My almost 9 year old has ADHD followed with ODD (oppositional defiance disorder) and PTSD (post tramatic stress disorder). He takes Adderall XR 25mg once a day. All he wants to do is play on the PS2 or computer or gameboy advance. This keeps him out of trouble, and he doesn't fight so much with the other kids (he is the oldest of 4). However i am worried that the games are hurting him, because he doesn't want to spend much time with the family. I don't allow shooting or fighting games, so I know he's not getting bad behavior from them. His schooling isn't suffering, he is actually pretty good at reading and he likes math. His unsocial behavior worries me for his future. I have tried limiting his time on the games, but when he isn't playing them, he is fighting with the other kids, or destroying things. What is your advice?
2006-12-31 06:18:31 · 5 answers · asked by lilmissblossom 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
While video games can certainly occupy your ADHD child, they can be overstimulating. My husband has ADHD, and at 30, he still has a passion for video games, because they give his brain something stimulating to focus on. So, while he has a lack of focus for most things (like listening to me! : )) he can hyperfocus on video games because they change so rapidly. He can spend hours playing his video games, and while it may not be the best thing for him, it helps him to focus. As long as your son is doing well with his school work, it is ok to allow him to use video games in his downtime to reorganize his brain. Try having him start interacting more with the other kids by having them play his video games with him at first. Then, try to find some board games or other activities that your kids can do together. Getting involved in a physical sport also helps- an ADHD child craves movement, so team sports can really help. Baseball, soccer, basketball, etc. which require lots of movement, and action can really help to organize a child with ADHD.
2006-12-31 09:32:24 · answer #1 · answered by dolphin mama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
seems like you are using the games as an easy way out of dealing with him by letting him play games rather than teaching him not to destroy things or not to fight other kids...
he is 9 now.. but will be 19.. 29... 39..
how is he going to live in a world where he cannot hide behind his game all the time?? will he have the skills to have a job? to cope with boredom? and to deal with things he doesnt want to deal with?
if he is that bad now imagine the future.. you need professional help for him - teach him proper coping skills.. the world will not revolve around him when he is older - if he fights or breaks something in the real world he will be in prision...
you MUST teach him this NOW.. the Playstation should only be a reward.. find him some other things to do and allow him to learn how to accept boredom and how not to fight or break stuff.. if he destroys anything or fights..= no playstation for an established period of time
get PROFESSIONAL HELP.. medication doesnt teach anything
2006-12-31 06:59:30 · answer #2 · answered by CF_ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having a special needs child requires different parenting then main stream children. My son's doctor (he was diagnosed with AdHd) recommended we get him a game system to help with his poor hand/eye co-ordination. It sounds like you're doing a good job by keeping the violent games away from him.
He needs more social skills and the video games aren't helping him with that. Have you tried structured one on one play time with a kid he gets along with?
It sounds like something you need to bring up to his doctor and see what he/she recommends.
Maybe try to find him a hobby that he could do as a group with other kids, like playing those yu-Gi-Oh cards, playing chess.. etc. Something he can't do on his video games but that he'd really enjoy doing. It would help him learn the social skills without being in a high pressured situation.
2007-01-01 01:22:33 · answer #3 · answered by sassydontpm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A couple of years ago, my 9 yr old nephew became violent when TV and video games are turned off. He hit, trashed the house, out of control! Police had to be called to restrain him! they took him to the hospital, and he was transferred to an area children's hospital. they had a couple of other kids there for TV/ video addiction issues! I could not believe it! He spent nearly two weeks there breaking him from TV addiction. One girl was so violent, it was scary. She had been there nearly a month. The doctors said it is like a drug addiction, robbing you of any joy in life. After treatment, his social skills improved and so did his behavior. Now, a couple of years later the parents brought back the TV/videos unsupervised, and our nepew is anti-social once again. He has no interests or hobbies (his words), and just a couple of friends (more like aquaintences). no life goals, nothing. he just sits back and watches video/play games throughout the day. if he is not playing videos, he is just sitting doing nothing. seek out treatment. rough to begin with, but worthwhile if you stick to it.
2006-12-31 06:44:47 · answer #4 · answered by Bobbi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Limit his time on the games . That is just over stimulating his brain even more. I know it's hard but you just need to parent the bad behavior and deal with how he acts when not playing. He needs that social interaction to help him learn. Not the isolation which will only make things worse.
2006-12-31 06:23:21 · answer #5 · answered by party_pam 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋