It is worth stopping to think if gaming is having a negative effect on your life, this is a clear indication that it is a problem. You may be playing too much if:
- playing video games is detrimental to relationships with friends and family
- playing video games is regularly interfering with work or study time
- you are embarrassed about how much you play and/or try to cover it up
- playing video games makes your muscles, joints, skin or eyes hurt.
- Playing video games makes you less motivated and effective in your daily life
Follow these instructions to avoid problems such as tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, skin irritation or eyestrain:
- Avoid excessive play. It is recommended that parents monitor their children for appropriate play.
- Take a 10 to 15 minute break every hour, even if you don't think you need it.
- If your hands, wrists, arms or eyes become tired or sore while playing, stop and rest them for several hours before playing again.
- If you continue to have sore hands, wrists, arms or eyes during or after play, stop playing and see a doctor.
Parents should look at the ratings of the games their children have. Video games do have ratings to indicate when they have violence, strong language, mature sexual themes, and other content that may be inappropriate for your children. Given the ratings information, it is up to parents to decide whether their kids can or can’t play them.