Is Your Kid a Video Game Addict?

Does your kid plunk down in front of the PlayStation or Wii, or grab his Nintendo DS first thing when he gets home from school? If you're concerned about the frequency at which your child is playing video games, then it may be time to take a look at his habits. Many experts believe pathological gaming - or addiction - in kids parallels that of the general population. One study found video game addiction at less than 9 percent of kids who played video games. Take a look at what your child does besides playing games. Weigh his interest in extracurricular activities, such as sports, with which he's involved against his interest in playing video games. If he still spends time participating in other interests, like music instruction, athletics or other activities, then his video game use is probably not excessive. Check his socialization skills - does he interact appropriately with peers or seem withdrawn?