Is this a safeguarding issue?

[orangeandyellowsequins]

Just looking for other peoples opinion as to whether you would consider this a safeguarding issue or not.

A six year old being left to use a tablet (unsure if there are restrictions on it or what they are looking at) and to play games with an older certificate rating than their age eg shooting games, driving games and Fortnite all night without restriction or limit and not being 'put to bed' as such.

The reason I know this is happening is the parent told me them self.

Happy to be told that I should just mind my own business if you don't think it is an issue.

Naff parenting but I don't think children's services would care. They have too much to deal with.

Yep poor parenting but not a safeguarding risk that's going to result in children's services doing anything if that's the only thing. Poor kid though 🙁

Bad parenting, and might just about warrant a conversation from school to monitor it but CS aren't going to do anything if this is the only issue.

When I was a DSL in primary school we’d regularly hear stories like this. We’d have a chat with parents about putting restrictions in but wouldn’t view it as a safeguarding issue

The SS might already be aware. If the child is up all night playing games the chances are they are falling asleep at school

that's very normal, albeit not great, parenting

Thank you all for your replies

My response would depend on the context I heard it.

If I was at work and became aware of it then I would have to record it and pass the information on to the DSL. It's the sort of thing that could be one part of a jigsaw around a child.

If it came up in conversation with another parent I'd chalk it up to different parenting choices and move on.

No not safeguarding, I’m guessing this is your ex? Ss won’t care age ratings are just a guidance not law my kids school put on films for them with older age rating 🙄

I don’t think they would be up all night though. I used to try and read books by torchlight under the covers in the 60s after bedtime and lights out and I would fall asleep if my dad didn’t look in on me and I would be caught out!

Unless the child is sleeping a lot during the day I think it’s unlikely that they would be up all night as children and adolescents naturally sleep more than adults.

Mine doesn't sleep for more than 4 hours a night with melatonin so doesn't have a set bed time. Older siblings were the same. One went for 4 days and Nights with no sleep (we slept in shifts) We work around them. They see the sleep clinic and Paeds consultant regularly. Playing Fortnite and the like isn't a safeguarding issue. None of them are tired in the day (all are ND)

Of course it's a failure to provide good care and keep a child safe from harm, but it's sadly all too common. We are desensitising children constantly then wonder why they behave inappropriately or don't seem to understand the consequences of their actions.
Any DSL in a school has heard dozens of these kinds of stories and would talk to the parents, but they'd either nod and ignore you or respond defensively or belligerently.

I’d take it with a pinch of salt that it’s “all night” for a start.
forgive my ignorance but would a six year old be able to play Fortnite?
i leave my DD with movies sometimes “all night” because she wakes up at 2am a lot and the latest she wakes is 4:30 so I’d never sleep if I didn’t. She is severely disabled though and doesn’t sleep well (even Melatonin doesn’t help).
They are age appropriate films and I have to get up and put another one on when they end…

Honestly, large numbers of kids are playing games late and inappropriate ratings. I don't have boys but my friends son complained he wasn't allowed grand theft auto- he was 9! I talked to him about playing it at his friends' house, he delighted in telling me about killing baddies and stealing cars (think the prostitution went over his head).

No wonder the teachers are having to deal with poor behaviour and lack of concentration in the classroom

I don't really want to provide information on the relationship of the child or really the context but I do appreciate people sharing the situations they have seen that are similar and the context in relation to them, as it is helpful.

To be fair I don't think the child is literally playing games all night and not sleeping, I just meant that the devices were available to them all night and they were deciding themselves when to turn them off and go to sleep.

Although I think the sleep would be an issue I thought what they could be accessing as the biggest issue.

Exposing children to unsuitable content online, on tv or in gaming can be considered a safeguarding issue, but it depends very much what a child is being exposed to, and if there are other elements of neglect or abuse at play.

In reality the thresholds regarding what is investigated are incredibly high, and a 6 year old playing Fortnite (for example) would be unlikely to be followed up other than a quick word from school.

My friends 5 year old plays Fortnite...she's a teacher. I also know a social worker who's children were allowed to play GTA age 8 or so. It's not brilliant parenting but as far as parenting crimes go, it's not the worst either and I can't see the school or SS being interested unless something else was going on.