Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To sell my son's PS4?

61 replies

Ps4hell · 13/04/2018 09:33

I have had enough of the bloody thing.

All he wants to do is play on it. I bought it him for his bedroom so he wouldn't be on the one downstairs (I use it for TV, internet etc. Its very rarely used for gaming) but it's turned into a nightmare.

All he wants to do is play on it. He and his brothers argue over it.

I get up for the toilet at 2am and he's on it playing with the volume down.
All he talks about is Fortnite.

I've had enough. He's became a ZOMBIE

So AIBU to sell the PS4 and buy him a bike with the money. Encourage him to get out of the bloody house and allow him a set time each week on the PS4 downstairs?

OP posts:
Lovesagin · 13/04/2018 09:37

Yabu, just turn the WiFi off when it's time for it to go off. Id never sell something that I'd bought my DC as a gift, I find other ways to manage it.

ineedaholidaynow · 13/04/2018 09:40

How old is he?

If he can't self-regulate you need to lay down boundaries

LIZS · 13/04/2018 09:41

How old is he? Take it from his bedroom after lights out and restrict access during the day.

Original poster
Ps4hell · 13/04/2018 09:41

I use the Wi-Fi, I can't sleep at night so like to browse the internet.

Ice tried loads of ways to manage it including taking it into my room then giving it to him at set times but all he does is moan and ask for it 'my friends are having a match at xxx, pleaseeee can I have it for an hour' etc.

It's just more trouble than it's worth and it's not like there isn't one downstairs he can use occasionally.

His behaviour has gone so downhill since getting it.

He was an avid reader. He was top of his whole YEAR in reading.

Now he won't even pick up a book.

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 13/04/2018 09:42

I think game systems in the bedroom are far too tempting so yes I would remove it. Or perhaps investigate the parental controls? You can set a total no. of playing hours, you may be able to set times as well.

Original poster
Ps4hell · 13/04/2018 09:42

He's 13.5

I just feel it's affecting him way too much. It's all he thinks about. It's like an addiction.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ps4hell · 13/04/2018 09:44

I would give him the money from it and let him choose something else (non screen) to buy. I wouldn't pocket it obviously.

OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 13/04/2018 09:46

No, enforce some boundaries.

Switch off the WiFi and use your phone to browse.

worridmum · 13/04/2018 09:46

Well selling his stuff without his permission is a shitty thing to do tbh so YABVU on that count alone.

Encourge him to do other things by all means but don't steal his stuff to sell because it never ends well my friend did the exact same thing you suggested when he was away with scout camp she sold his ps2 and games and used the procceds to treat herself to a spar day and bought him a cheap bike. He deceded when she was out to sell some of her stuff in the exact same way though sadly it was her grandmothers jewerlly so had sentimental value. She went ape shit about it but she was the one that taught him thats how things are done. But in the end she realised how much of a hypocrite she had been but the trust is gone apprently he now locks his room so his mother cannot go into it.

Just dont steal his stuff take the cable away for bad behaviour encourge him going out etc just be prepared for concequences if you do sell his stuff as he might have no quarms doing the same to your stuff.

PeterIanStaker · 13/04/2018 09:47

I've had the same with one of mine and the XBox. It is removed, no phone in the bedroom, no access to the PC unless it's supervised and for homework. It was becoming a damaging addiction and a complete ban was the only option after trying to strictly limit use (huge tantrums, vile behaviour, really not worth the stress).

BarbarianMum · 13/04/2018 09:48
Foxysoxy10 · 13/04/2018 09:49

The problem is if you take it away or start to impose restrictions it becomes an even bigger fixation on when he can use it and how long etc

What you really need is a way to help him self regulate how long he is on it himself.

Would going somewhere or ‘treats’ every time he plays less work?

Is there anything else that he loves doing you could try cultivating and using as a carrot stick?

I also think if you could find a way to turn it off at night that would help. Is there a passcode you could set between say 10:00 pm - 7:00 am?

I do think some of it goes with the territory of teenagers so you may have to try and adjust your expectations a little and meet somewhere in the middle.

WellAndTrulyCurbed · 13/04/2018 09:53

Yes, YABU.

Either switch off the internet when it's time for it to be off or remove it from his room when you don't want him playing. Easy.

LolaTheDarkdestroyer · 13/04/2018 09:55

I feel your pain, but it's a bit harsh selling it..my son is 13 and is obsessed with fortnite....many a time at the weekends I've been woken up by his shouting etc, I'm hoping the craze will fade out soon.

MissionItsPossible · 13/04/2018 09:57

Why do you use a PS4 for TV and Internet?

Original poster
Ps4hell · 13/04/2018 10:00

Mission it has Netflix, YouTube, live streaming films etc on it. Music. Photos stored etc. Use it for everything but gaming 😁

I just feel frustrated. I wish I never bought the sodding thing.

OP posts:
LIZS · 13/04/2018 10:04

I'm afraid you need to set an example and go cold turkey on wifi overnight. Have something else to go to if you cannot sleep , to at least break his habit.

pilates · 13/04/2018 10:08

I hear you. My 13 nearly 14 yr old DS and friends are all addicted to fortnite. I got so exasperated that my DD’s boyfriend managed to set up parental controls for me so the internet for his phone/iPad and Xbox go off at 10.30. This will be reviewed when he goes back to school to 9pm. Sorry I don’t know how he did it as not very computer savvy but perhaps someone else will be able to explain how to do it.

Handsfull13 · 13/04/2018 10:13

I'd take the plug out at bedtime and return it in the afternoon.
Going cold turkey and removing it completely will make your life hell because it's all he will want. I would slowly start cutting it down. So no over night to start, then slowly cut it down during the day.
Does he do chores? If so can he earn playtime, so if say he cleans his room he earns an hour of time which he can save for when he wants to play with friends.

SpaceDinosaur · 13/04/2018 10:54

Confiscate the power cable when he's not supposed to be playing it. Literally put it under your pillow

He still has the blessed thing hit you are helping him to moderate his usage

Babyg1995 · 13/04/2018 10:57

Is this a joke if not yabvvvvu he's 13 no dont sell it save up and get him a bike as well and set some boundaries.

Original poster
Ps4hell · 13/04/2018 11:01

BabyG it's a PS4 not his liver.

I'm still considering it.

I've set boundaries and he just keeps ignoring them. Sneaking onto it in the night. Coning down and taking mt PS4 pads when his have been confiscated.

I think it's a fair punishment considering the amount of times he has disobeyed me over the thing and the impact it's had on his attitude and school work.

OP posts:
Lovesagin · 13/04/2018 11:07

I do think nowadays gaming is such a big deal in some kids social circles. I'd love it if DC's friends weren't into them but they all are so my DC would be almost ostracised if they didn't join in or only had an hour a week on it etc. Friends and fitting in is so important to kids but I have to manage the amount of time they spend gaming, not them.

Perhaps, he's mad on it now because it's all been ' forbidden fruit' in his mind? I couldn't imagine having a ps4 in the house but hardly letting the kids use it. Must have been torture for him Grin

adaline · 13/04/2018 11:14

Why are you allowing him to sneak down in the night?

Take the PlayStation off him in the evenings and lock it away somewhere. Or turn off the WiFi and hide the router?

Lovesagin · 13/04/2018 11:14

Take the pads to your room.

Set an example!e-turnwifi off and read a book

Removing it completely won't help him it will just really ramp up the moaning and probably make him a bit of a laughing stock with his friends. So It might as well be his liver in his mind tbh.

I think the issue is you have had a ps4 but been very strict with it so he's making up for lost time almost and is binge playing it.