Heh, I was obsessed with video games growing up, all the way through my early teens. I probably would benefit from being on ADHD medication, given my propensity to need constantly-changing stimuli every few minutes. And I completely lack motivation in school or a career (all academic drive left me when I started college). I must be a teenage male!!!!!
Oh wait, I'm a 28 year old female.
I did, however, grow up on a lot of land, so when I wasn't blistering my fingers on the Nintendo (literally--I often had Band-Aids on my thumbs, to keep playing), I was outside climbing trees and building forts. I think that's one of the few things that kept me somewhat sane as a kid... being grounded to tangible activities in the outdoors.
I don't think that's a gender thing, really. Every kid, male or female, would benefit from spending as much of their free time as possible in a safe, huge outdoor area with lots of stuff to explore. The second they start getting addicted to video games or TV, they should be hung using thumbscrews in a doorway.
At least, I wish someone had done that to me.
