Level Up: Winning Strategies for Parents of Gamers with Dr. Alok Kanojia

The St. John Parent Association, in partnership with ParentMap, provided an opportunity to hear Dr. Alok Kanojia speak to our community on November 7, 2024. Dr. Kanojia is a psychiatrist, lifelong gamer, recovered gaming addict, and cofounder of Healthy Gamer. During this hour-long interview, Dr. Kanojia explored a no-nonsense approach to navigating the nuances of gaming limits and lessons. He advocates for the following:

• Encouraging the development of a healthy relationship with technology to promote self-regulation, self-awareness, and self-control in our kids,
• Rather than instituting time-based limits or restrictions, emphasizing the importance of completing real world commitments first (e.g., homework, activities, family time) and giving kids freedom to choose what they want to do with their remaining free time, including playing video games,
• Creating open dialogue with your kids about what they love about gaming, why they play video games, how they feel when doing different activities (e.g., playing video games, going to the park to play with friends),
• Using the 25% Rule when the amount of time gaming becomes problematic – at first, only reduce the amount of time gaming by 25% and create some positive associations for the new activities filling that time (e.g., social interactions, sports, family activities). Then, collaboratively talk about the change and continue making adjustments, and
• Tactical actions such as learning who your kids are playing video games with virtually (just like you would in the real world), keeping gaming consoles out of kids’ bedrooms, and using speakers for virtual gaming rather than headphones.

Additional Resources

• ParentMap Article – A Dad’s Top Tips for Introducing Young Kids to Video Games
• “How to Raise a Healthy Gamer” book by Alok Kanojia
• Healthy Gamer Parent Resources

Click below to access the recording of the event. Use the password: ed*talks*replay