LOL

[FatMumSlim72]

Anyone finding it hard to limit 15year old boy's time computer games, notably League of Legends? He plays on skype with his friends so is often laughing and chatting while playing. Just that he only does school and computer and not interested in other activities. Not sure if to indulge him as he's happy, or limit it more and risk his moodiness.

[Heyho111]

I would leave him. He is socialising whilst playing and that's great. You can't make him want to do other activities at his age. He's being a typical teen. My s spends most evenings chatting to mates on Xbox. They are having a ball.

[Northernsoul58]

When I asked my 14yo DS why he 'socialised' via Skype at home, he just said "because I spend all day at school socialising in person, and it's exhausting!"
Nuf said,

[PeaStalks]

DS2 is mad on LOL.
I have come to accept that this is the way things are. We live in an isolated village as do his friends and while he is playing LOL he is usually on Skype (and snapchat and Twitter and others) chatting to friends. He is socialising it's just not the way I did when I was 16 hanging around in the park.
He is happy and gets good grades at college, joins in with family stuff as well. What's to complain about really?

[FatMumSlim72]

Thanks all - that has helped a lot. I think it could all be a lot worse so although it isn't what I was used to as a child I think it's fine - as long as he joins in family stuff without moaning!! (too much...) He has not revised for his mocks but seems to think he will for the real things, so that might be a time to limit it I guess. He says just the same northernsoul - prefers to socialise on skype than irl!!

[gazzalw]

The problems are two fold with LoL, firstly everything has to be on hold with my 14 year old once he has started a game and secondly it takes precedence over everything else so he has to be Limited. I was asked about this at the 'Olive it' event yesterday so here is my advice.

Login in to your router usually at 192.168.0.1 as the IP address.

You can block the ports on your sons/daughters pc, the ports range is 5000-5500 so you set up a rule to block those ports. Of course mine has got wise to this and changes his IP address so you will end up blocking that on every ip address they use. Bear in mind their friends will give them this advice so blocking the ports initially on a single IP address is a short fix. If they don't get the message then you restrict the internet at certain times on his laptop MAC address.

The helpful friends will also tell the DD/DS how to login to the router using the default password which is helpfully written on the router. When your child starts taking a hitherto unknown interest on the router you will know they are now wise to this so change the password to something YOU will remember asap. Bear in mind you can reset the password back to it's default if you forget.

Best bet is to install a program called Teamviewer on the PC that you want to monitor so you can check up on them at random. Teamviewer is also installable as an App on an iphone or iPad and android device too so you can check up on the way home or in the office or in the living room when they have disappeared 'to do their homework' as if ;-) you can guarantee that as soon as they are out of sight they will be on it (or Minecraft).

www.teamviewer.com/en/download/windows.aspx

For Minecraft block

TCP & UPD, 25565

so 25565 to 25565

Once the blocking rule is set up you can enable it or disable it whenever you need to.

If anyone needs any advice on how to do this on their own router just ask and I will gladly help.

[Travelledtheworld]

Thanks gazzalw BUT
I don't even know how to log into the router....
And
How could I install Teamviewer on their Laptops when I don't know the passwords?

Last time someone installed parental controls it took them about 2 days to disable it......