To think Xbox's cause nothing but arguments!

[jellyjiggles]

My 8 year old turns into a grumpy zombie kid staring at the screen.

His Xbox was confiscated last week for bad behaviour. He had to earn it back. He's done well at school so I said he could use it today.

5.20 am and I'm putting him back to bed . Then 6.20 am, back to bed with a load of verbal from him!
The rule is nobody gets up before 7.30am on a weekend.

I'm sick of the bloody thing! It's causes nothing but arguments.

[curren]

X boxes (just like fb) don't amuse arguments.

It's the people using them. We have several games consoles, no one argues about them.

Tbh I have always been an early riser, even as a kid. Mum tried the putting me back to bed and I hated it. Eventually she let me go down stairs in my own as long as I was quiet. Why not just let him get up as long as he doesn't disturb you?

[curren]

cause not amuse

[jellyjiggles]

Because he's exhausted! He needs sleep and he refuses to nap during the day. He keeps telling me how tired he is at school. We have many tears and general rudeness.

His tiredness is a major player in his behaviour.

We agreed either early wake up and an hours nap/rest time during the day or 7.30 wake up. He chose 7.30 get up. He can play in his room if he wants.

[curren]

Does he have a underlying condition? Why is he so tired?

I have known any 8 year old to be that exhausted on a regular basis that they need a nap scheduling in.

[jellyjiggles]

I'm beginning to wonder this myself curren!

He's been to doctors this week but they've said he's ok. I'm wondering about anemia and considering another GP appointment.

[HeadForHeights]

When does he go to bed?

[jellyjiggles]

7.30-8 school night.
8-9 at weekend unless he's very tired and we put him to bed earlier.

[wannabestressfree]

Mmmmm that does sound more medical jelly. I have boys and none of them have needed to nap during the day at eight.

With regard to the Xbox/ PlayStation the only one of my sons that needed firm boundaries was the eldest who has asd. He would have sat on it all the time so it wasn't in his room and we stuck to rigid times. Would that work?
The others do ask and aren't as obsessional.

[jellyjiggles]

It's in the lounge on purpose so we can regulate how long he spends on it. He'd be on it all day if he could.

It makes him so grumpy and badly behaved. There's a real change in character once he's played on it!

[curren]

Is it in his room?

Is he playing it during the night?

Regarding the Xbox. Make clear set rules.

My dbro was very obsessive about his games consoles. But he has a bit of an obsessive personality. Everything is all or nothing. So instead of just getting rid, mum set clear times he was allowed on it. It was removed every time her broker the rules. She knew if she removed it completely he would just move on to something else that caused arguments.

If he is knackered after have 8-10 hours solid sleep, there is something else going on. May be not anemia. I have that and am knackered even if I have a nap.

As I said I am an early riser used to get up about 5 until I was about 16 and never needed a nap.

[curren]

Cross post.

It's not in his room. Definitely go back to the GP, even if he isn't with you and explain he is exhausted all the time, it's effecting his behaviour and he has to nap to get trough the day.

If he has something else going on with his health, he will be grumpy and the Xbox is what he is getting grumpy about. Removing the Xbox won't solve the issue of him being grumpy

[jellyjiggles]

He has no screens in his room because I'd never get him away from them!

He's a much nicer child when he's not been playing games.

[curren]

Then set some clear boundaries. An hour here or there. Or set times.

Remove the controllers on a night so if he gets up he can't play on it.

You could remove it completely although I wouldn't.

And tackle why he is so knackered.

[CadleCrap]

My DS was a little like this with an iPad. After 10 mins he turned from a lovely little boy to something feral.

So we just banned it completely. i suggest getting rid of the xbox

[XanderHarris]

I would put some strict rules in place about when he can use it and makes sure he's aware it will go if there's any messing around trying to play it outside those rules.

Kids can absolutely very addicted to playing computer games which would make him grumpy when it's denied him. A quick Google will give you loads of studies about how screen time affects sleep too.

[Sanchar]

The Xbox turned my 8yo into a moody, rude, aggressive little #@%£&+.

Trying to limit it turned into physical fights with swearing too. He was only playing Lego and Minecraft fgs!

I took it away and it never went back.

DS turned from horrid Henry to perfect Peter over night.

[Jw35]

Op you know your child. If his behaviour is so much better without an Xbox then personally I'd get rid of it!

[CastielsClevererBetterSister]

The Xbox makes my DS (8) into a different child. We have tantrums more often than not when he's told to come off. We've tried everthingvtoo. He's always tired and grumpy and he gets up at 5.30 every morning. I can't stop him. Everyday he wakes at that time (sometimes earlier) as does his older sister. But he doesn't go on the Xbox. He is good about that. If I say no he has a little sulk but accepts it. Ask him to come off I'm the worst Mam in the world, it's not fair, he hates everything. I'd get rid of the damn things but they're my DH's (he has 2 - Xbox 360 and Xbox One) but that's a whole other thread! So I'm sorry I can't be any help but I do sympathise and for you.

[Sanchar]

Xbox was dh's too. He had to put his wants aside for the well-being of his son.

If a parent really cannot live without games then they need to play it after kids are asleep, with headphones, and put the machine away after.

[Nataleejah]

Set times, clear and precise. Keep it in communal area.