ESSAY ENG

1. Foundation in Natural and Built Environment
LEE FONG YEN
0321976
ENGLISH 1 [ENGL0105/ ELG 30505]
JANUARY 2015

2. Pre writing
Health problems
Skip meals
Not enough sleep
No exercise
Medical problems
Relationship problems
Family
Friends
Don’t attend gatherings
Staying away from face to face communication
Staying in room to play games
Topics not related to video games
Poor academic performance
Not enough sleep
Unable to pay attention in class
Unable to finish homework given
Score low marks in examination
Aggressiveness in children
Learn from video games
Get engaged with bad social activities

3. HARMFUL EFFECTS OF COMPUTER GAMES ADDICTION TO CHILDREN
In our modern society with consistent development in technologies, the percentage
of children consisting of both boys and girls, who are obsessed with video games are
increasing yearly. The lack of parental love, guidance and attention towards children
can be the main factor for children to be addicted towards computer games. Gaming
companies play a second role in this matter by creating addictive and challenging
computer games to gain profit, making it hard for children to resist the urge of playing
them. Like any other compulsive disorder, computer games addiction can affect
children in many negative ways. Example of harmful effects are suffering relationship
problems, high risk of having health problems and also poor academic performance.
First effect that is caused by computer games addiction is relationship
problems. Children, who can also be described as computer game addicts tend to
isolate themselves from their family and friends. They spend most of their time in
their room, playing video games rather than interacting with their family members
and friends. Sabella, A. R. (2010) highlighted that over-dependence on video games
could foster social isolation, as they are often played alone. Not only that, playing
computer games online encourages them to be active in social networks, such as
Facebook and Twitter, leading them to a much bigger problem, which is befriending
unknown online gamers. This introduces risk in knowing strangers who are may be
bad influence to them. Children, who are addicted to computer games rarely attend
gatherings, events and parties organized by friends and family members as they find

4. it harder to communicate with them about topics that are not related to computer
games. Excessive computer gaming gives a big impact in loosening the bond
between the children and their family members or friends.
Second, being obsessive with computer games leads to high risk of having
health problems. Losing sleep and insufficient intake of meals due to excessive
game play causes children to practice an unhealthy lifestyle. These routines can
affect their growth especially when they are stepping into their adolescent stage.
Besides that, spending an average of 2 to 3 hours per day sitting in front of the
computer without any participation in physical outdoor activities, such as swimming,
playing football and basketball results in childhood obesity. Obesity occurs when
children consume high amount of snacks during game play without any exercise
done to burn off those calories. In addition to that, long hours of game play can also
cause children to have medical problems at a young age. Examples of medical
issues are backaches, frequent headaches and vision problems.
Last but not least, showing poor academic performance. Children attend
school in the morning the next day, feeling tired and exhausted after a long night of
playing computer games. Due to lack of proper sleep, their brains don’t function at
their optimum level and they have difficulties in paying attention to lessons
conducted in class. They then hand in incomplete works to teachers and starts
lacking off in their studies. For instance, when children spend an average of 8-10
hours of playing computer games every week, they tend to sacrifice their studying
time and needed homework. In addition to that, they are also unable to answer

5. questions during their examination, causing them to score low marks and failing
their exam papers. Gentile, D.A., Lynch, P.J. , Linder, J.R., Walsh D.A. (2004) have
mentioned that children who use computers to play games frequently perform more
poorly in school, whereas those who use computers for schoolwork perform better
in school. This affects the children’s academic results, making it hard for them to
apply for a better education in the future.
Therefore, the deleterious effects to children who plays computer games for
long-hours in a regular basis that includes relationship problems, medical issues and
bad academic performance should be understood by all parents in order to help their
children overcome computer games addiction. Other harmful effects such as
increased aggressiveness in children or getting involved in bad activities influenced by
online peers may occur if parents don’t limit their hours spent on computer games.
Gentile & Anderson (2003) stated that playing video games may increase aggressive
behavior because violent acts are continually repeated throughout the video game.
Finally, parents should give enough attention to their children and be aware of the
content of computer games played by them to make sure they are practicing a good
and healthy lifestyle.
(703 words)

6. References
1. Christoper. D. (2015). The Negative Effects of Video Games Addiction. Retrieved
26 April 2015, from
http://www.livestrong.com/article/278074-negative-effects-of-video-game-
addiction/
2. Gentile, D.A., Lynch, P.J. , Linder, J.R., Walsh D.A. (2004). Journal of
Adolescence. Retrieved 27 April 2015, from
http://dh101.humanities.ucla.edu/DH101Fall12Lab4/archive/files/c1f5d81cba854
04ac2a2919f5cb8d58b.pdf
3. Sabella,A. R. (2010). Negative Potential of Video Games. Guarding Kids.
Retrieved 26 April 2015, from
http://www.education.com/reference/article/negative-potential-video-games/
4. Unknown Author. (n.d). Video Game Addiction, Symptoms, Causes and Effects.
Retrieved 26 April 2015, from
http://www.psychguides.com/guides/video-game-addiction-symptoms-causes-
and-effects/
5. Gentile,D.A. , Anderson, C.A.. (2003). Violent Video Games: The Effects on
Youth, and Public Policy Implication. Retrieved 27 April 2015
http://public.psych.iastate.edu/caa/abstracts/2005-2009/05ga2.pdf