7 Ways to Short-Circuit Kids' Mobile Addiction Introduction

Whether it's the 7-year-old who likes to buy new moves in Bubble Witch Saga or the 10-year-old who won't stop playing Minecraft with his friends, more and more children are gaming on iPads and smartphones.

But how much mobile gaming is too much? And once parents recognize a problem, how do they wean their little ones off the crack that is Candy Crush Saga?

If kids are whining about having to go outside instead of playing video games, or if they're slacking off in school or can't sit still in a restaurant without an iPad in front of them, there might be a problem, said Patrick Markey, a psychology professor at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

And there are several tricks to break kids of their electronic habits. From gradual transitions to replacement activities, here are seven ways parents can wean their kids off mobile devices.