Unpacking Gaming Addiction among Children

In a world where technology is always at our fingertips, gaming has become a central part of youth culture. While computer and console games have always been popular among children and youths, the rise in mobile games in recent years has made games more accessible than ever before.   

In a society where everything is defined by instant gratification and packed schedules, the feeling of boredom can sometimes feel overwhelming. Research has shown that youths have a deeper need for connection that’s found in a social space outside of home, school or work [1]. As such, the easy accessibility of digital devices and games have often filled that role for youths or have become the go-to solution for them to fill the gaps in their daily schedule.   

As gaming addiction becomes a growing concern, its impact will intensify as children start gaming at increasingly younger ages. Research has found that stimulation from devices is equivalent to that of going to a theme park. Without the maturity to manage their screen time, children struggle to ‘switch off’, making them highly vulnerable to addiction issues.   

Children’s impulse control and cognitive ability are still developing. Without active parental involvement and healthy boundaries, it becomes challenging for them to manage their screen time responsibly or unlearn unhealthy digital habits as they grow older. Beyond affecting a child’s development, gaming addiction can have lasting effects that may interfere with one’s employment, personal relationships, and mental health in adulthood [2].  

HOW DO I KNOW IF IT’S A PROBLEM?  
When it comes to gaming, there are a few common warning signs that indicate if a habit may be problematic.   

Disruption to daily routine: When gaming takes precedence over daily needs and responsibilities, and the child ends up skipping school, neglecting personal hygiene or missing meals to spend more time on games, it’s telling of a problematic gaming habit.    

Financial Concerns: Most games today offer players the ability to advance in levels or unlock things like ‘game skins’ or ‘loot boxes’. If they are using their lunch money or borrowing money from their friends to fund these in-game purchases, they are likely at risk of having a gaming addiction.   

Game Satisfaction: Similar to chemical dependency, the children and adolescents may find that they need to play for longer hours or achieve higher gaming ranks to reach the same level of satisfaction they once felt. In addition, they may exhibit certain withdrawal symptoms such as irritability or restlessness once or if they’re asked to stop playing.    

Social Isolation: While gaming can be a social activity, it may be an issue if digital interactions completely replace face-to-face interactions, where they withdraw from real-world friends and family to play games.   

Deceiving others about time online: Warning signs also include lying to their parents about time spent online or hiding their devices to secure extra gaming hours.    

HOW DO PARENTS MANAGE THEIR CHILD’S GAMING ADDICTION?  
Here are some tips to help parents manage their children’s screen time and encourage healthy gaming habits.    

Manage their impulses: A good way to help children manage their gaming impulses is to introduce stimulating alternative activities. Rather than turning to mobile or computer games, encourage them to play board games or card games that can involve the whole family. This encourages face-to-face interactions and helps them to cultivate healthier, offline hobbies that may be just as exciting.   

Help them to understand: Engage in open, honest conversations with your teens about the negative effects of excessive gaming and device usage. Gaming could lead to short- or long-term physical effects such as disrupted sleep, eye strain and headaches, as well as short- or long-term mental effects like social withdrawal, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not playing, and potentially anger and bitterness towards others in losing games [3]. By building this awareness, you can work hand in hand with them to understand the root issue and identify meaningful alternative interests.  

Take an interest in their online activities: The family should be involved in the child’s digital journey by maintaining a healthy and open relationship with them. Understanding your child's online activities, including info like what games they play and who they’re playing with is crucial for effective parental guidance. When you have limited awareness of their online activities, it becomes challenging to engage your child in meaningful and effective conversations about healthy gaming habits and provide the necessary guidance to help them adopt good online habits. If the games your child is currently playing is not healthy, consider finding out more about video games and introducing child-friendly and age-appropriate   

Establish clear rules around gaming time: When gaming becomes a concern, some parents may take the immediate solution of implementing a total ban on games. While this mitigates gaming altogether, it can backfire and create more tension in your parent-child relationship. Instead, try establishing reasonable rules around the number of hours your child can spend on games [4], such as implementing specific gaming windows. For example, playing games between 7pm to 9pm every day. Dedicate the non-gaming windows to activities such as reading a book or listening to music. This can be especially helpful if they play mobile games since our phones are often within reach and it’s easy to develop the bad habit of constantly picking up our phones and revisiting the game apps.   

Tap on resources and tools: Utilise available resources and tools to develop healthy digital habits and navigate the cyberspace safely. Learning how to navigate screen time safely and healthily is the first step to tackling gaming addiction or becoming aware of it. TOUCH Cyber Wellness offers practical and engaging parent-child resources through our First Device Campaign, designed to support families as children receive their first devices and begin their digital journey. The First Device Campaign resources and tools will empower parents to play an active role in their child's digital lives and nurture them to become safe, responsible and confident cyber users. Find out more here.   

SEEKING HELP AND INTERVENTION 
Lastly, if your child is struggling with a gaming or device addiction, help is available, and seeking support early can make a huge difference. At TOUCH, we offer a 6- to 9-month intervention programme called DigitalMINDSET to help youths aged between 12 and 21 with their excessive gaming and the mental health related issues. Under DigitalMINDSET, participants undergo counselling, and individual and group therapy sessions to identify the root of their gaming issue and are equipped with healthy coping techniques to help them better manage their excessive gaming or device use and develop strong emotional regulation skills. You may email mentalhealth@touch.org.sg to find out more or call the TOUCHline at 1800 377 2252 (Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 6pm) to speak with a counsellor.    

TOUCH Cyber Wellness (TCW) is an award-winning and leading pioneer in the field of cyber wellness and new media literacy. It has spearheaded efforts to reach out to 360 schools and more than 1.6 million children, youths, parents, educators and counsellors. Through mentoring and advocacy, TCW has engaged Singapore youths to address social and behavioural issues of excessive cyber usage. It delivers a range of pre and post intervention programmes that instil the principles of good digital citizenship in the community.  

TOUCH Counselling and Psychological Services Group (TCPSG) runs personalised therapy and counselling programmes to empower individuals to be more resilient, cope with daily living, and rise above their circumstances. Through its Supportive Intervention Care Model which comprises Community Care, Private Care and CareTech, TCPS ensures that individuals and families from all backgrounds receive timely care curated to their specific needs. Its expert team of counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists specialise in areas such as, psychological assessment and diagnosis, trauma therapy, suicide prevention, youth mental wellness, and digital addiction intervention and affair/divorce recovery.    

Sources
1. Gabrielle, Chan. “Problematic gaming prevalent among young adults in Singapore, shows need for ‘third places’: Experts” The Straits Times, 1. Feb, 2026, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/problematic-gaming-prevalent-among-young-adults-in-spore-shows-need-for-third-place-experts 
2. Muhammad, Bahajjaj. “Rise in youth gaming addiction due to more enticing games and smart devices, say counsellors”, CNA, 17. Jun 2025, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/gaming-addiction-mental-health-youths-singapore-5186216
3. Jessical, Miller. “Video Game Addiction Effects” Addiction Help.com, 19. Oct 2025, https://www.addictionhelp.com/video-game-addiction/effects/ 
4. Peter, Grinspoon. “The health effects of too much gaming” Havard Health Publishing, 22. Dec 2020, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-health-effects-of-too-much-gaming-2020122221645