Beyond Screen Hours

The question "how many hours of gaming is okay?" misses the point entirely. Research from the Oxford Internet Institute found that the type of game, context of play, and overall functioning matter far more than raw hours.

The World Health Organization's criteria for gaming disorder focus not on hours but on impairment. Can the child stop when needed? Does gaming cause conflict? Has the child given up previously enjoyed activities? These functional questions reveal more than a stopwatch.