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Original poster

Does your son game?

87 replies

PlantingTrees · 17/04/2022 21:18

I’ve got a 6 year old who doesn’t game yet. But it seems that ALL boys end up being into gaming. I also see lots with gaming themed T-shirts. He sometimes plays a few little games on my phone but it makes his behaviour so much worse. He thinks about it all the time, asks about going on my phone etc etc so I have to stop it. Even just a short while or an hour is enough to have an effect. Does anyone’s son not game? And if so, do they feel left out amongst the boys?

OP posts:
Original poster
PlantingTrees · 19/04/2022 08:51

That sounds positive bumps. I love seeing kids out playing. Or teenagers doing wheelies on their bikes and showing off to each other. Just generally larking around in that way.

OP posts:
passport123 · 19/04/2022 08:59

@thedisappearedones

I don't know any boy 8 or above really that doesn't game. It's all about finding the right balance.
Only about half the kids in my son's y5 class have a console.
Mayhemmumma · 19/04/2022 09:08

My 8 year old aspires to be! He plays minecraft and watches too much you tube.

I make sure he does lots of other activities/spends time with his friends when I pad is off but at home I'm encouraging him to regulate how long he spends on it to avoid a battle.

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UpsetApplecart · 19/04/2022 09:53

I think it depends on the child. My eldest can really take it or leave it but my younger one definitely has signs of addiction (age 9) and I don't know if this is because he started younger due to being a second child or it's just him. Probably the latter.

So I allow it in moderation and make sure he does other stuff. I did relent on fortnite recently as he was complaining he was being left out in playground conversations and I know the children (perfectly nice children) and this is true. But he can only friend "real" friends.

I was the child whose mum didn't allow the popular stuff (toys, TV) of the day and I remember feeling really sad and left out. Obviously I coped but this was 35 years ago so it leaves an impact.

There are plenty of good games which don't have an online element. Minecraft for example.

It's a minefield, modern parenting!

ChairCareOh · 19/04/2022 09:59

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Saucery · 19/04/2022 10:03

Mine did, but not until 8 or 9that was some starship game with DH. He had a Nintendo handheld thing too, but we had to have a word about how they draw you in when Resetti (sp) the mole started telling him he needed to do stuff on Animal Crossing after his bedtime Hmm When he got an X Box it was downstairs, with clearly delineated times. I stuck with the mantra “I don’t care what your friends are doing, these are our Rules”
He only got a gaming computer at 18, which went to Uni with him and is in his room when he comes home for holidays. Think he still games on it, but it’s mostly for work now.

It’s not Either/Or with outside activities and gaming, unless you let it be. He climbed trees, played outside with friends, paddled in streams, built dens……

saggyhairyass · 19/04/2022 10:08

DD has, since about the age of 6. She used to play Moshi Monsters (Remember them?). Always supervised. She now plays mostly Nintendo games. She's a Mario Kart demon. She also loves Zelda Breath of the Wild. On the PC plays Civilisation IV. She also plays mobile phone games.

She's about to do GCSE mocks so after she's done her homework she games. But she's always in bed by 10pm. No devices in her room are allowed after that time.

BunsyGirl · 19/04/2022 12:19

@passport123 You don’t need a console to game. My DCs have multiple devices including the PC that DS1 built when he was ten.

MarshaBradyo · 19/04/2022 12:21

Yes they do with their friends

But also do many clubs, sports and music etc so I hope that brings down the dominance of it a fair bit

EasterDecorations · 19/04/2022 12:40

Mine (18) doesn't really, just a bit on the Switch from time to time. DD (16) uses the Switch a bit too, also our old DS but not much else really. They did more when they were younger, Mario Karts, Minecraft, Roblox, but they've never really socialised through it, they don't use social media much either. DH and I don't really game, we have got an old Xbox and the Wii comes out occasionally but its not a major part of any of our lives.

MarshaBradyo · 19/04/2022 12:45

Also they just use their PC rather than extra device - we don’t have Xbox etc

ChocolateRiver · 19/04/2022 12:52

My 9 year old likes to play Xbox. But he doesn’t play online and it’s mainly FIFA and sometimes the Lego games so only age appropriate stuff. He plays FIFA with his dad and loves that. He doesn’t play in his room and it’s not unlimited, he has time limits. He enjoys it, but it’s not his whole life. He still plays with Lego and does a number of sports each week so I don’t think a bit of time on the Xbox is much of a problem.

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