Well-balance life with MNI – What are the effects of video games on your child’s health?

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There are many misconceptions and debates about video games and the impact they have on mental health. Video games may have many benefits, including developing complex problem-solving skills and promoting social interaction through online gaming. Video games can be a great way to stimulate your mind and improve your mental health.

Benefits of Video Games

·        Mental stimulation. Video games often make you think. When your child plays video games, almost every part of their brain is working to help achieve a higher-level thinking. Depending on the complexity of the game, they may have to think, strategies, and analyse quickly. Playing video games works with deeper parts of their brain that improves development and critical thinking skills.

·        Mental health recovery. Playing games may help with trauma recovery.

·        Social interaction. Multiplayer and online games are good for virtual social interaction.

·        Emotional resilience. When you fail in a game or in other situations, it can be frustrating. Video games help people learn how to cope with failure and keep trying. This is an important tool for children to learn and use as they get older.

Set limits to manage stress causing by gaming. 

Though video games themselves aren’t bad for your child’s mental health, becoming addicted to them can be. Spending too much time gaming can lead to isolation. Your child may also not want to be around people in the real world. When you start to feel your child using video games as an escape, they might need to slow down.  Video games stop being good for you when you play an excessive amount. More than 10 hours per week is considered “excessive.”

If you can’t stop playing video games on your own, you can contact a mental health professional. 

Health consequences of video gaming

·        Obesity and overweight

Playing of video games consistently has been associated with obesity. This may be related to the lack of physical activity in players. Children who watch the most hours of television or play video games have the highest incidence of obesity. 

·        Poor Academic Life

Excessive video gaming can negatively impact your child’s academic life. This is because there is little to no time left for your child to complete their school tasks.

·        Compromised Social Skills

Children who spend time playing indoors on screens miss out on outdoor social interactions.

What can you do?

Though video games can benefit executive functions and general cognition of your child, prolonged use can also pose a threat to his health. To prevent this, fix time slots for playing video games and keep a check on what type of games your child is playing.  If your child displays any symptoms of gaming disorder, immediately seek professional help.

Protect your child brain development with the help of Medical Nutritional Institute

NeuroVance Kids from MNI comes in a syrup that contains a blend of plant-derived ingredients that will optimse your child’s concentration, brain function and focus during times of stress.  By targeting multiple neurological pathways simultaneously, it can assist your child in reaching their full potential without acting as a sedative or stimulant. It’s not habit forming and can be used from the age of 8.  NeuroVance tablets can be used form the age of 12 years.

Read more: Learn more about NeuroVance Kids syrup and how it optimises concentration, brain function and calmness

Learn more: View the entire NeuroVance product range

What is the MNI approach and solution?

MNI has a holistic approach to healthcare and offers free stress and concentration assessments for adults and children.

Remember the MNI Product Specialists are available for your support, you can contact them directly at [email protected]

Read more: Take our FREE Concentration Assessment here

For more information visit The Medical Nutritional website at www.mnilifestyle.co.za