To not let my 13 year old get Pokemon go

[NevergetanameIlike]

AIBU to not let my daughter who is 13 get Pokemon go because I think it's pointless and a waste of time and people are being ridiculed for playing it.

It just seems like a silly fad that will blow over.

Regarding data usage, I have caps set on all of my DDs' phones. If they go more than £1 over their monthly data allowance their phones shut off.

Where I live people are setting off lures in the Children's hospital, so sick kids can play from their beds. . Also lots of businesses are cashing in, offering discounts and freebies to players. There is a Pokemon Go pub crawl in the city tonight, more than 2000 people have expressed interest, and pubs on the route are clamouring for business setting off lures all over the shop!

Just been in the Metrocentre. It's full of lures and poke stops. Waiting for a bus proved quite fruitful!

I find it a bit unbelievable that a 6th former who lives in London wouldn't be able to work out where she was or even find a pay phone or ask for directions in a shop. If kitty's post is to be taken at face value then perhaps this game is even more valuable if it encourages more finding your way out and about rather than living a limited life of only home to school and back again..

im concerned about the privacy stuff. is it right that people nearby can see the age and location of your child? I'm not saying thats a reason not to allow a child to play it, but i think it has got potential safety issues. there have already been recorded events including people getting injured crossing roads without looking and going onto private property. kids need to be well informed so they can make safe choices and have fun.

is it right that people nearby can see the age and location of your child?

I don't think so, no.

I've seen loads of people walking along playing, but they don't register in your game at all.

Yes "trafalgargal" my post should be taken at face value. I am well aware that what I posted sounds odd as I said, but I teach middle class selective grammar school children and I am sick and tired of some parents not seeing the woods for the trees because "little Johnny" is quiet and well behaved in his room and yet "little Johnny" is up until the early hours of the morning playing Pokemon Go or something similar, because they are addicted. So because they are not causing any trouble, said parents don't see an issue. I see it yearly now

How "pathetic" is it that the child of a GP in leafy Kent, doesn't know where their 16 year old is on a school night in Peckam playing Pokemon Go is really, but that is the reality and that is what happened to a member of my Form a few nights ago, whether you believe it or not.

I teach ICT and Compter Science (but the govt. has got rid of ICT from Sept (Oh goody, reading this thread and that lack of knowledge of some) so I am well used to parents stating that 'child X' is so good at ICT but what that really translates to is that their little ones (teenagers in my case) being on computer games on their own room, often until the early hours and exhausted come the next day. They are unaware of what their child is doing, and yet I have them falling asleep in my lessons and struggling to do the work set. However, 'child X' couldn't possibly be addicted to computer games , because they "couldn't", when I flag it up to them.

No. I don't think Pokemon Go is the solution to this problem. Believe it or not.

You are naive 'trafalgarl' with regards to teenagers these days...

Good points Kitty.

I can add another voice saying that other users of the game are not currently registering on other players' screens. But that is no reason to think that they won't in the future. I actually commented to DH that it would be cool if you could see other players, actually... he reckons it would be a huge draw on battery life and phone resources.

The battery saver mode is very crude, all it does is if you flip the phone upside down the screen turns black but the game keeps running so you can get notifications and stuff. If you turn the screen off normally or press the home button to minimise the game at the moment this ends all processes, it won't track your steps or notify you of nearby pokemon or anything. It does help though. I have not found it massively more battery draining than MNing or FBing which I usually do a lot of on my phone. I keep sessions short and I'm normally okay.

I thought Lures only attracted Pokemon to the pokestops? I've read a few people saying that business owners are setting them off to attract customers but it wouldn't work as the Pokemon will appear at the nearest pokestop. So if I set a lure off in my house, it wouldn't attract anything to my house, it would attract them to nearest pokestop.

One of dhs online friends is a gamekeeper, a couple of people have been found in the estate catching Pokemon, the owner of the estate clearly doesn't understand Pokemon as he told dhs friend "it's not right that people are going on private land placing these Pokemon for others to find, If you see any of these Pokemon animal things shoot them, I don't want trespassers".

Well it would work if they have a pokestop in or near their business :)

Is there a knack to catching them? I've used loads of balls but mostly I miss!

DH reckons so but I can't work out wtf he means when he says I should do it differently.

I work at a wildlife reserve, and discovered we have 2 Pokestops (somewhere you can get free stuff to use in the game) It's getting families outside and walking together. Being outdoors and having fun in whatever form works for you is good for your mental well being. I am a nan of 4 in my mid 40's and I have downloaded Pokemon Go. If I am going to engage with my potential new visitors, who may become regulars and may join the charity I work for, then I need to understand the game.

Embrace the fad and take your daughter for a walk to help her catch them whilst chatting about everyday life.....it's amazing how much teens open up when doing something that makes them feel relaxed, ask her to show you what it's all about.

Parents - enjoy the craze and connect with your kids!

Do you normally only let your DD do things that you approve as "worthwhile" then in her own leisure time?

Im not fussed about it. At least it gets people up and out. She's only 13 does everything have to be "worthy?" If Pokemon go is her idea of fun, so what? Let her be a child and enjoy herself

Every time we tried it yesterday the servers were down. We couldn't get on it all.

Yet I keep reading that people were on it all the time.

Was it just a North of England thing?

DD has Chronic Fatigue and Pokémon Go couldn't have come at a better time for us tbh; 3 months ago and she'd have been house-bound and unable to join in. But yesterday morning was the first time in 6 months she came and asked if she could go to a friend's.

It got her out the house and she walked 2.7km with her friends catching Pokémon. She was unwell when she got home but had had a fantastic time hanging out with and joining in with her friends. It did wonders for her mental health and made her feel normal for a day.

The server was down globally for about 6 hours yesterday, but that was due to a DDOS attack. All is better now.

Ah leafy Kent.
I was working in a very large high school in Kent when 7/7 happened. It was amazing how many teens knew their parents worked in London but had no idea where and how they were sharply divided into those who knew London and visited and those who likened it to a visit to the moon. Your post made the 6th former sound like a Londoner admittedly so there's clearly more to your tale but I really can't be bothered with condescending drip feeders today.

I won't allow mine but that's because there's been several near misses with kids crossing the road after school not concentrating on the road as they are too engrossed in PG. Also, today I read about paedophiles using the Pokie Stops to meet kids.

I know 3 kids playing it...........1is my own and two are my mates daughters, they don't go out hunting without an adult anyway. all the rest of them are adults/late teens so pedos are poke stops isn't really an issue, and all kids I have seen out and about have been with either bemused parents or parents that are more into than their kids

this scaremongering is ridiculous, 15 years ago kids were out everywhere and now their wrapped in cotton wool, told their obese and not allowed to have any outside activity unless it's a pre arranged group sport

none of my kids are sporty, yet they've all been out with me over the last week and walked and been outside and active. so I'm not complaining

This 48 year old loves it.

I've been out once to find a pokestop for more balls, it's brilliant fun!

That was meant to be a rather than the sad face .

Is there a knack to catching them? I've used loads of balls but mostly I miss!

Some are easier to catch than others. You can offer them berries before hurling balls at them - although that uses berries up.

When throwing a ball watch for the green target circle inside the white one. You want the throw to connect with the green circle - easier when it is biggest. You should try to gently aim the ball so it lbs gently on to the pokemon's head. Great or Nice throws get you a bonus. Turning off the AR helps as well so you're not distracted by depth of field.