Wednesday, September 11, 2013

A day in the Life- part 26 - Please can I play? ( The draw of the internet and gaming for the ADHD child)

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Our boys all love playing computer and other games on the screen. It is enormous fun.  They enjoy many different kinds of games and the very best at the moment is Minecraft.

What is the link, if any between ADHD and playing screen games?

This past month we had our son assessed by a hearing and language specialist. As a part of her assessment she gave us, the parents, an article to read on TV, the Internet and computer games.
It was not really new stuff to us but it always good to be reminded of the pros's and con's of computer and screen games. 

The connection between ADHD and computer time has been a subject close to our hearts. As flagged up by the therapist, we are totally aware of the pull of computer to child.

ADHD children have a craving for computer games that seems to be more than the average child. There is an addiction type pull. Research shows this to be true. 

There are many reasons why an ADHD child would love and love computer games. 

Here are some of the reasons that  an ADHD child might find computer time especially the Internet and gaming a huge draw – a struggle and even an addiction.



An ADHD child is easily bored. I wrote about this in A Day in the Life Part 2 - I am Bored.
 He might really struggle to engage in an activity if the activity does not grab him. Mundane tasks hold no appeal to the ADHD brain. Step in the screen. Computers and the like offer instant gratification and constant action. We have found this to be true for all our boys but especially our ADHD children. What I mean by this is there is a draw towards the screen and playing games that is almost insatiable. It seems to provide an escape from the real world of ADHD struggle and so is a safe and fun and very exciting place to be. This is totally fun BUT research shows and our assessment information on this topic REMINDED us of the essential need for time limits and breaks from the screen.



We use timers in our home and each child is allowed half and hour. It is however a constant battle to make sure that time is kept and that not too much screen time rules. We often experience the RULING of the screen.



Research I read shows that in the teen years this Internet and gaming addiction amongst especially ADHD kids is a problem.



It is so easy to work with a ‘perhaps’ problem and to be aware of what might be a trip up for ADHD kids.



I asked one of my sons today if he feels sad when he can not get to play. He told me that not it is not really a big deal for him. We talked about it a bit and then he said this profound thing….. mom I think ADHD kids just like playing computer because it is interesting for them . In a nut shell. It is easy to engage and great fun. No stress and no ‘ getting stuff wrong’ and no ‘ having to focus’ --- it is the simpler option.

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