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Video Games are Evil, I tell ya. Evil (but I love the respite)

Pecanflower's picture

We are having fits with SS14 and his video game addiction. I know high functioning autistics such as him use video games as a way to escape the world, but it is becoming problematic and counter productive. We used to use the video games as a reward for him. Now...they are used more and more as a method of punishment...taking them away from him; rather than giving him extra time.

What we have noticed is that in this year his grades have begun to fall even more. We always had a problem with Math. It's his worst subject. But Literature, Language arts, social studies and Science are his best subjects. His grades are dropping in all of them. He reads at a college level and has been coming home with C- grades in Literature.

DH and I already have limits in place. He is only allowed one hour of video game time on school days. And on weekends on holidays or non-school days he is only allowed 3 hours a day. But we feel we are going to have to change the limits yet again. I think we are going to have to make it NO video games on school days at all.

We have noticed he is rushing through everything just to get to his video game time. His grades are dropping. This can't continue.
Another thing we have noticed is that when he is grounded and has no access to his games; he is a pleasant kiddo. But when has them; whether waiting to play OR has already played them for the day; he can be a real ASS.

We have told all family (including BM who, of course, disagreed with our decision) and friends that he was to receive NO video game related gifts this year.

My problem: when I am trying to study, myself (#50incollege #accounting #OMG) I know I will have quiet if he is playing his games in his room. If not he is constantly chattering; interrupting me; following me to my office; asking questions; and driving me to distraction. Goddess help me! I threatened to duct tape his mouth closed last night. I was kidding, but he is autistic and took it literally. Sigh.

Comments

Pecanflower's picture

We did try that. And we found that he would sit there staring at the paper saying things like "I'm sorry. But I just don't know how to do this." or "I can't do this!" or any other number of things that basically mean...I'm not going to try to do this and am going to be oppositional.

The only way to get him to do some of it was to hold that hour up as a reward for getting it done.

Pecanflower's picture

You are right: he does need to be challenged. The problem is he just doesn't care.
He looks for the easiest way out so he can get to the computer games or the other "fun" stuff. We have tried getting him involved in robotics, science experiments, book clubs, clubs, coding, anything to stimulate him.

Nope. Because his math is SO bad (He's working at a 6th grade level right now...he's in the 8th grade) He can't get into those more advanced science groups. His language arts is great. But he "HATES reading." "It's a waste of time." "I'd rather be playing my games."

Sigh.

His entire school is an IEP. I send him to a special school that is designed for kids that learn differently. Each kid has their very own IEP. The teachers and DH and I are all seeing that this year he has just started not caring.

Pecanflower's picture

You can actually blame BM for that. She sent him is first Nintendo DS. And then sent the used Xbox later. Sigh.

Cooooookies's picture

Same problem here. SS14 is high functioning autistic and loves his video games... or watching videos of people playing and commentating on video games. It's a huge problem.

You can also say that if he doesn't learn to be nice, do decent homework and entertain himself with other things besides being a pest, he will get even further limited or no video game time. I do this with SS.

He's mention twice that he's bored or starts hanging all over me so I tell him he must need something to do so go sweep and the mop the floors. He finds a way to disappear from me and entertains himself without another word. Magic Wink