To help your child become an autonomous and resilient learner:
Ensure that video games are not interfering with his sleep.
Many teenagers – and up to 75% of boys – regularly play video games, whether on a computer, smartphone or game console. Studies have shown that the more time a teen spends playing video games, the more likely he is to be sleep-deprived. Playing video games in the evening can make it more difficult for your child to fall asleep, because of the stimulation of the game itself and the blue light emitted by the screen. It can also interfere with the quality of your child’s sleep. What’s more, teens who play video games at night are more likely to stay up late, because they are tempted to move on to a new level or to play “just one more round.”
Interestingly, sleep-deprivation can sometimes be confused with ADHD, because it causes many of the same symptoms: procrastination, forgetfulness, inattention, and even hyperactivity.
While banning your child outright from playing video games is not necessary, here are some guidelines to ensure he gets the quality and quantity of sleep he needs to learn better:
- Limit his gaming to one hour per day on weekdays;
- Limit his gaming to two hours per day on weekends;
- Have him turn off all screens – not just games – at least one hour before bedtime.