Brief advice about gaming for family and friends

When talking to a person with concerns about another’s gaming, offer an empathic acknowledgement thatRiley, 2022:

hazardous gaming and gaming disorder are recognised disorders of addictive behaviour—see Definitions of gaming behaviour
interventions are available and experience in their use is growing
a return to health following significant gaming issues is feasible
family and friends can be very important in supporting the return to good health.

If advising a parent with children younger than 17 years who may be at risk from gaming, it can be helpful to:

recognise that moderate gaming is healthy
explore their understanding of their child’s experiences and motivation for gaming, and whether they are willing to get involved in playing with the child
encourage gaming that is social rather than solitary
discuss the strategy of making access to games a reward for the child achieving life tasks
consider the parent setting specific daily time limits for total gaming time
advise the parent to review the censorship ratings on games if they are concerned about exposure to violenceLoton, 2016.

The eSafety Commissioner website has more advice for parents on how to maintain a safe online environment for children.