Screens (all forms - tv, gameboys, consoles, etc) are all very addictive for kids with ADHD. They are hyper stimulating. The type of games/shows doesn't really matter - it's the refresh rate of the screens that also stimulate the brain.
We are doing our best to implement a "no screens" during the school week. I have found that things go so much smoother when we do that. They do their homework better, we have less fights and they just play and are very creative.
My husband let me daughter veg is front of the TV and play on the computer all morning Sunday and she was just a slug until I out her out to her basketball game. Then she was in a much better mood and not so lethargic.
If they do use them during the week, it was recommended to us no more than 30 minutes during the week and an hour or two on the weekend and not to use them an hour before bed. Also, don't allow them in the bedroom.
My son has recently discovered computers and we also purchased a Wii forWe have this same problem with both of our sons. One diagnosed ADHD (8) and one not (6). We have found that limiting video games to the weekends help solve some of the problem. It seems easier to keep them off, then to get them off once they are started. Even if we tell them only 30 minutes and set the timer, there are still issues when the 30 minutes are up.
I often wish I had never introduced them into my house! They got the Wii last year for Christmas.
We don't have any"screen time" during the week, only on fridays and saturdays. I also set a timer, and when it goes off, the "screen" goes off.My son gets 5 min., then 2 min. warnings and he knows that if he doesn't turn off the video game when I say time's up then I turn it off and he doesn't get to play the next day. And, as someone else pointed out, they need to save their game in order to start where they left off- I tell my son that I don't know how to do that, so if I'm forced to turn off the game it doesn't happen. We almost never have trouble since I started doing this.
We do have trouble with the DS occassionally. It's easy for them to grab it and start playing without being noticed. My son's DS is now stored in an undisclosed location and we bring it out if he asks for it when he's allowed to play or for car trip/Dr. appt., etc. It is a lifesaver at times. I'd give it too him for Christmas, but set the same limits as for the others, and remind him that it can be taken away if he doesn't behave. It's just as much a present (and occasional sanity saver) for you.
As for your wondering if there's any connection to future gambling, I'd have to say that we would have a LOT more gamblers if this were true.
yes that is the screen, Type in the word video games, computer etc and then hit *start search* and that will search what ever forum is listed in the drop down box. you can choose what forum you want to search.We have game time only on weekends or when there is no school. We also have a set time limit and he is only allowed to play certain games for short times. I found that when we got the WII and when he gets a new game he becomes obsessed with it completely. tantrums and everything. Thing have mellowed out now a bit It has been 3 months, but we still have the new game syndrome.well i dont think this is just an ADHD issue. I have a 19 NON adhd year old and a 10 year old, ADHD and also raised my two nephews from age 11 and 13 till they were grown men. I have been thru every type of gaming system known to man!! LOL
Kids just get addicted to them! They love them. And they dont outgrow them! They say the aveage age of a gamer is between 23 and 25!! All my kids threw tantrums, got frustrated and got *addicted* to new games. All my kids had time limits and once they knew I wasnt budging, that helped tremendoulsy.
I think whether your child is ADHD or not, time limits on all video, computer and tv needs to be set.
With my ADHD guy, he is allowed 1 hour after his homework is done and dinner is finished and reading is done. It must be OFF by 8 pm(he goes to bed at 9:30)
On the weekends, he gets 2 hours to use as he sees fit. ALl at once or 30 minutes during the day. He is not a huge TV or movie watcher so that is usually not an issue and he only goes online to check out the *cheat forums* for his games! NO chatting or anything even remotely *myspace* etc. Not yet anyways! LOL
HE use to be really upset about the time limits but now he even tells US when its 8 pm and the games go off! LOL I think it also helps with the frustration and tantrums if they know they can do something else FUN and creative. GIving up one thing for something else fun makes it much easier..
I just tried searching on the word search next to help. It did bring up a
There was another thread about this last week.
My son is the same way and it's not just ADD kids but it's just harder for ADD kids.
My son's personality changes - from pleasant to nasty.
It's mostly those games that never end - you know, those quest games. My son is fine with games that end - arcade type games. Currently, he has lost his computer priveleges for disrespectul behavior. We have noticed that since he is not allowed the games his behaviour is better and he is doing better in school. He's lost the games till the end of December and I'm not giving him time to earn it back. I'll see how he is at the start of Christmas vacation and maybe let him have it back but if he gets rude and defiant again, they are gone.
Also, since he doesn't have the game, he is playing with the dog more, practicing his magic hobby more, and generally doing more constructive things. (won't clean the room but that is another thread.)
A mother of one of my son's friends took away the Runescape because she said he was acting like an addict - rude, nasty, spending too much time and his grade went down - from A's to B's - well my kid went from D's to F's. Her son doesnt' have ADD. In fact, I get kind of nervous when this boy is at my house because they tend to go into the computer room and do things.
We will never let our kid have his own computer - it would be a dissaster because then we could never monitor what he is doing and he'd never leave his room.
When we point this out, ofcourse, he denies it. He hyperfocuses and gets obsessed. Currently it's Runescape. At one point, he got on the computer and was doing pivot, which is just animating stick figures. It's not a game but he was becoming obsessed with it.
Try to monitor the games closely. Set time limits. We allow 30 mins. max but we have to monitor the time because my son loses track of it - he's 14.
If you notice his behaviour changing - point it out to him and stop the game. If there is one particular game that makes him nuts you may have to just ban it and find something else. When my son was in the 4th grade, we had to get rid of the game boy. He just couldn't handle it.
The computer games are good incentives but they have to be monitored.
Last night he was whining because all his friends of game systems and the Wii system. I told him that was good for his friends and he could play the games at their houses. I figure I can't control what he does out of the house but if he plays at their houses, he plays, he comes home, he's done.
rswf39427.3613425926Thanks for all these great tips. I'm extra worried now because I bought[QUOTE=Joejoesmom]Thanks for all these great tips. I'm extra worried now because I bought
my son a Nintendo DS for Christmas. We are travelling to Canada over
the holidays and I thought it would be good for the long plane ride. Now
I'm wondering after promising this toy for so long can I just say he's not
getting it. I've promised it for months and he's been thinking about it all
the time. I wish now I had held off longer. My son was not interested in
computers games until my 16 year old step daughter came over and
introduced him to a site called Addictive Games. After a day of that I told
her to get it off the computer and he can't find it. That was how it all got
started though and it has progressed over time. I have noticed that when
we rented a game about the Golden Compus for the Wii he couldnt' stop
it. Fortunately I told him we had to return it by Wednesday and I haven't
let him play it the past two days. The only good thing about computers is
that he has completely lost interest in t.v. I kind of think that the
computer games as long as they are not violent are better than just
sitting watching t.v. He got very frustrated last nigt over a game that he
couldn't beat the level and he just couldn't stop. He asked me to try to
beat it and after 5 tries I couldn't either and I told him it's too frustrating
so let's stop. He got really angry about that, had a big cry and all but it
fizzled out. He seems to get extremely angry at first says all kinds of
really mean things to us. We adopted him so his favorite is "When I grow
up I'm going to find my birth parents and tell them what horrible parents I
had." He tore a photo up of him and me together last night during the
tantrum. I just closed his door and left his room until he calmed down.
He appologizes profusley but I still feel the sting of his words. I'm just
really thinking hard about not giving him the Nintendo DS. Any advice on
that type of game do people find it just causes fights about being taken
everyhwere?[/QUOTE]
Only you can decide if its right to buy him the DS or not. If it makes him as nasty and frustrated as you say, then it might not be a good idea. Maybe you coudl find something else to keep him occupied on that long plane ride. Puzzle books, maze books, word finds are all good. Maybe some travel games you could play with him. Does he like music? How about a ipod to listen to! SOme host vidieos he can watch. Just some suggestions
We have the DS and have found it at times to be a god send. It keeps Ryan occupied on long rides, but we still have to take *DS* breaks. He then does his puzzle books, colors, draws, loves those MAD LIB books. He can also read in the car. I CANT i get sick! ...He is not allowed the DS in restaurants. During holidays he may play the DS if we are at Grandmas or somewhere there are no kids or kid activities. Even then, only for short intervals and then not at dinner. I give 15 min advance notice that its time to shut it off. AND i will just turn it off, if he doesnt save it. And they NEED to save it, if they want to start back where they left off. SO just turning it off makes him angry for the minute but I explain that if he LISTENED the first time, I wouldnt have done it. NEXT time, he saves it ON time.
I know what you mean abou the QUEST games. They do tend to frustrate my little guy more so than the other games.But yet those are the ones he loves the most..Go figure!
[QUOTE=Joejoesmom]To rswf do you know the name of the other board that has to do with
comptuers? And also do you know how I can search a title in here before
starting a new topic. I tried to find that in the help sectrion but could not.
Thanks[/QUOTE]
if you go to the top of the board and into the search engine, you can type *video games, etc* and it will bring up all topics with that word in it.
I have a daughter with ADHD who is nearly 8. Had the same problems couldnt get her of the computer or her ds. Had constant tantrums for ages trying to get her off them. ADHD children are visual learners, so instead of trying to stop her from playing, i changed it into a good thing. I took away her computer games and replaced them with learning ones which support the schools curriculum. History, Geography, Science etc. She loves them, and is always coming down telling me all these facts, half of them i never knew. Now im not so worried cos she seems to be learning more at home than she does at school. As for her ds i keep it somewhere she cant get at, and we just use it now for in the car, or places where there is a long wait, just to keep her calm. I have a ps3 and she only gets to play that if she has been really good, which i play 2 player with her, and instead of giving her a time limit, we do it say to the end of the level, that way she can see she has achieved something and dont get any tantrums.
Thanks for the tip about the educational games. If you have the time