Tldr: is it a problem that my 9 year old spends a lot of time thinking and talking about Nintendo switch games?
I've got in a bit of a knot with my son about his Nintendo switch. He's just over 9. We got given a switch for our family when he was 8, to play things together. But my son loves it the most! And now had his own games. He's allowed 1 hour Sat, Sun and another hour in the week. The problem isn't the time itself, it's how much head space gaming takes up even when he's not on it.
He chats on about it constantly. Listens to podcasts about characters. He lives in hope that someone will suggest family switch time so he'll get extra time. Tried to wheedle extra time.
He's a bright kid, into his science etc, he's described to me that he knows the his dopamine receptors are being filled and why it's addictive. He's described to me that gaming is occupying his mind when he's in class or doing something else. He says part of him wishes he wasn't thinking about it. But then he loves it. His friends have similar interests and get more screen time. They play playground games based on gaming. When they get together they do a lot of gaming.
I will add he's always fallen fast and hard into topics. But previously they've been non screen based interests to do with science or history. I feel like these are more socially acceptable but then I think am I being snobby in some way! Is there really anything wrong? Or is this just like that?
When we go away he's perfectly fine without the switch. When we come back he's just on about it all the time again.
I really don't know if I'm overthinking this, or if this is an issue. If we just carry on with these limits. Or change something.