Children online, and predatory advertising

People who advertise will do anything to keep you buying their product or in this case keep you on their website. That is their job.  Offering toys and prizes to children would of course keep them in the game.  As far as advertising will go , we are the consumers, even for our children.  If we don't like a product or service, do not buy or use them.  That is what stops  predatory advertising.

The research on gaming and its effects on mental health is new and spotty at best.  There are those that see gaming as helpful and beneficial and those who see it as isolating and harmful.  I am in the middle of the pack seeing that anything we do in moderation is okay.  There are pluses to gaming and the social interaction it offers.  There are some real down sides as well.

As a parent I do have a concern about a game, that encourages kids to enter into games of chance.  The research on gambling and how it effects the brain is much more convincing.  There are reasons that casinos and online gambling sites look the way they do, sound the way they do... it is all to increase a sense of dissociation.  The thrill of the win effects the brains neurochemistry and can become addictive over time.  Even at a carnival the concept of winning tickets is common, but the child is able to convert the tickets to a real prize.  They are not risking it all on a game of chance.

Over all, you are the parent.  Leaving him unattended to find other game sites, is like leaving the barn door open and hoping the  animals will stay inside.  At 7, his thinking is still black and white, one online game is fun so is this other one.  He doesn’t have the ability to discriminate what is best for himself in this area.  Having him play computer games that are skill building and not online, allows you to know the content and he is not able to switch over to something else when you are not in the room.  If he is online, stay with him. If he moves to a game that you are not comfortable with him playing, you redirect him to what is okay.  He may protest, but right now you still have some control about what information is going into his head.

You have created balance for him.  He has a limited amount of time to play.  That is the real world.  We have time to work, time to play, time to take care of responsibilities, time to socialize etc.  If we only did the things we wanted to do, not much would get accomplished.  Encouraging his imagination is very important.  That can be done outside, interacting with friends and yes on the computer.  You have to be in charge of what computer interface he is using, and how long he uses it.  I am sure you don’t let him stay outside all night just because he is really enjoying riding his bike and pretending to be a NASCAR driver.  We are in charge of setting  limits and boundaries so are children are safe and so they can learn to set limits and boundaries on themselves later in life.