How Long Should A Child Be Allowed To Play Video Games?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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is not an inalienable right! 2. Put clear limits on your child's gaming. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests time allotted should be

under 30 to 60 minutes per day on school days

and 2 hours or less on non- school days.

How long does the average kid play video games?

On average, children play for

2.13 hours a day

, and 92 percent of parents let their children play at least an hour of a day. Eight percent admitted that they let their kids play more than five hours a day.

Is it bad to play 5 hours of video games?

If you play video games for five hours a day but can put the controller down without issue whenever you feel like it,

you're probably fine

. If you are passing up on having a social life, sacrificing sleep, or not eating right due to your gaming habits, that might be when you have crossed the line into addiction.

How long is too long to play video games?

The bottom-line: “

One to nine hours per week seems

to be safe, but playing more than nine hours — one hour on weekdays and two hours on weekend days — may be not recommended for children 7 to 11 years old,” said study author Dr. Jesus Pujol.

Is it bad for my child to play video games?

But too much video game playing may cause problems. It's hard to get enough active play and exercise if you're always inside playing video games. And without enough exercise, kids

can become overweight

. Overdoing video games also could affect other important stuff, like friendships and how well a kid does in school.

Is 2 hours of video games too much?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says the one- to two-hour limit is

for young children age two to five

and that older kids and teens have “consistent limits” but don't define that numerically (Marachi, 2016)

Do video games rot your brain?


Violent shooter video games

really DO rot your brain: Frequent players have less gray matter, study reveals. Playing violent ‘shooter' video games can damage the brain and may even increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, brain scans suggest. … They also gave them copes of non-violent games from the Super Mario series.

How many hours of video games is an addiction?

Gaming addiction

How many hours of video games is healthy adults?

In fact, a study from Oxford University has found quite the opposite, and that playing

four hours

of video games every day is actually good for your mental health!

Are video games a waste of time?

According to a recent study by the NPD group, 73% of Americans over the age of 2 play video games of some kind. They are popular for a reason. They are a lot of fun, and

fun is not a waste of time

. … The vast majority of people who play video games lead healthy, productive lives.

What are negative effects of playing video games?

  • Dopamine addiction.
  • Reduction in Motivation.
  • Alexithymia and emotional suppression.
  • Repetitive stress injuries and other health risks.
  • Poor mental health.
  • Relationship issues.
  • Social disconnection.
  • Exposure to toxic gaming environments.

Should a 5 year old play video games?

Your child is gaining the coordination and mental ability to play more complex computer games — and his interest may be growing, too. Five-year-olds love to copy friends and bigger kids. … It's not too early to start creating positive habits for video game use.

Is gaming a disorder?

Gaming disorder

How many hours a day is OK to play video games?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends

no more than two hours per day

of screen-based entertainment. Parents should create a “media plan” that dictates what hours a child can enjoy video games without affecting behavior and homework, Radesky says.

What happens if you play video games for 24 hours?

It can cause a wide range of problems, most commonly led by

eye strain and eye pain

. These problems can be exacerbated by low light and bad posture, so if you're settling in for a marathon gaming session, at least make sure you have an ergonomic chair and good lighting.

How many hours a week is video game addiction?

Gentile, Ph. D., examined video game usage rates of 3,034 children and teenagers. Video game addiction statistics from this study revealed the following: The average length of time spent playing video games was

20 hours per week

.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.