In early age, a child experiences the most intensive development of the organism, mind, and psyche. This is like building a ship at a shipyard, where first the main hull is erected, and then in strict sequence it is filled with all the necessary equipment, communications, inventory, internal paneling, and furniture.
The child's organism operates according to God's laws embedded in it, which activate the necessary functions at a certain age. And these must be known in order to be ready to sow and invest corresponding knowledge in the child's heart and instill important skills in the child.
There are things that develop a child, there are those that slow down his development, and there are those that destroy thinking, psyche, and health.
I think no sensible person would think of offering small children alcohol, cigarettes, or narcotic drugs. The laws of all countries protect the young generation from such things and criminally prosecute any violators. But when talk turns to computer games, phones, or gadgets that are produced specifically for children, then for some reason many parents' minds turn off, and they see a unique opportunity to occupy the child's consciousness with electronic games so that father or mother can rest and calmly attend to their affairs. And no one will pursue and punish them for this. And the child is always in sight, and there's no need to worry "where he is and what's happening with him."
But here it is necessary to sound the alarm! After all, the principle of influence of these games on the child's organism is exactly the same as that of narcotic drugs! Computer games cause the same neurochemical dependence in players as known drugs.
The human mind has a pleasure center and is arranged so that when a child performs certain work or solves problems, in the process of achieving the goal the brain releases the hormone dopamine, which causes feelings of joy and satisfaction. And achieving this result requires a certain amount of time, physical or mental effort, logical thinking, and willful decision-making.
Computer games are arranged so that through sound effects, bright colors, and quick victories, they constantly stimulate the reward system, causing short-term dopamine releases. And these short-term pleasures are replaced by a desire to obtain greater satisfaction. The same principle is involved in taking drugs.
Prolonged time spent by a child playing such games exhausts the reward system, and short-term victories no longer bring the pleasure that was there initially. But the carnal mind has determined an easy path to obtaining reward and no longer wants to concentrate on ordinary life joys: walks in nature, reading books, doing homework, communication. All of this in the light of colorful games seems boring and uninteresting. And when consciously choosing another game, the child will prefer the computer.
Dopamine encourages actions that are important for survival and bring joy. This is eating, learning, communication, useful work. The release of this hormone brings pleasure into life. Computer games intercept this process and turn it into an instrument of dependence.
Under normal conditions, dopamine helps a person repeat useful actions, get pleasure from communication, from new knowledge, from God's revelations. Games create an illusion of success and victory, contributing to faster release of this hormone without requiring prolonged effort. This causes feelings of joy and desire to continue the game. The principle of "here and now" offers consciousness an easy path to quickly obtaining pleasure.
What happens in the mind? Addiction, boredom from everything not connected with games, loss of control. The player suffers not only in mind, but also in psyche and body.
Computer games are the fastest and surest way to kill time, spend it on emptiness and receive nothing good in return, except virtual points and bonuses that these games offer winners.
All computer game enthusiasts display common symptoms:
irritation when trying to tear away from the screen; decreased self-control and critical thinking; loss of interest in other activities; absence of time control; impaired imagination; decreased memory; quick fatigue during ordinary study and work; dependence on the game as the main source of joy.
Sadly, you often meet even in church children who during worship or breaks sit in their smartphones and are completely uninterested in what's happening around them. And after time passes, they disappear from view forever, and parents explain this by saying it was the child's choice, who chose the world, and they respect this choice.
It's also not surprising that gamer children are more prone to depression, suicide, irritation, inadequate reaction to life's ordinary difficulties. Their attention is scattered, and logical thinking leaves much to be desired. Time given by God for forming useful habits and skills is brought to the altar of this world, and the child receives emptiness, which, strangely enough, he values above all other earthly goods.
It's also worth considering that computer games are divided into worldly and demonic, entertaining and cruel. Sometimes even by the picture on the packaging or game advertisement, you can quickly determine the occult or demonic nature of the content. And here not only the child's mind comes under attack, but also his soul. There are even some games where, to move to a higher level of the game, you need to sell your soul to the devil, just by putting a checkmark of agreement. It's not worth being surprised by what happens afterward with the psyche of such "winners."
What does a warrior experience who takes another person's life? Initially it's fear, horror for what was done, pangs of conscience, and then a habit develops to repeat this action. A child experiences the same feelings playing "shooters" and taking the lives of virtual enemies. A killer's consciousness is formed, and this mind stops valuing human life as a priceless God's gift and won't see much difference between the virtual world and the visual one.
Parents should understand that by offering children such games, they will later pay with years of worry for hours of peace.
Studying the Bible and comprehending the science of Salvation requires special concentration of spiritual and physical forces, special time and living interest from the student. Love of games kills these useful inclinations toward spiritual advantages.
The best thing God-fearing parents can do for their children in this matter is not to give their children any gadgets and not let them go to houses where it's customary to play computer games. And when school programs require computer work, monitor what their children are doing.
If you explain the harm of such games to a child before he takes them into his own hands from someone, then there will be hope that these games will not attract him when he grows up.
The minds of our children are a special target of Satan, and it's worth making considerable effort to comprehensively protect these little people from the temptations of our world.
Questions for Reflection
Please read Ps. 100:2-4; 118:9; 1 Sam. 2:17; Ezek. 8:12-13; Prov. 4:23; 13:20; 1 John 2:15-17; Matt. 5:29; 18:6; Eph. 5:15-16; 6:4; Eccl. 1:2; Col. 3:2; 1 Cor. 15:33; Rom. 12:2, in light of this lesson. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind? What did you understand from this lesson? What are computer games for? Is it worth comparing computer games with narcotic substances? Is it worth understanding what biochemical processes occur in a child's body before offering him computer games? What symptoms of computer game dependence do you know and can describe? Why is it important to explain the harm of computer games before the first experience of using them? Will children be limited in development if they are not allowed to play on a computer or smartphone? Do computer games bring any benefit in nurturing spirituality? How to protect children from the harmful influence of such games? What to do if my children are already dependent on computer games and cannot imagine life without them? What to do when you meet other people's children at worship who are playing computer games on their smartphones? Do parents bear responsibility before God for what they offer to their own or other people's children? What to do if your child was given a computer game as a gift, but you are against such a gift?