Addiction care organisations in the Netherlands are increasingly focusing on preventing gaming addiction in children. Children are given information from a young age, and parents are also informed during special evenings.
Mental health organisation Indigo says that many parents struggle with their child’s gaming behaviour. Research by the Netherlands Youth Institute shows that 33 percent of primary school pupils and 27 percent of secondary school pupils game every day.
Of the primary school pupils who game, more than half do so for 1 to 4 hours at a time. 10 percent even play for more than 4 hours at a time. Still, according to the organisation, it is not about the number of hours. “You have to look at what is happening around the child,” says Leo de Pan of Indigo. “Do they still do their homework? Do they still play with friends?”
‘When does it get out of hand?’
Almost every week, Indigo holds information evenings at primary schools. “We don’t just talk with the pupils, but with the parents too. They are invited to talk about gaming. When does it get out of hand?”
According to De Pan, there is not much to worry about if a child has other hobbies besides gaming and makes time for friends. “If they no longer get round to anything other than playing, then it is a problem.”
‘We talk with them’
Kelly Roelofs works for the Be Aware foundation and teaches about gaming addiction. “We want to show children where they stand with their gaming. We talk with them,” she told the Dutch programme Editie NL.
And those are different conversations from when it is about smoking or alcohol, for example. “With gaming, it is harder to explain to children what the harm is. That is why we try to get pupils to think about their own gaming behaviour.”
‘Never say they have a gaming addiction’
But according to Leo de Pan, parents also have an important role to play. “Adults don’t understand gaming. Play along once and you will get a better picture of it.” And be careful how you speak to your child: “Never say they have a gaming addiction. Then every door closes.”
According to De Pan, it is important that information is now already given at primary school. “You have to be there in time. If, as a parent, you show interest from the start and watch along, you invite your child to tell you more about gaming. If you don’t, it becomes a problem later on.”
Source: RTL Nieuws
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