Game addict kids in bedroom lock out!

PARENTS in north Antrim are resorting to locking their kids' bedroom doors in a bid to stop thumb-twitching game addicts being hooked on PlayStation 3's and X-boxes throughout the summer holidays, the Times has been told.

With the long weeks of the summer break stretching ahead some parents have put in locks on their children's bedroom doors to make sure July and August is not dominated by hours-long sessions of FIFA World Cup or Call of Duty Modern Warfare II.

Games like Modern Warfare II are considered very "addictive" because of the ability to play against people from around the world online.

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It has been known for children - and adults - to spend over seven hours a day hogging a tv screen with a game console attached.

But for some parents enough is enough.

One concerned mother told the Times: "I have nothing against my son enjoying himself and chilling out but we decided that there is more to life than the PlayStation.

"My 14-year-old son is addicted to Call of Duty online and he would gladly sit there all day blasting away at people and although we don't mind it for an hour or maybe even two we felt it was just too much if he sat there for hours every day so we thought enough was enough and a lock was put on the bedroom door to make sure he doesn't sneak in when we are not looking.

"But it was the best thing that happened and now he realises that too much of one thing is bad and that variety is the spice of life - a little bit of everything is the motto.

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"He has been out playing football and talking to friends and going over to relative's houses and still gets playing a bit of Call of Duty. It might sound drastic having to put a lock on the door but I think many people have noticed that many people ... and it is not just children ... are spending too much time on Call of Duty.

"Now we can monitor how often he plays these games," said the mother.

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