of hyper-connected people.

However, the rawest and most realistic forecast estimate that within one generation over the current one, the rate of robotic-sex (robosexuality: first in the form of sexual health care, then in the leasure market) in use at the household level, will go up — again — following a power-law, exponential and very fast. There are large industrial investments in this regard.

—g 

@Behrouz,

your proposal will only work, if parents start very early with this entertainment (sports, reading, family dinners...). If they miss the right moment, they will have children who are ill from the drug " computer games". If this happens they need help from a professional.

Dear @Behrouz, Thank you for your comments.

For some of us (at least for me) use of computer and internet is a must and also is part of our job and is not for entertainment, waste of time or addiction!. I nearly do everything via computer: correcting my students paper, thesis, proposals, collecting my students home works, giving advises to students and respond to inquiries, finding new ideas/papers about my next project, reading newspapers, following sport news, etc. etc. etc.

P.S.: BTW I (and probably you) do these things while our RG is active as a separate page (Tab). So my RG dose't interfere with my main work/job and responsibility. Therefore, we should differentiate between doing useful work via Internet and wasting time playing games, chatting, etc

Thank you dear @Nageswara for providing the TechAddiction link.

I checked the site and found the following page from TechAddiction website relevant to our discussion:

Ten Tips For Parents Who Have Children Addicted To Computer Games

http://www.techaddiction.ca/children-addicted-to-computer-games.html

I think that this problem splits at least into two problems.

1) Addiction and

2) Various hazards and risks related to internet.

It is a good practice not playing games on the net. There should be a program for computers. For example one hour  before go to bed and every Saturday afternoon (3-4 hours). All other time computer shoud be closed.

Period. As one of our colleagues used to say! 

Indeed, there is a big difference, if kids expose themselves in the net and if they "only" are addicted to computer games. But addiction is hazard enough, so please prevent it.

I would ask someone who has experience, or I would search the net and find the answers! Some of them are given by the links that follow. 

Regarding computer games addiction, have a look into a test and measures!

" Video game addiction can ruin lives. Children who play four to five hours per day have little time for socializing, doing homework, or playing sports."

http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Your-Child's-Computer-Addiction

http://www.empoweringparents.com/how-to-set-limits-around-video-game-use.php

http://www.video-game-addiction.org/note2.html

Dear Ljubomir,

Thank you for providing useful links. As you said " Video game addiction can ruin lives. Children who play four to five hours per day have little time for socializing, doing homework, or playing sports." The problem seems universal and worse than I thought when I asked the question in the first place.

Let me add, Enable Parental Control and Anti-banner on your system.

All envy of the culture and upbringing of children. My daughter knows a computer with 4 years old (she's 23 now), but does not have dependencies. Wife with her constantly went to the theater, the zoo, the circus. Therefore, I agree with Kamal and Hanno, you need to spend more time with children.

Just to stimulate discussion:

Is there a significant difference between permanently reading books and permanently looking at a computer screen? If kids would never go out and would always read, what would parents and teachers say about that?

I also feel that if children spend too much time in playing computer games, it means they are being given less time by the parents. There is a need for parents to espouse appropriate values, and imbibe them in children through appropriate interventions. Small children copy the parents. So they should do things that are conducive to children's moral development. I feel, parents owe a duty to develop children's interest in reading books. They also need to have self-control so far as time spent in watching TV or other similar objects is concerned. To some extent, control through force also works.

My Dear colleagues (Debi & Marcel) have given us ideas to ponder. In my opinion, we must solve an equation which leads to striking a balance between the various activities of the child to help in a "constructive" growth of his/her capabilities.

We have had brilliant ideas, advises and links so far. Thank you for your comments thus far and I welcome and encourage more inputs from you and other RG members. Here I want to express another side of the story. May be this can simulate more deeper discussion on this issue.

I don't think parents are the sole responsible for this situation. In good old days our grand parents use to study under candle light without any of these fancy Hi-Tech facilities. Nowadays we send our children to fully equipped, best private schools. We used to make hand craft besides doing lots of homeworks and other extra activities by schools. What about now? we see no such initiatives from such schools, they hardly give any homework to children, they are becoming more of business enterprises than educating. So partly our educational system and schools should be blamed for this problem.,  

Dear Marcel,

as respond to your provocation c-games against books.

Books carry off the kids into a dreamy world. C-games make them goggle a screen, not thinking, no fantasy, just adrenalin. 

I prefer this amazing world of books and remember my childhood.

"Go to bed" was the command, switch off the light, sleep!!"

So I looked for a candle, took the blanchet over my head a read half the night.

What was better, silly hacking or diving into the fantastic world of literature?

Dear Hanno,

to me there is no clear cut answer. Some C-games might be exciting and stimulate learning, help children to solve problems or to develop strategies. Some books are not recommended to be read by children. A question is; when you do not have them anymore, how will you respond or react?

Sports may also be an addiction, sometimes substantially increasing competition. How kids reach the top in sports? Is this always OK?

Just to provoke discussion:

In many working environments today, people are asked to be >5 hours per day in front of a computer screen. From a mental or neuro-physiological or social point of view, what is the difference between being in front of a computer screen for 'games' versus 'work'? 

Addictions are ubiquitous. I think we should stop the actions sometimes, for children by giving time limits or promises like " If you... then you may...". If the kids practice sports  and nothing else, please stop them using the appropriate education techniques.

PS: I´m convinced, you read after going to bed, perhaps not using a candle ligth but a more secure flash lamp.

Don´t forget the blanchet!

Dear Marcel,

the difference between children before the screen and adults at the same place is, our brains are already formed. We know, when to stop, children don´t. And we earn money or are researching (I hope so).

My younger son Jona Yair told me that while he's playing at computer, a voice like a daemon doesn't stop to whisper to his ear, like an alive vocal machinery, without pause. Not the same thing while reading, I think, nor while working.

Mhm, work has some different but equivalent problems.

—g

Up to now I received lots of good advises and links on the topic. But as we have many medical professors and expertise in RG I would like hearing from them, their participation and telling us more about " physical consequences and health effects of child's computer game addiction" too. I read about serious physical consequences of gaming addiction such as carpal tunnel, migraines, sleep disturbances, backaches, eating irregularities, and poor personal hygiene. What are these and would they have prolonged effect?

kids have more energy;

Computer Games have more attention seeking features like Colors, Music, Motion Pictures or video, Interactive response to actions, satisfies the player and at the same time challenges them....

kids would be interested in anything which captures their attention and provides opportunity to test themselves...

@Krishnan,

yes, kids have such a lot more energy than we adults. Thats the reason, why  they must move not sit. And they can test themselves by running around, catching, crying, swinging, climbing, hopping, fighting. And if they do it outdoors, they will have colors, heat and cold, smells, cries from other children, ...

So away from the screens, at least most of the time!

agree @ Hanno,

I am for the children to go out and play....I had been playing almost all the days (during my childhood) except when it rains, exams or other incidents else, it was a outward rejoice.....There were occasions we were so engrossed and spend more time, when my father used to come up to playground and chase us to home for studying...

But

For today's children, like the place (Chennai) where i live now, is densely populated and housed, there are playgrounds though not very near but at approaching distances.... the school work load is also heavy for children, wherein they aren't in a position to find time to play (except in the PET period at school, which is only 2 hours in week)....by the time they reach home are so tired...that, they just throw their school bags, push the shoes, socks all around, spread on sofa or on ground and get glued to television... As they get bored they turn on the computer and play games.....

Dear Krishnan,

I´ve understood your story. It´s totally dependent from the surrounding but not really where a young kid should aim to. The best way would be, to do some "important" kid jobs outdoors with friends and nature, if you have some. 

Dear @Krishnan and @Hanno, yes, parents should recall their childhood and use these experiences, apply to the children.Tours in nature, socializing, sports ....! This reduces the time children spent beside the computer!

Thank you for bringing more new ideas. This is a summary of what everyone said thus far and a more general answer from parent4success website (See link below). It provides 27 tips on how to reduce your children’s screen time. Basically, it gives hints to a parent on how do to reduce the amount of time their child spends in front of the TV, surfing the net, chatting on Facebook or playing games on a computer or mobile and create a balance?

1. Talk to children about the disadvantages of high levels of computer game use in ways that they can understand

2. Preferably remove TV’s and computers from children’s bedrooms –or have a timer on computers or internet access to stop their use at a specific time. Make sure children cannot access mobile phones or games consoles after bedtime

3. Set a good example by prioritizing social and family time, and making time to play or talk with children. As parents try to limit your own use of screens and technology to lead by example.

4. Set limits for children’s time in front of a screen (your family-your rules, but ideally this should not exceed 2 hours a day)

5. Praise children when they make good decisions about viewing time

6. Have meals without the TV on – make mealtimes family time. Don’t allow any eating of snacks in front of the TV

7. Encourage outdoor play and social activities

8. Provide good books, board games and toys to engage children and encourage children to use them

9. Encourage your children to have interests and hobbies and spend time actively pursuing them

10. Supervise and monitor which TV programs are watched and which sites your children can access on the computer. Don’t allow unsupervised access.

11. Occasionally check what computer sites your child has accessed and talk to them about it.

12. Spend time playing with your child on the computer and make the activity social

13. Provide computer games that encourage activity and physical movement, such as the Wii

14. When watching TV plan an activity during the adverts such as running on the spot, jumping jacks or ask who can do the most sit-ups. Or use an exercise machine in front of the TV

15. Encourage other children to come to your home to play –encourage activities other than computer games or TV.

16. Stop children being in front of a screen for 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime to reduce the excitation of the brain before sleep.

17. Have screen-free days – maybe one day a week – and have screen-free times each day

18. Ask for your children’s suggestions on what you can do as a family to create a healthy balance of computer and television use. Consider screen time vs. active time and ways to compensate for the health and social difficulties that using technology may cause.

19. Set rules about screen times on school days and non-school days with rewards for cooperation and consequences for non-compliance or arguing and enforce them consistently.

20. Use computer programs to log screen time, limit sites your children can access and shut computers down after the time limit for the day is reached

21. Let children earn screen time by helping out at home

22. Set regular times for homework or practicing an instrument or skill which happen every day at the same time to encourage the habit.

23. Spend 15-20 minutes every day with each child playing, talking or doing something that they want to do that does not involve screen time.

24. Talk to children about adverts, product placements and images supported by the media that do not reflect reality. Encourage your child to be discerning and spot poor media practices, such as using celebrities to promote products, and the use of skinny models in adverts.

25. Eliminate background TV

26. Record programs to watch later

27. Watch TV with your child and talk about the program afterwards. Encourage them in critical thinking.

http://www.parent4success.com/1100/27-tips-on-how-to-reduce-your-childrens-screen-time/

Parents should encourage and guide their kids to  engage in creative activities, sports, nature watch and fitness programme. 

What would you advise and how would you guide kids if they are addicted to online computer games?

Suggest the following:

Anyone who has experienced it knows all too well – video game addiction is real. Although gaming addiction is not yet officially recognized as a diagnosable disorder by the American Medical Association, there is increasing evidence that people of all ages, especially teens and pre-teens, are facing very real, sometimes severe consequences associated with compulsive use of video and computer games.

Video games are becoming increasingly complex, detailed, and compelling to a growing international audience of players. With better graphics, more realistic characters, and greater strategic challenges, it’s not surprising that some teens would rather play the latest video game than hang out with friends, play sports, or even watch television.

Of course, all gamers are not addicts – many teens can play video games a few hours a week, successfully balancing school activities, grades, friends, and family obligations. But for some, gaming has become an uncontrollable compulsion. Studies estimate that 10 percent to 15 percent of gamers exhibit signs that meet the World Health Organization’s criteria for addiction. Just like gambling and other compulsive behaviors, teens can become so enthralled in the fantasy world of gaming that they neglect their family, friends, work, and school.

More Articles about Internet and Gaming Addiction from the link.

http://www.video-game-addiction.org/

Symptoms or signs of Video Game Addiction

According to the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, these symptoms can be both emotional and physical.

Emotional Symptoms 

• Feelings of restlessness and/or irritability when unable to play
• Preoccupation with thoughts of previous online activity or anticipation of the next online session
• Lying to friends or family members regarding the amount of time spent playing
• Isolation from others in order to spend more time gaming

Physical Symptoms 

• Fatigue
• Migraines due to intense concentration or eye strain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by the overuse of a controller or computer mouse
• Poor personal hygiene

http://www.psychguides.com/guides/video-game-addiction-symptoms-causes-and-effects/

6 ways to keep your kids safe online!

"That smartphone or laptop or tablet in your child's hands is a mixed blessing. It can open an electronic door to worlds both wonderful and wildly inappropriate. Given that it's inevitable that your child will someday use technology at school and home- if they aren't already - how, as parent, do you keep your kids safe?..."

Fine advices follow!

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/6-ways-keep-your-kids-safe-online-katya-andresen?trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A577811291466351075202%2CVSRPtargetId%3A7192286226976597850%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary&trk=vsrp_influencer_content_res_name

The world we are in demands young kids to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM). Therefore, the internet is a right tool to inculcated STEM skills. However, physical fitness, games, and social interactions cannot be replaced by internet addiction. Such kids to be guided to a mix of diverse skills and weaned of internet addiction.

Video games make meaningful activities appear pointless, boring and too difficult because of the ease with which intense pleasure is had with vidya. The problem is that video game addiction destroys interest and discipline, because of overstimulation.

Excerpts from the following comments on a blog:

https://vpn-web.lan.kth.se/+CSCO+0075676763663A2F2F6A6A6A2E6572717176672E70627A++/r/StopGaming/comments/3v3qm4/embrace_the_boredom_video_game_addiction_is_an/

There are very divergent opinions about the impact of digital culture on our kids. What is the influence of digital culture on children’s educational and emotional development? On-line computer games are certainly the part of digital culture. What about parents?

Dear @Vladimir was speaking about our wives...!

Does spending too much time on smartphones and tablets damage kids’ development? An excellent article is attached!

... it’s important to distinguish between types of screen: do we mean a television screen, a tablet, a smartphone or an e-reader? Second, the nature of the content matters: is it an interactive drawing game, an e-book, a Skype call with Grandma or a stream of Netflix Kids videos? Thirdly, there’s the context: is there a caregiver in the room talking to the child as they interact with the screen or are they left on their own?...

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/does-spending-too-much-time-on-smartphones-and-tablets-damage-kids-development-a7067261.html

 What Causes an Addiction to Video Games?

One of the main reasons that video games can become so addictive, however, is they are designed to be that way. Video game designers, like anyone else trying to make a profit, are always looking for ways to get more people playing their games. They accomplish this by making a game just challenging enough to keep you coming back for more but not so hard that the player eventually gives up. In other words, success for a gamer often feels just out of reach. In this respect, video game addiction is very similar to another more widely recognized disorder: gambling addiction.

http://www.psychguides.com/guides/v...iction-symptoms-causes-and-effects/

Online video game addiction - Exploring a new phenomenon! This is Dr Sci thesis!

Game addiction: a new psychiatric diagnosis?

"...However, this does not necessarily indicate a need for a new clinical, psychiatric diagnosis. The questionremains: is a new psychiatric diagnosis for video game addiction really necessary? If we summarize the findings in the current thesis and expand on these findings, it is clear that online video games have a number of unique, highly involving features. Many of those features strongly resemble mechanisms

involved in gambling, an activity strongly regulated in many countries and considered to be a serious form of behavioral addiction for some people.

A first characteristic would be (infinite) repeatability. This holds true for both games and gambling. One can endlessly play roulette and the same goes for World of Warcraft and other online games, whereas the old offline games can simply be finished. Additionally, online games feature a complex social structure which can alleviate feelings of loneliness which might otherwise prompt the player to take social action in real life. Secondly, both games and gambling feature carefully designed reward-and-punishment schedules, as discussed above. For instance, they feature intermittent, fixed, and random reinforcement of behavior.

Among other factors, these features are likely to play a role in the development of behavioral addiction.

A parallel line of research can be found in the more biological fields of research, where neurological and biochemical similarities are found between video gaming and drug abuse and pathological gambling..."

http://www.ivo.nl/UserFiles/File/Publicaties/2011-04%20Van%20Rooij%20Online%20Video%20Game%20Addiction%20Thesis.pdf

We must be able to show to our children that the reality is more beautiful than any "virtual world" of PC.

Alone prohibitions or restrictions of the time on the PC is not a solution.

We must be able to find interesting activities. This is not an easy way but I dont see another solution (easier).

Online game addiction rising, counsellors warn

• Obsessed players may forget to eat or sleep

• Patient, 23, treated with 12-step abstinence course

Addiction to online games is becoming more widespread among vulnerable young people, according to a treatment centre that has begun running abstinence courses in Britain.

As games become more visually enticing and the recession leaves people at home in front of computer screens, therapists are encountering more cases of people obsessed with being online. In extreme circumstances game players can, they warn, become detached from normal existence and forget to eat or sleep as they interact with screen characters such as wizards and monsters. Youngsters can also develop posture problems.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/oct/08/online-games-addiction-on-rise

Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users? - Clifford Stoll

Internet gaming addiction: current perspectives

Abstract

In the 2000s, online games became popular, while studies of Internet gaming addiction emerged, outlining the negative consequences of excessive gaming, its prevalence, and associated risk factors. The establishment of specialized treatment centers in South-East Asia, the US, and Europe reflects the growing need for professional help. It is argued that only by understanding the appeal of Internet gaming, its context, and neurobiologic correlates can the phenomenon of Internet gaming addiction be understood comprehensively. The aim of this review is to provide an insight into current perspectives on Internet gaming addiction using a holistic approach, taking into consideration the mass appeal of online games, the context of Internet gaming addiction, and associated neuroimaging findings, as well as the current diagnostic framework adopted by the American Psychiatric Association. The cited research indicates that the individual’s context is a significant factor that marks the dividing line between excessive gaming and gaming addiction, and the game context can gain particular importance for players, depending on their life situation and gaming preferences. Moreover, the cultural context is significant because it embeds the gamer in a community with shared beliefs and practices, endowing their gaming with particular meaning. The cited neuroimaging studies indicate that Internet gaming addiction shares similarities with other addictions, including substance dependence, at the molecular, neurocircuitry, and behavioral levels. The findings provide support for the current perspective of understanding Internet gaming addiction from a disease framework. The benefits of an Internet gaming addiction diagnosis include reliability across research, destigmatization of individuals, development of efficacious treatments, and the creation of an incentive for public health care and insurance providers. The holistic approach adopted here not only highlights empirical research that evidences neurobiologic correlates of Internet gaming addiction and the establishment of a preliminary diagnosis, but also emphasizes the necessity of an indepth understanding of the meaning, context, and practices associated with gaming.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3832462/

I am sure that most researchers are inclined to see computer games as a distraction that can become, like almost anything in the perspective of contemporary psychology as an addiction. I beg to differ. I think the fans of minors in computer games can be seen as a way of training and development of useful skills for working life really faced in two decades when incorporated into the labor market. One option from this perspective that does not interfere with the performance of a formal curriculum required in the workplaces is to seek to attract them to options more thoughtful game and enable them to develop more diverse or even provide them with useful information creative and imaginative capabilities for their education. This is not easy, but it could be a better way than the condemnation of the game as addiction.

I will advise children to opt outdoor game rather than computer game as computer game will cause health issues whereas outdoor games will give them physical strength. 

Each day is filled with endless opportunities for children  to learn about the world around them. Help to grow their minds as well as their bodies. When they spend their precious learning hours in front of a television or a video game, that time is lost forever. We must guide them very patiently in order to achieve good results.

http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainmentlife/20160710/dr-diana-boggia-create-masterpiece-with-your-childs-potential

What hurt you will hurt other's too hence be good

video gaming addiction is not yet officially recognized as a diagnosable disorder by the Medical Associations. Most importantly, though, parents should help their kids find alternatives to video games. Try to get them to participate in sports, join the school band or an after school club, or just play outside with the neighbors. Don't be afraid of the words, "I'm bored." The truth is, if they get bored enough, they'll find something to do. You can always offer to give them some extra chores.

I believe kids move to internet when they do not get something more interesting to pass their time. If we can provide time as parents and involve them with us in other games or recreational activities, its not too hard to get them back from the grab of internet addiction. Biggest hurdle in this way may be the addiction of parents for their cell phones checking continuously for messages on social media or alerts etc.

Actually we should guide the children in such a way that they will listen to us and when we say no to something they shouldn't do that. When children see somebody playing games in online then they too feel that why can't he play that too and then they try to convince us for that and if we listen to them then surely we will be reason for there addiction to computer games. But when they ask for that computer games we should tell them the harmful effects of it. If they are small then we should make them to play outdoor games which will help in their fitness, but they might not understand that at that moment but will surely get to know in a short while. So, we should try to convince them and let them know in advance.