Does your kid plunk down in front of the PlayStation or Wii, or grab his Nintendo DS first thing when he gets home from school? If you're concerned about the frequency at which your child is playing video games, then it may be time to take a look at his habits. Many experts believe pathological gaming - or addiction - in kids parallels that of the general population. One study found video game addiction at less than 9 percent of kids who played video games. Take a look at what your child does besides playing games. Weigh his interest in extracurricular activities, such as sports, with which he's involved against his interest in playing video games. If he still spends time participating in other interests, like music instruction, athletics or other activities, then his video game use is probably not excessive. Check his socialization skills - does he interact appropriately with peers or seem withdrawn?
Researchers say that kids who play video games excessively have trouble fitting in and may act impulsively. Being in communication with your child's teachers can give you further insight into his peer interaction. Depression, anxiety and social phobias are common in kids who are pathological gamers. Researchers also haven't found much correlation between gaming addiction and lower grades. Smarter kids who play video games might whiz through their work quickly in order to play. Finally, compare how often your child plays video games with how often he watches television. Most experts agree an hour or two per day isn't detrimental, as long as the child is interested in more than just games.