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Boys attending top independent schools and playing console games at home

61 replies

dadap · 28/12/2018 15:08

Hi not sure if the title is what it should be but here goes. My son will start a top academic London boys school Yr 7 in September. He is very bright, curious, loves sport and has a genuine thirst for learning - and the school is a very good fit for him. He is also very excited about joining. He plays sports twice a week outside of school and music once a week. However my dilemma is that he plays a lot of and excessive amount of online games when he is home - this is only school holidays and weekends. We don't have any screens on a school day - but I worry that when he starts his new school he may have problems keeping up with the work. If you have boys who are very academic and succeeding but also play online games please share what works for you - similarly please tell me if this is a problem / concern for your family and what your plans are to tackle it. TIA

OP posts:
TheOnlyAletheia · 28/12/2018 16:02

My DS (14) has no PS4 during the week at all. Friday night and Saturday he can play as much as he likes but usually he does sport on Friday night and Saturday, so it’s limited. Then on Sunday any homework left from the week has to be done before any PS4.

theworldistoosmall · 28/12/2018 16:00

How hard is it?
Homework/chores/whatever is done first, then gaming.
Odd though that you already know he actually has a place in the school when places haven't been allocated yet.

SoupDragon · 28/12/2018 15:59

During term time, all homework, sport and out of school activities have to be completed before any game playing. No exceptions.

This. Also you play it by ear. It soon becomes obvious if they haven't got the balance right.

Parker231 · 28/12/2018 15:54

If you think he is spending too much time on online games, stop him doing do. Switch off and remove until the weekend/ holidays. Worked for us.

cloudtree · 28/12/2018 15:51

He goes on the console once everything else is done. Simple.

dadap · 28/12/2018 15:50

Thanks Abetes - this is our routine now at primary school - I'm just aware that as he moves up the demands and expectations will increase significantly. Did your child move from year 6 - 7 recently - can you give me some idea of the transition - in relation to games?

OP posts:
PristineCondition · 28/12/2018 15:39

Like parents attending shit normal schools you parent and tell him to get off...

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 28/12/2018 15:38

Gosh - how come you know already he’s going there in September? Doesn’t he have to do January exams? I can see why you are worried if he is gaming at the moment then.

It’s just odd that your OP reads like a journalist trying to do an article so you may find you get fewer responses.

Abetes · 28/12/2018 15:32

Firstly, for me, term time and holiday time are different and have different rules.

During term time, all homework, sport and out of school activities have to be completed before any game playing. No exceptions. In practice this often means no gaming on a school night. And if I hear from school that any homework has been missed or not completed satisfactorily, then no gaming at all for a whole week. In the holidays, I’m more relaxed and at the weekends I’m somewhere in between.

Bowchicawowow · 28/12/2018 15:10

What works for me is saying ‘get off that now.’

Cauliflowersqueeze · 28/12/2018 15:10

Just take the console away. What’s the problem.

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