Marcel Tobien
Your child keeps gaming, dinner gets cold and every conversation ends in an argument? Find practical first steps and advice services in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
This page offers guidance, not a diagnosis. Long gaming hours alone do not establish addiction. Sleep, school, friendships and the ability to stop also matter.
Look for specific changes: lost sleep, neglected schoolwork, missed friends or activities your child used to enjoy. What happens at agreed stopping times? Note a few examples instead of labelling your child. Ask what they enjoy in the game and who they play with.
Choose a calm moment, not the final minute of a match. You might say: “I’ve noticed you struggle to get up in the morning. I want to understand what is happening.” Listen before negotiating rules. Taking an interest in the game does not mean accepting unlimited play.
Agree age-appropriate gaming times, stopping times and advance reminders. Protect sleep, school and shared meals. Discuss in-game spending and where devices stay at night. Plan an offline activity your child actually enjoys instead of filling every free minute.
If sleep, school or relationships are suffering, your child struggles to stop or conversations repeatedly break down, seek advice. Parents can contact a service on their own. A counsellor can help assess the situation and plan next steps. A paediatrician is also a suitable first contact for health concerns. You do not need to establish a diagnosis yourself.
Contact details checked on 18 October 2026. Hours are local to the provider. Check the linked official page for current availability and conditions.
Addiction-prevention information line: Mon to Thu 10:00 to 22:00, Fri to Sun 10:00 to 18:00. Your provider’s German landline rate applies. Free secure online advice for parents through a registered mailbox.
Check service and contact detailsCheck service and contact detailsSpecialist support for conflicts around media use, including parents. Telephone consultation hours: Thursday 10:00 to 12:00. Ask directly about appointments, remote advice and fees.
Check service and contact detailsPhone available 24/7. Confidential, free advice on parenting and family conflicts, not medical advice. Email replies usually within 48 hours.
Check service and contact details24/7 phone support for parenting questions and overload. Telephone advice is free; Swiss local landline call rates apply. Ordinary email is unencrypted. Use the secure form on the contact page for confidential details.
Check service and contact detailsAdvice on online behaviour, including parents. Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 09:00 to 13:00; Tue, Thu 09:00 to 16:00. Assessment for affected young people is offered from age 14. Check appointments, eligibility and any fees in advance.
Check service and contact detailsCheck service and contact detailsMarcel Tobien · 18.10.2026
Ben enters a magical adventure after gaming has taken up more and more of his life. His story may open a conversation. It does not replace counselling or treatment and is not a tool to make a child stop gaming.
GAME OVER