ADHD and Video Games: Is Your Child Hooked?

Playing a great video game is like living inside of a movie and being showered with gold coins. Is it any wonder our children love them? But too much of a good thing can be very, very bad when a child with ADHD hyperfocuses on games and becomes hoooked. Learn how to break the gaming habit here.

By Larry Silver, M.D. Verified Updated on April 1, 2024

Illustration of ADHD boy playing video game

Any child will tell you: Video games are fun and exciting. It turns out they can be educational, too. Gaming can improve eye-hand coordination, and may foster positive social interactions. Children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) or little athletic interest or ability have an opportunity to compete in a different way, and to form friendships with like-minded gamers.

But as solitary gaming steals time from sports, studies, or other peer activities for kids, an interest can become a video game obsession.

Recent surveys show that children spend an average of 49 minutes a day on video games. If a child’s video game console is in the bedroom, play time increases dramatically, to nearly three hours. Parents may unwittingly contribute to the problem, if they rely on handheld games to keep their children quiet during meals out, endless car trips, or the long, unstructured days of summer.

In recent years, I’ve spoken with many parents who are looking for ways to wean their kids from too much video games. Here’s what I tell them.

Understand the Appeal of Video Games for Children

Video games hold special attractions for children with ADHD. A child who’s bothered by distractibility in the real world may be capable of intense focus, or hyperfocus, while playing. Nor is hyperactivity a problem; a child can hold the controllers and stand or pace back and forth in front of the TV as he plays.

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For children who struggle with making friends, or lack the skills to play team sports, these games entertain and level the playing field. Computer games are emotionally safe. When a child strikes out in a baseball game, he’s doing it in front of a crowd of peers. But when he makes a mistake while playing a video game, no one else has to know.

Video-game errors aren’t circled in red ink by teachers, either. In fact, making mistakes helps the player improve. By trial and error, he learns the specific action needed to advance the next time. There is satisfaction in steadily improving and, ultimately, winning, with no chance of failing or being teased.

Set Boundaries for Video Game Play

Any parent of a young child with ADHD knows that these kids often lack the capacity for self-regulation. This is particularly true when it comes to pleasurable activities that invite and reward hyperfocus. Thus, parents must be the ones to set and enforce limits — especially with children who have already become used to video-game overuse.

Both parents must first agree on a set of rules. This task is often the hardest. How long can our child play on school nights? Must homework be done first? Chores? How about on weekends? Which games are forbidden entirely (see “Kid-friendly Content,” at bottom)? If our child wants to play Internet-based games, which sites are OK?

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Sit down with your child to discuss the rules and explain how they’ll be enforced. Let’s say, your daughter is allowed to spend 30 minutes playing computer games on school nights. She can begin playing only after she’s finished her homework (and you’ve looked it over and helped her pack it in her book bag) and completed her chores (and you’ve checked them off on her chore chart). Then announce that the rules start now.

Enforce the Rules of Video Game Play

At first, you may have to lock up the game or otherwise make sure that the game and its controls are physically unavailable when gaming is off-limits. When he’s allowed to play, you can hand them over and remind him, “You’ve got 30 minutes.”

When playtime begins, set a timer — a visible timer, such as the TimeTimer (timetimer.com), may be especially effective. Then, step in with periodic warnings: “You have 15 minutes left,” “Ten minutes to go.” When time’s almost up, announce, “You can play for five more minutes. Then it will be time to save your game. I’ll give you a few more minutes while I wait here.”

If your child does well with the time limit for several days in a row, consider tracking his progress and awarding a few extra minutes at week’s end. Emphasize that, as he demonstrates greater responsibility, he’ll earn greater privileges.

If, on the other hand, your child continues to play, despite your step-by-step warnings, do not shout or disconnect the power or get into a wrestling match to take back the equipment. Such approaches will only escalate anger. Instead, calmly remind him of the rules.

Then announce that, for each minute he continues to play, one minute will be subtracted from the time allowed the next day. If you check on him after lights out and find him playing the game under the covers, he might lose the privilege for several days.

Once you get the game controls back, lock them up again. When he regains the privilege to play, ask, “Would you like to try following the rules again?”

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Offer Alternatives to Video Games

Once you’ve reduced the time your child spends playing video games, find other ways for him to occupy his time — no small feat when school’s out.

Search out an activity he can feel successful at, one that taps into his strengths and talents. If team sports are difficult, look into a sport that emphasizes individual performance, such as swimming, martial arts, golf, bowling, or gymnastics.

Or look into non-competitive group activities offered in your area, such as an arts-and-crafts class, a summer drama troupe, or a nature club. And remember that few children enjoy anything more than a one-on-one summer outing with mom or dad.

Kid-Friendly Video Games

Research has not yet confirmed that video game content influences children’s behavior. But the violence built into many popular computer games is troubling to many parents.

How can you keep unwanted language, graphics, and content out of your house? Ask other parents for their opinions about any game your child has requested. Play the game yourself, or observe it being played. And check its ratings.

Just as movies are classified for appropriate age levels, the Entertainment Software Rating Board gives every computer game one of the following ratings:

EC Early childhood (suitable for ages 3 and older)
E Everyone (suitable for ages 6 and older)
E10+ Everyone 10+ (suitable for 10 and older)
T Teen (suitable for 13 and older)
M Mature content (violence, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language; suitable for ages 17 and older, with parents’ consent)

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