'Kids who are really moody and unfriendly - not very nice children - their negative aspects tend to become magnified when they play violent video games,' Markey said. He has found that violent video games can be problematic for some kids. Though such online gaming allows introverts to make friends and feel connected on their own terms, it can also prevent these individuals from learning valuable in-person social skills, Markey said. Shy or introverted people may retreat to games for friendship and camaraderie from online chatting. Children who play mobile games tend to be more sedentary, which may lead to weight gain and high blood pressure, he said.īeyond the physical consequences, too much gaming may also inhibit proper social interactions. Turel's group has also shown that excessive gaming can crowd out physical activity. Violent games may interrupt sleep when kids finally do drift off, Turel said.īeyond interrupting school and other daily activities, being tired can increase hunger, which may lead to overeating and weight gain, studies have shown, Turel said. These disruptions can delay sleep and make it hard for youngsters to fall asleep once they finally do put down the iPad. Kids may also stay up late playing games, and spending time in front of a bright light can disrupt a person's circadian rhythms. If kids spend too much money in online games, that may also be a problem, experts say. Gaming becomes a problem if it interferes with other aspects of children's lives, including their grades, social activity and even their sleep.įor instance, if a child's grades slip because playing 'Candy Crush Saga' interferes with doing homework, then that's a problem.

The ensuing screaming and tantrums when an iPad or other mobile device is taken away give sure signs of this lack of self-control. 'Anything that provides the brain a reward has the potential to become addictive.' īecause the inhibitory portions of children's brains aren't fully developed, it may be harder for kids to shut down their impulse to play, Turel told LiveScience. 'Games can be addictive,' said Ofir Turel, an information and decision scientist at California State University, Fullerton, and a visiting professor at the University of Southern California. Still, children may be more vulnerable than adults to the lure of mobile games.

'With games like 'Minecraft,' even when kids or adults are playing by themselves, they're not alone,' Markey said.

How to control kids gaming