Gaming addiction or just normal kid stuff?

D

2w ago1 min read

My 14 year old is into competitive gaming and plays for like 4-5 hours after school every day. His grades are still decent and he's got friends but I worry he's isolating himself. His mom thinks I'm overreacting but I'm genuinely concerned. He gets really angry if we ask him to get off. Is this something I should be more strict about or am I being that annoying helicopter parent?

3

3 comments209 views

Comments(3)

0

SSteve K.Regular2w ago

The competitive gaming thing is different than just scrolling, but yeah those hours add up quick. We've had to sit down and talk about balance with our kids too, and it helps when you frame it as 'what are we NOT doing because of gaming time.'

0

FFrank L.New Dad2w ago

4-5 hours daily after school is worth paying attention to, especially since it's crowding out other stuff. Decent grades are good but I'd still set some boundaries before it becomes harder to pull back.

0

DDerek P.Regular2w ago

Tough call at 14 because he's getting old enough to have real hobbies. I'd just keep checking in on whether it's affecting sleep, homework, and time with actual friends. That's usually where the real problem shows up.

Sign in to join the conversation.