Parents have reacted in dismay to increasing numbers of their children allegedly becoming heavily addicted to online games.
A mother shocked by her game ‘addicted’ son
Parents shocked
Mother of one Hai, after being confined to bed due to illness discovered that her son had spent all the money she had given him to buy medication and food on online gaming.
Hai, from HCM City’s Tan Binh District was ever very proud of her 7th grade son.
“I still remember when he was 3rd grade student, he’d go to the market himself to buy me herbal medicines when I was ill,” Hai recalled.
“A year ago, I realised that he often played truant from school and used all money we gave him for online games. After school time, he’d played the game at home. Somedays, he’d disappear and after a long search, find him in an internet café. He spent all day playing games.”
Mrs Xuan, from Thu Duc District, has a similar story. Xuan has an 18-year old son who has dedicated himself to online games for over four years. She has become depressed through continual worry.
“I’ve nothing to say about my son’s study as he’s been inattentive to his class for years. We’ve tried all means to persuade him but nothing has worked,” Xuan shared.
She feels ashamed about her son, worrying that he may turn to crime due to her belief that the games have a negative impact on people’s personality.
Parents should be patient in encouraging their children to cut their gaming time
Men’s tears
According to psychologist Vo Thi Minh Hue, parents who have game addicted child are depressed. They can do nothing else but see their beloved child skipping school, getting sick, or running away from home. Some parents even want to disown such children.
Hue has been obsessed by a father’s crying. The father wondered, “How can this be called a game? Is it true that I may lose my child to a thing that is designed for pleasure?”
Hue claimed that in order for a child to become addicted to online games, it often takes a certain amount of time. However parents should realise this is just a first stage, and it isn’t necessarily something to worry about.
“Some children are strictly punished by their parents right away from the first stage. Parents think that their punishment will prevent their children from continuing. Most of them are greatly shocked to know that their children continue playing the games again just a few days later,” Hue noted.
Some other parents transfer the responsibility to giving up the games onto their children. They do nothing other than shout and beat the child, resulting in unexpected consequences.
In order to help game addicts stop playing, parents should be aware that children are in desperate need of their help, and instead of punishment, should show patience instead, she said.
