Overcoming Internet Addiction – Does Your Child Need Help in Doing So?

The American Medical Association has yet to classify Internet addiction as a true addiction, such as those involving drugs, alcohol, and others. However, despite its lack of recognition as a true mental health disorder, Internet addiction is a very real problem with serious consequences, especially in young children whose bodies and minds are still developing. If you're a parent of a child dealing with Internet overuse issues, you may be looking into ways of overcoming Internet addiction.

However, your first goal should be determining the extent of the problem. Perhaps your child simply enjoys surfing the Web, chatting with friends, watching videos, and other online activities a little too much. How can you tell when it becomes a more serious problem and overcoming Internet addiction is necessary? Here are some clues to look for:

• Does your child neglect household chores in order to stay online?

• Does your child form new relationships with other users on the Internet?

• Does your child get in arguments with you over their Internet usage?

• Do your child's grades or schoolwork suffer because of their Internet use?

• Does your child find life to be boring when they are not online?

• Does your child often stay on the Internet longer than they intended?

Your doctor should always be your first resource if you are worried about a potential health issue in your child, especially Internet addiction. However, if you're interested in ways of overcoming Internet addiction that you can potentially put into use in your home, look into the Mikko Que. Our innovative device gives you unprecedented ability to monitor and control your child's screen time on not only the Internet, but also video games, the TV, and more. With the Mikko Que you can reduce the use of electronic devices by decreasing your child's time allowance over a period of time.  For example, in a given month you might allow your child 10 hours a day of use. Then, you can reduce usage to eight hours a day the next month and so on until your child's media consumption is more in line with recommended standards. This technique is less obtrusive and will result in less resistance.  It will also give parents the peace of mind that during sleeping hours their children are not up watching TV, playing video games, or surfing the Internet.

To learn more about the Mikko Que and how it can potentially play a role in overcoming Internet addiction, and how it can create a healthy media consumption system in your home, contact us today.

Media Management for Children … It’s time.