Woodbury Reports, Inc.
Bonners Ferry, ID

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Internet Gaming
The Plusses and Minuses

The guests on today's episode of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens hold different perspectives of the fast-growing industry of Internet Gaming. Dr. Hilarie Cash, PhD, cofounder of reStart, and Neils Clark, lecturer for DigiPen, discussed the plusses and minuses of the gaming industry, and barely touched the tip of the iceberg in this controversial epidemic influencing our kids and young adults.

Neils explained games as "systems that are designed to be experienced, in which "grinds" are put in to keep people playing for hours; yet also helps people gain systems literacy and tap into the imagination to create worlds and scenarios." When asked what he would define as game addiction, he felt it was "akin to compulsion." It is crucial for parents to monitor their kids (through their developmental stages) on the time spent, as well as the type of games their children play and the content. Neils warned parents that "games are not babysitters."

Hilarie stressed, that although educational games are often good, "all good things in excess can become a problem." When asked about the 'dark side' of Internet gaming, she explained that when used in moderation, it can be beneficial, but when it tips over into addiction, it can create a whole host of problems, especially in children.

"All addictions take at least two years for the brain to re-wire itself back to normal," Hilarie explained, "and for young children who have overindulged in gaming, it is very difficult to return to normal because they do not have a frame of reference to what is normal."

The number one concern about Internet Gaming among both parents and professionals is the violence and gore. To address this objection, Neils reiterated that parents need to monitor their child's exposure and time limits on gaming. He added that designers have created alternate options and endings for games to allow not as much violence.

Hilarie explained, "Children exposed to these kinds of games are, traumatized. With additional exposure, they become desensitized and disassociate from both the feelings and the gore of the games."

To listen to the full interview go to: Internet Gaming: The Plusses and Minuses on LATalkRadio.
Also available in Podcast

Lon Woodbury, MA is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and StrugglingTeens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio Mondays at 12:00pm, Pacific Time on Channel One.

Dr. Hilarie Cash, PhD is the co-founder and partner of reStart: Internet Addiction Recovery Program and the co-author of "Video Games and Your Kids: How Parents Stay in Control". Hilarie started specializing in Internet and video game addiction in the 90's and started an outpatient clinic- Internet/Computer Addiction Services, in 1999.

Neils Clark, MA is a lecturer at DigiPen, a top ranked game design school and is the co-author of "Game Addiction". At DigiPen, Clark teaches Media and Ethics and Introductory Psychology. He is currently working on a new book that is based on the "games culture."

This Segment is sponsored by Spring Ridge Academy, Arizona, 928-632-4602, www.springridgeacademy.com, a Therapeutic Boarding School for Girls in Arizona