What should I do if a first-year student becomes addicted to games

The addiction of first-year students to games can be intervened through establishing rules, transferring interests, family companionship, psychological counseling, school collaboration, and other methods. Game addiction may be related to factors such as lack of sense of purpose, unmet social needs, avoidance of reality stress, dopamine dependence, and lack of family supervision.

1. Establish rules

Negotiate with children to set daily game time limits, and suggest placing mobile phones and computers in public areas for use. Clarify the game reward mechanism after completing learning tasks, and take gentle but firm punishment measures such as suspending network access when violating rules. Avoiding simple and crude confiscation of equipment can easily trigger a rebellious mentality.

2. Transfer interests

Guide the development of alternative activities such as sports and art based on the child's personality traits. Projects that require concentration, such as basketball, painting, and programming, have better results. Organize short trips or museum visits on weekends to replace virtual world stimulation with fresh experiences. In the initial stage, an interest cultivation reward system can be set up to help establish new habits.

3. Family companionship

Increase parent-child interaction time, such as cooking together, board games, and other offline activities, to avoid family members using their phones separately. Father involvement is particularly important for adolescent boys, as emotional connections can be established through sports interactions. Regular family meetings allow children to express their needs and jointly develop a balanced plan for entertainment and learning.

4. Psychological counseling

Observe whether the child is avoiding reality due to academic pressure, interpersonal relationships, and other issues, and seek help from a psychological counselor if necessary. Understand the game's appeal through non critical communication, such as meeting social needs through real-life club activities. Avoid label based criticism and emphasize changing behavior rather than negating personality.

5. School Collaboration

Maintain communication with the homeroom teacher, pay attention to school performance and peer influence. Encourage participation in school interest groups or volunteer services to reduce virtual dependence through collective identity. Some schools have online guidance courses that can collaboratively strengthen the concept of healthy internet usage. Patience is required during the improvement process, as game behavior has phased characteristics. Ensure that children have 1 hour of outdoor activity time every day, as sunlight exposure helps regulate their biological clock. Add deep-sea fish, nuts, and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids to the diet to assist in regulating the brain's nervous system. Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of intervention, and if accompanied by persistent emotional distress, academic decline, etc., it is recommended to seek medical attention at a regular medical institution's adolescent psychology department. Parents should lead by example and reduce the use of electronic devices, creating a family atmosphere that values real-life interaction.