How to Help a Teenager With Gaming Addiction

Is your teen gaming for hours, melting down when you say "time's up," and turning every limit into a fight? You're not alone.

👉 Tired of gaming meltdowns and screen time standoffs? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to set gaming limits without the battles, stay calm through the meltdowns, and help their teen build a life beyond the screen. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with Cam Adair, founder of Game Quitters. As a teen, Cam played video games up to 16 hours a day. Now he helps families around the world find a healthier balance. He shares how to tell when gaming has crossed the line, how to talk with your teen about it, and practical ways to set limits together instead of fighting over them.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• How to tell the difference between healthy gaming and gaming disorder, as defined by the World Health Organization
• Why your teen's school, friendships, and family life matter more than hours played
• How to talk about gaming without a power struggle, and why it helps to talk away from the screen
• Why learning about your teen's games helps you set realistic limits
• How giving your teen time to decompress after gaming can prevent meltdowns

EPISODE CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Understanding gaming addiction
• 03:01 The spectrum of gaming behavior
• 06:00 Healthy vs. problematic gaming
• 08:58 Finding balance with gaming
• 11:59 How to talk to your teen about gaming
• 15:05 Handling power struggles
• 18:08 Building family values around gaming
• 21:09 Setting gaming limits together
• 24:09 Setting up healthy gaming habits
• 26:45 Moving from gaming to other activities
• 30:00 Handling meltdowns over gaming limits
• 33:03 Encouraging interests beyond gaming
• 36:00 Modeling healthy tech use
• 38:51 Resources and final thoughts

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Game Quitters: support for parents and teens dealing with gaming issues
• Cam Adair's TEDx Talk

CONNECT WITH CAM ADAIR

• Instagram: @GameQuitters
• YouTube: Game Quitters
• X: @GameQuitters
• Facebook: Game Quitters
• LinkedIn: Cam Adair

CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL

• Website: AskDrCam.com
• Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
• Parenting Teens Academy

ABOUT THE SHOW

Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.

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