[Quick Tip] Helping Dysregulation Due to Video Games
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What is dysregulation and why do video games overstimulate kids?
Today we are talking about dysregulation and overstimulation caused by video games. So if you work with kids who love video games, then this episode is for you.
What's up, everyone? And welcome to Making the Shift for Autistic Kids.
We're an SLP couple from California with four boys.
And we're here every week to bring you neuro-affirming tips, tricks, and tools. Are you ready to make the shift? Let's do this!
Okay, so this came about on a recent Facebook post. We had someone come in and ask a question, which is, how do you explain to a 10-year-old why he gets overstimulated so much more than other kids? And the example was that, for example, at home, there are certain things that he's not allowed to do because he gets overstimulated by them, like play computer games or video games. So his siblings are still allowed, she said, and he's having trouble understanding why. So I have so many things to say about this. OK, first of all, I want to say games, computer games, video games cause so much dysregulation. Like I grew up with brothers. Thank you so much. If you have a child who has experienced frustration and overstimulation due to video games, that is like what they're designed to do.
How do video‑game design features trigger frustration and self‑monitoring problems?
It's like they're meant to get harder and harder, which causes more frustration, and they just want you coming back for more. That's the design that they have built around them. So... First of all, there is nothing like different about a child if they are getting that way. OK, I understand the need for, you know, boundaries, et cetera. We're going to talk about that, though. OK, so, for example, or for one. It's very common to see that type of dysregulation and frustration on video games. Number two, it's very, very hard for kids to self-monitor on games. It's very, very hard for them to go, I am too frustrated and I need to walk away from this. Okay, one of the biggest fights I ever got into with one of my friends, the biggest fight I ever got into with this friend specifically, this was my best friend in elementary school.
We were playing the game The Sims, okay, which is not an intense game by any means. You're just building a house. You're not like fighting things and getting to the next level. You're just building a house and picking out furniture and making babies and all of this stuff, right?
Okay.
So we were playing and we were taking 15 minute turns and I don't remember who didn't want to share what turn, but one of us did not want like stop at the 15 minute mark.
Why should families set uniform screen‑time boundaries instead of singling out one child?
And we literally did not speak. I think it was for five weeks. Like this was bonkers. Okay. And that was best friends playing the Sims. Okay. It's very, very hard for kids to stop playing something like that. We know that. Another fun fact with my brothers playing video games and how much like they were just glued to the screen. I remember one day and my dad worked from home. So he had a home office. So I remember one day he worked from home. He walked, he saw my brothers playing video games and he said to them, and he's a very like scary, loud New Yorker. And he's just like, You're still here playing those video games. The next time I come out of my office, I'm going to take that video game. I'm going to throw it out the window.
What are natural consequences and how can they be applied without punishing everyone?
Okay. And like, it was literally two or three hours later. Right. So he was basically saying, go get some fresh air, go do something else. Two or three hours later, he walks by, he sees my brothers playing video games and he rips the cords out of the wall and we're on the second, it was on the second story. He literally throws the Nintendo console out the window and it breaks. Okay. So anyway, those are some fun stories about how much frustration video games cause people. And it is very hard to start, stop playing them once you have started. Okay. So first of all, um, I really feel, and I have a lot of kids. You guys know I have four kids. I try to make things as fair as possible in my house. So I personally would never create a rule that's like, oh, well, you can't play this game, but all of your siblings can play that.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is dysregulation and why do video games overstimulate kids?
0:01–1:58
2
How do video‑game design features trigger frustration and self‑monitoring problems?
1:58–3:22
3
Why should families set uniform screen‑time boundaries instead of singling out one child?
3:22–4:12
4
What are natural consequences and how can they be applied without punishing everyone?
4:12–5:11
5
How can parents respond in the moment when a child is dysregulated from gaming?
5:11–6:46
6
What conversations should be had when kids are calm to teach coping with frustration?
6:46–8:14
7
How do different types of video games affect a child’s regulation and what should parents consider?
8:14–10:03
8
What guiding principles help parents make the right parenting decisions around gaming?
10:03–11:37
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from The NeuroAffirm Podcast
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Ep. 120 Why Anxiety is So Common in Autism (And What Actually Helps)