In June 2018 gaming addiction became a hot topic of discussion as it entered into a draft bill to be recognized as a psychological disorder. The World Health Organization now also recognizes that “people can become addicted to gaming.” Many parents have campaigned for this for many years, starting with Liz Woolley as early as 2002. Her son committed suicide in front of his computer screen after battling with gaming addiction and depression for years preceeding.
Frequently articles pop up on the homeschool Facebook groups, posted by a parents who are concerned with the amount of screen time children have. Often a debate ensues. Some parents share that they are non-gaming families, some set time limits, and others feel they have no control over their children’s gaming and screen usage and wish they did.
Brad Huddleston travels the world and does a talk entitled “Digital Cocaine” which gets parents all fired up to help their youngsters. Typically, the gaming addicts in the audience get more and more angry with him as he shares the science behind the addiction.
Smart phone and tech companies are waging an invisble war on men, women and children. If you haven't already, you need to join us in educating our children about how to not be part of the largest experiment on the human brain.
Every single person can always find a way to detach themselves from their Smart phones, computers and gaming consol.
Here are 10 ways you be a good example and reduce your screen time immediately:
1. Remove all social media from your phone
2. Do not receive emails on your phone
3. Have only 3 set times to check your phone
4. Turn off the TV from Monday to Thursday and play a board game, read a book or set up a topic to debate instead.
5. Unsubscribe from Facebook groups, blogs and newsletters that you don’t really need.
6. Create tech free zones in your home like bedrooms, dinning tables and bathrooms.
7. Have a shut down time for all tech in the home. At least 2 hours before bed is advised by the experts.
8. Allow screen time monitoring on your smart phone and make it a personal goal to reduce it each week.
9. Never pick up your phone when you are with people or your children need your attention.
10. Just do it! It may be hard to begin with but in the long run the whole family will benefit.
Read more ideas at http://humanetech.com/take-control/
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