Time limits on Fortnite for nearly 10 year old

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My nearly 10 year old has been playing Fortnite in the summer holidays and he has been on for a 30 min session most days (apart from a few mini-breaks visiting family).

I do have to limit gaming as he would literally sit on it for 5 hours straight if left to self-regulate. Can they even self-regulate properly at this age anyway?

He wants to play every night after school going forward when he goes back this week. I'm not keen as it seems addictive. He has a brother and a decent garden to play in.

To the parents that limit it, how much/how often do you let them on in the week after school? I'm thinking every other day might suit? He has sports training on a Thursday and another club til 4:30pm Weds.

Fortnite not allowed yet here. My 9 yo is allowed an hour of screen after school or after a club if there is one. He chooses if that's TV or gaming, sometimes he does half an hour then switches. It's always been our rule to come off when I say - no arguing - and it works for us. Sometimes he has a bit more after dinner but not gaming, just TV.

I've told mine that's it's weekends only from Wednesday.

Fortnite for a 9 year old? I don’t think a time limit is the issue here.

We dont have fortnite, but mine are only allowed to game at the weekend or when they have a friend over. I think you definitely need to set limits for fortnite based on experiences of parents I know .

We’re pretty relaxed with screen time by Mumsnet standards. We’re doing no screen time before school and then none after dinner. A lot of screen time will be crowded out by clubs. Free rein at the weekend and again we’re a busy family so they won’t sit rotting all weekend.

(Also my son is 9 and has had Fortnite as of this summer. I was reluctant but all his friends play it (genuinely) and they all chat and as they don’t have phones it’s the only way they could chat for a lot of the summer. Half the time they go ‘I’ve had enough gaming, shall we meet at the park?’ 😄 He hasn’t combusted yet, he knows that even a hint of attitude will get the switch taken away. He knows that because it has happened in the past when he was younger (not with Fortnite obviously!). He’s hence learnt to control himself. They can’t learn to do so unless they’re given a chance can they!)

30 mins a day is harsh, by the times he's loaded in he won't have much time at all. I would not recommend fortnite for a 9 year old, games have age ratings for a reason. On a school day, as long as homework and chores done my son can game as long as he wants until bedtime

30 mins here. But never Fortnite! Agree with others the game is more of an issue than the time here

I’m relaxed about screen time, but Fortnite is 13+ so if I had a 10yo they would not be on Fortnite, that said, lots of DD2’s friends were playing it while in primary school.

My son is 10, also has Fortnite, every child in his class is on it, they all chat together and 'meet up' on it in the evenings.

He manages to self regulate well. He will play for an hour or so chatting to his friends, then come off and choose to play with Lego or something.

I think some parents fail to realise we are in a very different world. We didn't spend all our time on screens because we didn't have that option.

As long as he's not on there for hours on end, still engages in family life and doesn't put up any protests to coming off I think it's okay.

My son will always come off straight away if there's an offer of a bike ride/park etc!

I did spend all my time on screens tbh - straight home from school, telly on, then after dinner straight onto MSN until bedtime! While my sister played Sims and Bomberman 😁

To be fair I did enjoy a bit of crash bandicoot 😂 but I think the difference now is they're playing with their friends.

My son is on the spectrum and I think it helps him to forge better relationships.

It's hard to know you're doing the right thing as long as they're not throwing a tantrum when asked to come off I think it's okay 🤷‍♀️

Mine don't play fortnite, but my 9 year old has screen time limits set 8pm-6am

Yes it's the same here Kim. They don’t have phones and it’s the only way they could chat for a lot of the summer.

I've said a couple of times a week because I have tried to see when he comes off it himself and he will sit there for hours then not want to do much else when he comes off.

We’re also doing no screen time before school as we just don't have time and it slows both kids down.

They are quite busy at weekends with sport all Sunday morning and we go out as a family.