Dear Shayna,

I read your article every week and I love it. I have a little problem and was hoping that you could help me.

I am addicted to my Xbox. I want to play video games all day. When I start playing, I can’t stop. My mom gets upset when I play for a long time. She says that it’s not healthy for my brain. She also gets mad when she speaks to me and I don’t hear what she is saying since I’m so engrossed in my game. Then, when she tells me that I can’t play anymore, I get upset. Please tell me how to fix the situation so that both my mom and I are happy.

Dear Xbox Addict,

You really need to get rid of your Xbox if it’s bothering you and your mom so much. I think this will help you pay attention more. But if you decide you don’t want to get rid of it, which I’m guessing you probably won’t, set yourself screen time as a goal. Think about why you deserve this Xbox: Have you done your chore before getting your 15 minutes? If that’s also too much of a pain and you still can’t turn off the Xbox, get used to your parents yelling. A stress ball helps me relax even while my mom yells a zillion chores at me. And if it works for me, it can work for you too. However, if none of those suggestions solve your problem, you can always stick to watching TV.

Shayna is a fourth grader and understands what kids in elementary school are going through. She is happy to help others navigate this tricky time. She can be reached at [email protected]. She is looking forward to hearing from you soon.