Is My Child Addicted to Games?

Breaking Free from Game Addiction: You Can Do It!

What is game addiction? Game addiction refers to a state where someone becomes excessively immersed in gaming, to the point where it disrupts their daily life. Some experts refer to it as "excessive gaming immersion."

Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, as personal computers became widely available, more and more people started enjoying games. However, this led to a growing number of individuals who became so consumed by games that they couldn't function properly in daily life, creating various social problems. On May 25, 2019, during a conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified game addiction as a disease. It was included in the WHO's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) under the code "6C51" as a type of mental, behavioral, or neurodevelopmental disorder.

Game addiction remains a serious societal issue today. Many parents, in particular, are worried about their children's gaming habits. Are you also concerned, thinking, "My child only plays games; this is a big problem"? In this book, I will share ways to overcome game addiction.

I, too, was once addicted to games. During high school, when I should have been focusing on my studies, I often played games all night. There were many days when I stayed up until 5 a.m. gaming, only to go to school and sleep through the day. However, once I set a goal of getting into a computer science program, I began to study and was able to quit gaming entirely by my senior year. This book includes my journey to overcoming game addiction, eight strategies for preventing game addiction, and essential approaches that parents need to know.

This book is divided into five chapters:

1. How to Identify If Your Child Is Addicted to Games: This chapter helps you recognize the signs of game addiction.
2. Why Games Are So Engaging and Captivating for Kids: Learn why games are designed to be irresistible.
3. Eight Strategies to Prevent Game Addiction: Discover practical methods to keep gaming habits healthy.
4. Essential Strategies for Parents: Guidance on how parents can effectively address and manage game addiction.
5. Instilling Hope and Dreams to Escape Game Addiction: Inspire children to dream big and overcome game addiction.

One key reason kids get absorbed in games is their lack of dreams. They may also mistakenly believe that the time available to them is infinite. This book aims to help children discover what they love and excel at while teaching them how to use their time efficiently to achieve their dreams.

I wrote this book to support parents struggling with game addiction in their families. I sincerely hope it will be of great help to many.