Beware of computer addiction in children

"Please, just five more minutes," twelve-year-old Timo implores his father. After all, he still wants to finish the PC game. But he is gradually getting desperate because his son is spending more and more time in front of the computer. As soon as he has to do without his laptop for a day, he seems restless and quickly becomes irritable. So the father rightly asks himself: "Are these the first signs of an addiction and how can I recognize a possible computer addiction?"

via Anna-Lisa

01/12/2017, 12:56

Schützen Sie Ihr Kind vor Computersucht — How many hours can your child spend in front of the computer?

Computer addiction in children is often misjudged

Timo is not an isolated case. Experts estimate that over half a million under 18-year-olds are already suffering from the consequences of excessive consumption. They neglect contacts, quickly become aggressive and are often absent from school. These are the first symptoms of computer addiction. This unhealthy "obsession" can develop when parents underestimate the potential for addiction and do not set firm rules for use.

As a new survey by DAK Krankenkasse in cooperation with the German Center for Addiction Issues reveals, every second family has no time limit for use. This means that children often spend hours in front of the PC. But is this already a serious computer addiction? Help for parents could be provided by the website www.computersuchthilfe.info. Here, parents who want to know exactly how much time their child spends on the PC each day can download a diary and make notes. This gives them an overview.

Protect your child from computer addiction

Parents can protect their children from computer addiction by setting limits.

For example, 11 to 13-year-olds should use the PC for a maximum of one hour a day. From the age of 14, it can be 30 minutes more.

It is also advisable to offer alternatives, such as a games evening or an outing.