Help! My son is addicted to World of Warcraft!?

Question

My 14 year old son is addicted to computer games! He gets angry if he cant play! Taking the computer away starts world war 3! We recently moved and all his old friends are online playing it. My daughter says he has friends at school, but noone calls or comes over. I have resorted to unplugging the internet at night, but he whines and complains terribly! He even has snuck into my room to plug the internet back in, in the middle of the night! His grades are okay and hes basically a good kid. I have tried talking to him but he just gets angry. He does little around the house and its like pulling teeth to get him to take the trash out. Just taking it away is torture for me! He plays soccer but season is over right now and getting him involved with any thing else is not gonna happen. What can I do? I dont like to yell. Help! Im afraid he's obsessed with that game. Please productive advice only!

Answer 1

well if he is doing good in school and not behaiving badly if u dont take it away, then there is nothing wrong with him, just make sure he gets outside for like an hour a day, compromise with him, i dont blame him for being addicted to WoW, i just tried the 10 day free trial it was great

oh u could ground him and tell him if he doesnt behaive u will get ride of WoW permanantley

Answer 2

Ah, WoW, the biggest hit in sleepless nerd land since dungeons and dragons, really, it seems to be a hard habit to shake for those that start playing (i tried before, but found it to be way too boring) its really a hard task getting the addicts off.

I belive there ARE ways around this, first suggestion would be, contact blizzard (the company that made it) and see what they can do to help parents, there might be a way to limit the time that the account is active, so that it is only playable for so many hours each day/week.

Another idea is scaring him out of it, most kids will kick an addiction if they are shown the negative products from using the drug, or playing the game, im not sure exactly how to find this stuff, but mabey a doctors office might have pictures/storys of people that become obese, acne ridden, or get diabetes, or some other disease, warn him that inactivity will greatly increase his risks, if he doesnt already wear glasses/contacts, tell him that the computer screen can actually deteriorate his vision, BUT, never tell a lie, make sure you warn him about actual problems he can encounter, because you lose trust if he finds the lie is a lie.

If nothing else works, the two best things you can do are probably the two worst things you can do. These are also the most easy solutions

1) Uninstall the game, stop paying for the account

2) Get a phyciatrist.

I hope somthing helps, because its a sad thing for anyone (but especially youth) to spend all the time on the computer playing games.

Answer 3

i think most parents don't understand that he is playing with his friends. you're right, he should be nice and shouldn't whine, but what if you had a party with 20 or 40 people present, and he kept on bugging you to come and talk to him, or to repaint the fence or something. you would politely say, sorry sweatheart, but im entertaining right now. these are real people getting together, it just doesn't look like it. it is no less real than when you have an office conference call. also, it bears mentioning that a 14 year old typically will rebel, and its not the leather or the motorcycles or the women or the nightclubs or the warcraft, its the attitude.

Answer 4

You have to really lay down the law now. My mother used to take away my computer when i my grades used to drop or my house chores weren't done. It has to be done. He has to learn that that video game is not the most important thing in his life. There are more things more important. Does he have the computer in his room? If so, move it out into the open and tell him that he can't play it until everything is done. Then, you could see him if he's playing it without your permission...I play soccer, but when soccer season is over, try to get him into other sports like track or MAKE HIM GO PLAY OUTSIDE WITH HIS FRIENDS! I'm telling you, my mother used to do that with me and i thank her for it now. Give him other things to do.

At the same time, you have to be strong. When he whines and complains, IGNORE IT. He knows he can manipulate you and get to you. In his eyes, he owns you in that way. Don't give in to him. If he keeps whining, send him to his room and close the door. Don't let him keep working you over. You are the mother. He is the son. PERIOD! You pay the bills! It's YOUR HOUSE!

Hope that helps!

Answer 5

Ah, WoW, the biggest hit in sleepless nerd land because of the fact dungeons and dragons, relatively, it form of feels to be a complicated habit to shake for individuals who start up playing (i attempted previously, yet got here upon it to be way too uninteresting) its relatively a complicated activity getting the addicts off. I belive there are techniques around this, first suggestion could be, touch snowfall (the employer that made it) and see what they are able to do to help mothers and fathers, there would desire to be the thank you to cut back the time that the account is energetic, so as that that's barely playable for numerous hours daily/week. yet another thought is scaring him out of it, maximum childrens will kick an dependancy in the event that they are shown the unfavorable products from using the drug, or playing the activity, im unsure precisely the thank you to define those issues, yet mabey a docs workplace would desire to have photographs/storys of people who grow to be obese, zits ridden, or get diabetes, or another affliction, warn him that state of no activity will a great deal advance his unfavorable aspects, if he doesnt already positioned on glasses/contacts, tell him that the seen exhibit unit can honestly visit pot his ingenious and prescient, yet, in no way tell a lie, be certain you warn him approximately surely issues he can stumble upon, because of the fact you lose have confidence if he shows the lie is a lie. If no longer the rest works, the two terrific issues you're able to do are probable the two worst issues you're able to do. those are additionally the main basic strategies a million) Uninstall the activity, provide up procuring the account 2) Get a phyciatrist. i desire somthing helps, because of the fact its a tragic factor for all of us (yet incredibly young toddlers) to spend all the time on the laptop playing video games.

Answer 6

Unfortunately he's at an age where he is going to rebel, not want to take out the trash and want his way all the time.

It's tough to be the parent, but laying down the law is part of your job.

I think it's safe to let him play an hour or two a day. Just clearly communicate the guidelines and enforce them. He's going to fight you, but that's part of growing up.Over time he'll get accustomed to the rules and won't fight as much.

Good luck.

Answer 7

I have a friend with basicly the same problem. Set limits, have him earn wow time. Check in from time to time, supervisng may seem boring, but a parent who cares means alot. My friends parents are divorced, and he moves between them alot. In trying to make thinks feel beter he got in to chatrooms with sum scrupulus people, and suprised me when he started cussing just normally. WoW is not bad, but you should know who he's hannging out with, even though it's an online game, the rule aerson is as good as the friends he has still applies.

Answer 8

okay... i am 17 years old myself, (im at school right now in fact) but i will tell you that i am also addicted, i mean that, i am addicted to the internet and online gaming, parents dont understand, for us, by that i mean my generation oh teenagers, there are so many things out there to do online, it is like another world just for us, i would suggest "limiting" his time on the computer or games, but please dont take it away from him, put yourself in our shoes, he should be restricted on the time he spends on the internet and gaming, but he shouldnt be kept from his favorite hobby, just let him know whos in charge and if he wants to start complaining, that you will get rid of the computer completely, that will scare him enough to get his attention to listen to you, at least it would if someone was going to take my computer away

Answer 9

You need to stand up and be the parent. You need to set ground rules and talk them out with him. Tell him if he gets 'mad' about talking you will take that to mean he's not mature enough to be playing games on-line and his account with WoW will be closed. Whose paying the 14.99/month anyway? He needs to earn that money & he does it by being civil & doing his homework and chores.

Tell him to schedule his time with his friends and lights out means lights out. If he gets his chores and homework done and wants to play, that should be fine. Tell him if he sneaks into your room again or tries anything else to break the rules you will have his WoW account cancelled and the internet will be turned off. End of discussion.

Teenagers are famous for yelling, screaming, kicking & crying to get their way. What they often forget is we can yell, scream, kick & cry as well. And, we have the check books & credit cards and not only can but will be the final word on anything in their lives until they are 18 and/or out of the house.

Lay down the law. It will only get worse if you don't.

Answer 10

Ok, this may be hard for you to take in, but it must be said. The only option is murder/suicide, because your son is playing WoW, he's joined the legions of the night-livers and if you don't save him you'll have to take a virtual hammer and stake and plunge it through his characters virtual chest and heart. His online character now contains his sole, this is almost a given if he has dark rings/bags around his eyes. This is very serious, if he asks you if you want to play it, he is gone and is trying to recruit more to the legions of the damned...


Leave the kid alone, the only real problem here is the game he's playing is crap, but luckily not RuneScae, tell me he doesn't also play this.