225: Encore: Should I Let My Son Spend All His Free Time Playing Video Games?

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting

Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan

Kids & Family, Mental Health, Parenting, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 720 Ratings

🗓️ 24 June 2025

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Your teen's gaming habit might not be all bad. Video games can feel like a battleground for parents—but are they always a negative? In this episode, Dr. Lisa & Reena explore how gaming can help teens connect, learn, and unwind. Learn how to set boundaries without igniting power struggles and how to spot when gaming is helping (or hurting) your child’s development. ________________ “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting” is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Check out our Ask Lisa Podcast Playlists. Binge specific topics like Raising Sons, Staying Connected to Your Teen: https://www.youtube.com/@asklisapodcast/playlists ________________ Episode Keywords: screen time, video games and teens, tech parenting, parenting a gamer, gaming addiction, screen time rules, social skills and gaming, teen boys and video games Show Keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence

Transcript

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0:00.0	Tell me a parenting issue everyone struggles with, with tweens and teens, but no one talks about.
0:06.9	Rina, I think a lot of people feel like they just don't know how to connect to their kid anymore.
0:12.3	I'm Rina Ninen and welcome to Ask Lisa, the Psychology of Parenting Podcast.
0:18.7	And I'm Dr. Lisa D'Amour.
0:20.3	We bring you science-back strategies for managing anxiety, discipline, intense emotions, and more.
0:26.6	We decode tough parenting challenges with tips that you can use right now.
0:32.0	So subscribe to Ask Lisa, the Psychology of Parenting Podcast, and join our YouTube community today. We're here to help
0:39.3	you untangle family life. Encore episode 225. Should I let my son spend all his free time
0:48.0	playing video games? With summer in full swing, screens can take over quickly.
0:57.4	Many parents worry when video games become their child's go-to activity.
1:01.6	But does gaming really deserve the bad rap it gets?
1:04.6	And how do you set limits without constant arguments?
1:07.9	We unpack what the research says and how to strike a balance between fun,
1:12.7	learning, and not missing out on life. Here's an encore episode of should I let my son spend
1:17.4	all his free time playing video games. I'm just a little hangary right about now. I'm finally
1:24.4	getting a colonoscopy and I am just three hours into not eating anything.
1:30.1	So I'm warning you.
1:31.1	I'm grumpy.
1:32.1	Someone has some grumpy questions for you on video games.
1:33.3	All right.
1:34.3	Let's get grumpy.
1:35.3	You know, it's just a right of middle age passage, so to speak.
	...

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