Gaming/Screen Time

[BlueMummaroo]

My 9yr old loves gaming, it's sociable for his age group and they all chat on group calls while playing. When he was younger, I was much stricter about screen time but as the years have progressed, I've found myself in a losing battle with this new dynamic!
"Real" life, outdoors, me+him time etc is so important to me and I've brought him up understanding these priorities, I believe. But I'm just wondering if other parents are currently in this tug-of-war situation about gaming time (being that he's older now and needs that time with his friends!) And yet torn with the amount of screen time this entails!?!

I know someone will probably respond with 'Just turn the PlayStation off' or comments of the like, but I'm trying to be a reasonable parent and not just cut him off from what is clearly this generations way of socialising!! Even though in my heart, I disagree with the age he is to be spending so much time on these games!

Hopefully that makes sense or resonates with any parents out there who may gave been thru similar and are able to give any useful advice or constructive ideas!

I'm worried enough to make a profile and ask for help on here....so no snide comments please :)

No I’m not against it, I also game as does DH and our DS. All of us were very in to playing sport, DS has always been in a football team from age 10 till now. DH and I played competitive sport till we were in our early thirties and then we just didn’t have enough time as that was a whole day at the weekend plus training.

You can game and do other things as well. Gaming has been mainstream for a long time now, no idea how old you are but we are both over 50 now and it’s been around for decades.

DH has a PhD and I attended a very good RG University and we have both earned enough to be higher rate taxpayers. Though neither of us have ever worked as programmers we can both do it.

Just so you know not all gamers are losers.

You could actually have a go at playing a game together.

My social time today was an hour eating dinner, an hour watching the news and chatting about it, an hour reading and two hours playing Battlefield 6.

Thanks CharSiu,
I agree and do also game with my son. I suppose my question is more how to cut back down on his game time as opposed to gaming as a whole being good or bad. But I appreciate your response. All the best.

I would just plan things for evenings and weekends that don’t involve a screen so you’re naturally occupied doing other things. Maybe see if he can bring a friend on a day out etc. so he still gets to socialise.