I want to share a letter with you that Focus on the Family recently received …

Hi my name is Emily,

The other night I awoke at 2 in the morning after hearing a noise downstairs. Nervously, I slipped quietly toward the mysterious sound. Anxiety turned into anger as I approached the faint but distinct music of my sons’ favourite video game—the same game that I’d told him to stop playing hours earlier in order to go to bed.

At that moment, I couldn’t decide whether to scream or cry. Anyway, I unplugged the video-game system, walked onto my second-story deck and threw hundreds of dollars worth of equipment over the railing. With a great sense of relief, I listened for the sweet sound of crashing electronics below.

Emily’s reaction may seem extreme, but those who live with a child addicted to video games understand. Parents in increasing numbers are coming to us, asking how to deal with the obsession their kids have with video games. The constant, daily battle they have with their kids to limit their game time seems pointless.

According to Olivia and Kurt Bruner, authors of Playstation Nation, more than 20 percent of kids are addicted to computer and video games.

The chemicals triggered by about 30 minutes of video-game play rival an amphetamine high, eventually creating a physiological dependence similar to cocaine addiction.

Kids who develop patterns of natural play rather than virtual play are more likely to become well-rounded, happy adolescents, but those who grow up on the dopamine-inducing high of prolonged video-game play often become Digital Junkies.

Tim Sisarich, Executive Director Focus on the Family NZ as heard on Scrubcutters , Newstalk ZB

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