Fortnite for an 8 year old?

[MyGastIsFlabbered]

My 8 1/2 year old is desperate to play Fortnite and keeps saying boys in his class are allowed to play it. It's rated 12+ so I've said no so far....cue tantrums and screams of 'it's not fair'. Is it really so bad? He says he wants to play it to be 'cooler'

[trumpetoftheswan]

Have a read of some of the stuff about Fortnite on t'internet - google 'why is Fortnite so addictive?' and go from there.

My children are older than yours and are not allowed to play computer games at home. I've explained why - it's not just a power trip 'no'.

It also depends what personality type your child has. One of mine would self-regulate quite well, and other no way.

[Timeforabiscuit]

You could try sitting with him to play it?

To be honest, the gameplay is very fast paced, he may well tire of it quite quickly unless hes plays other shoot em games?

There is a chat function which can be pretty dicey too, have you got all account settings locked down as a child? Commonsense media is a great way of finding out why a game is rated.

Tbh getting your ducks in a row as to permissions and allowable behaviour (only allowed to friend people who are in his class or through hobbies, ask you if a friend of a friend joins the game, walk through the behaviour policy, what happens if he hears bad language, how to use the report function -Are just a taster)

[Timeforabiscuit]

Sorry, some of those points are relevant for other online games like roblox.

[Jagblue]

Well the tantrums are nothing compared to the full blown addition coming your way.
Most kids are crazy addicted but it's apparently a great game.
My son likes it but he doesn't play it much as he likes other games.
I'll let him play but it can be consuming as it's the nature of the game.
I think 100 players start the game and only one wins. Lasts 10 minutes at the time.
If you are going to get it buy it for Friday after school. You won't see him until Sunday.

[GeorgeTheHippo]

No.

Just say no.

[Adversecamber22]

His friends will be playing Fortnite, it's an easy game that's hard to win. I play it and have a battle pass, it means doing specific things in game. As an adult that knows how to play I can do these quickly but a young child who won't play tactically may take a while to do them. By doing them you level up and that's what everyone wants as the object of the game is to compete the pass and it unlocks cosmetic items. You do not need the pass to play but young dc will all be showing off at school about the lastest cosmetic item they have unlocked. My squad is led by a guy who was in the military and we play very tactically. We played two days ago and between us took out a quarter of the lobby.

I have gamed for forty years and managed to go to University, have a family and a social life. However I do recognise that game addiction exists. I have friends that are truly addicted and have seen marriages breakdown.

As he is so young you need rules, chores and schoolwork done, make sure he goes out to the park etc. I see many parents complain their dc spend too much time on consoles.

As much as Fortnite and other games have allegedly been built to encourage play and accused of being addictive which I can greet with I also think us as humans have varying degrees of addictive behaviour.

Just like some people cannot say no to the last drink or over eat when they know they shouldn't.

He is still little his personality is still forming only you know your own child.

I let my DS have his own console at ten, we had issues with him once and removed it. His Father took it to work with him and my goodness he absolutely hated us. I have had one friend whose DS had serious game addiction but it was a symptom of extreme anxiety and school avoidance. He remains as a young adult a person with many issues that manifested itself at the time as gaming addiction. He doesn't game at all now but remains very reclusive.

If you let him have it when you want him to get off for dinner etc understand that the length of a match varies though typically it's Fifteen to twenty minutes. He won't ever want to leave mid match, it cannot be paused. Give a warning so he doesn't start a match close to the time he needs to get off. Biggest source of arguments I have had to listen to down the headset.

[Alaria4]

I would say educate yourself about the game first and foremost before you make a decision.

My 8 year old DD plays fortnite regularly. Cartoon violence (shooting etc) and the online chat function would send the age rating up for this game.

We just turn the chat off (which is incredibly simple, even without an awful lot of tech/gaming experience!)

Technology is a massive part of life right now and moving forward with that is great and your child wi have great fun feeling included with conversations about this.

Sometimes social pressures and expectations can be annoying but in this instant (IMO) there's no harm in trying the game out.

Just set a time / game restriction. I can't help but feel rather annoyed about all these "children addicted" post. Child gets addicted - take away the console/game, not difficult really.

Play it yourself to find out if you'd think it's suitable or watch gameplay videos on YouTube.

Whatever you decide will be the right decision, as you know your child best

[MarshaBradyo]

No I’d wait

[Alaria4]

Adversecamber22

That must have been so frustrating when you had to take his console away - being a gamer yourself I can imagine it would be so annoying haha!

I'm a gamer and absolutely love fortnite (that was obvious) I'd be gutted if my child couldn't play too but it's not for every child. (my DS is currently 5 and I don't think he will be having his own console for a very, very long time!!)

[ZeroFuchsGiven]

Dont do it, honestly not at 8 or 18.

[ZeroFuchsGiven]

I've said no so far....cue tantrums and screams of 'it's not fair'

Te tantrums and screams will be 100% worse when you try to get him off it.

[Adversecamber22]

Alaria4 it really impacted on him so it was only removed for a week or so and he moderated himself after, it's the classic make a threat of consequences and you have to see it through.

I also felt utter hard to game when he was around so had a bit of a week off myself !

[OuchLegoHurts]

No way. You're the parent here. Just say no and it'll become less popular soon anyway. Hold your ground, he's only 8!

[JoshMumsnet]

We made a parent's guide to Fortnite - hope it helps.

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[Natalia1608]

Fortnite is only addictive because it’s fast paced and easy to get the hang of.
May I just say that it may say it’s free but the add ons/season passes are kind of a rip off

[DangerMouse17]

My DS is 7 and got the Xbox and game for Xmas. It's only a 12 because of the live chat function...where you can't really control the language of other players. He pestered for a headset so I got one last week so he can play with class buddies from school and other kids. It's been fine and it's in the lounge so I can hear every conversation. He is under orders not to friend request or accept friends that are adults but he now has about 10 lovely kids he teams up with. I do have to be strict though 're time on it...so it's 90mins in the week after school after homework etc...and a max of 3hrs sat/sun.

Oh and now I'm playing too...

[paprickapaull]

I think it's a 12 I'm not sure but if I was you I would not allow them to play. My DS8 is addicted to minecraft ps edition