By Stephen C. Schultz
This guide provides resources for parents navigating the challenges of ADHD, anxiety, and video game management in their teens and young adults.
ADHD Resources
The following books and websites can help you better understand and manage ADHD:
Recommended Books:
- Russell Barkley: Taking Charge of ADHD
- Hallowell & Ratey: Delivered from Distraction
- Harvey Parker: The ADD Hyperactivity Workbook for Parents, Teachers, & Kids
- Bradley & Giedd: Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind
- Michael Gurian: The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons from Falling Behind in School and Life
- Mohab Hanna: Making the Connection: A Parents’ Guide to Medication in AD/HD
Helpful Websites:
- CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Help for ADHD
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Anxiety Resources:
The following websites provide support and information for managing anxiety:
- Anxiety and Stress
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- Anxieties
- Anxiety Wellness
- Freeing Your Child
Video Game Management and Insights
Research Insights:
A study published in Pediatrics (Volume 27, No. 2) by Dr. David Gentili highlights potential effects of playing violent video games, including:
- Increased normative beliefs about aggression
- Greater hostile attribution biases
- More frequent aggressive fantasies
- Higher likelihood of engaging in physical and relational aggression
- Increased risk of becoming a victim of aggression
Youngsters with ADHD are particularly vulnerable to becoming pathological gamers.
Key Questions for Parents:
- How much time does your child spend playing video games daily and weekly?
- What is the content of the games?
- Is your child socializing less with friends?
- Are their grades declining?
- Is your child irritable or defiant when asked to stop playing video games?
Strategies for Managing Video Games:
- Set Clear Limits: Define the amount of time your child can play and enforce these limits consistently.
- Discuss Rules: Ensure your child understands the rules, limits, and consequences for breaking them.
- Monitor Content: Review the ratings and content descriptors before purchasing games.
- Create Shared Spaces: Place gaming devices in public areas of the home for easy monitoring.
- Encourage Alternative Activities: Support your child in pursuing other hobbies and social interactions.
- Online Safety: Consider setting up a private server where only friends can join online games.
- Budgeting: Set a financial limit for gaming purchases.
Additional Resources:
- Media Awareness Network
- Common Sense Media
- American Academy of Pediatrics Media Violence Policy Statement
- ESRB Ratings
- Games in Daily Life
Comments
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