Is Fortnite ruining anyone else's family?

[fortnitenightmare]

And devices in general?

We have 1 Xbox, 4 kids.

The older 2 bicker and argue about it constantly. They're like ogres when they can't go on it and ogres when they've been in it. And how very dare I interrupt a game with 'time's up!' Or 'dinner'. They're limited to 45 mins each, they have to take turns. They're addicted to it. Just one more...

It's ruining our family.

We:
Limit time spent on it
They have to earn time on it
Make them share
Warn them before stopping games

I have unpleasant children and it's really getting me down. They live for it. They're not allowed any other form of social media, and I get they they want to play/interact with their peers so I'd rather not ban it completely BUT we're running out of ideas of how to stop it ruining our family. I also hate the fact people can 'listen in' to our family life.

Have you got similar problems? How do you manage this addiction?

Sad 😞

Being the oddball amongst their peers' is what I aspire to for my kids!

Oh yes. The 'look at me, I'm so right-on/alternative/different/unique/ special' parent.

Children rarely feel the same. Being an oddball amongst peers is downright miserable and alienating for most dc.

I want my dc to be happy and involved, not be an outcast/oddball. What a strange desire for your dc.

The boy in my class who doesn’t play Fortnite (or any computer games) is the most popular kid amongst both boys and girls. He’s out making ramps for his bike most nights. It has also been noticed that he has excellent problem solving skills, tolerance and open mindedness.

I don’t doubt for a minute that this kid will thrive, whereas (and I take no pleasure in this whatsoever- I care deeply), the children who are on instagram, Snapchat and live Xbox games are already experiencing huge social boundary issues, despite all of the PSHE work which is done around this.

Pretty damaging stuff not being able to talk about the latest video game in the playground

That's odd Shockers. Do you have research/statistics to show this?

I'm interested as my PGCE and Masters research was surrounding the effect of gaming on learning and child development. I've not come across anything socially negative, so I'd be keen to hear how you've proved this, as I'll be doing more research into this shortly, as part of my Doctorate.

Saaaame.

My 11yo ds literally gets in from school and goes straight on it. I have to shout him for 10 mins straight for his tea (sometimes when I'm stood right beside him) and when he finally registers I get spoken to like I've just burst in on open heart surgery or something.

I flit between putting my foot down and forcing him to pursue other interests (which is invariably met with a foul attitude or a wall of silence) and just giving up and saying fine whatever waste your life on this crap...haha.

It's a genuine addiction! Sometimes I'll drag him out for a bike ride or walk through the park and once he's gotten over the injustice of it all he will say 'Mum I'm actually really enjoying this and glad we did it...' which he denies when I remind him.

But to be honest once his friends have to log off he doesn't bother playing alone so much so maybe me and the other mums need to synchronise turning it off....

And don't talk to me about V bucks I got emotionally blackmailed into letting him have 7.99's worth after the SATs but it makes me uncomfortable that we are essentially turning our real, hard earned money into fake money so our children can buy clothes and dances for fictional characters!!!!

Sensory - I guess I'm going from my own experience as a child. I was pretty happy not to follow the crowd and my dc now seem happy in the same way - so my parenting seems to be working pretty well thanks!

I’m afraid I agree with others advocating a complete removal. Mine aren’t allowed fortnite but they do get obsessed with YouTube! I removed all tablets over a month ago and life is much nicer. They’re allowed them back for holiday then they’ll be gone again.
We allow limited PS4 time but nothing online - ever.

Stay special lethal👌🏻

People who proactively assert themselves and their dc as being the ones that stand out from the crowd are usually the best sort.

If it's this extreme then just take the x box away. I really would.

I haven't had to as I only have a ds who loves the game, my dd isn't interested at all, she still loves The Sims don't get me started.

My ds is a bit fed up when I tell him to come off but he knows that the alternative is no x box at all. He knows I would follow through with it.

In your case it sounds like it's causing so much stress I'd get rid of it. Rip off the plaster OP, bet you anything that in a week they will be filling their time and won't miss it.

Sensory I do intend to stay special thanks! and as someone once said 'those who follow the crowd get lost in it'

My DC are 8, 10 and 12 and we don't have a PlayStation or Xbox. I am thinking of getting one as I don't want them to feel left out. It's good to pick up some tips before they get it!

This isn't a gaming issue, it is a parenting issue.

I do that Mama - it's hilarious. He also tries to advise me. I've been gaming for thirty years, I know what I'm doing

Mine do this too, and i always do better when they're not 'advising' me.
I've also been gaming for coming up 30 years, it's so funny that they seem to think they know so much more than i do

Same here OP.

We have had huge amounts of money taken out of our account (now managed to remove the credit card details), horrible children who disappear for hours and are then so badly behaved once ‘unplugged’, no homework done, no jobs done, no exercise taken etc etc

We have removed the Xbox from the house. I told them that if they couldn’t regulate it themselves, it would have to go. Of course they can’t regulate it, it’s an addiction.

I agree Jacques

Nope, because of everything I've read about it they're not allowed it!

I do see the children who aren't allowed to play Fortnite being left out of conversations and games.

Which is why it's irresponsible of teachers, like yourself, to plan primary lessons around Fortnite themes. The game is a 12 certificate and this isn't fair on those children at your school who are feeling left out because their parents v sensibly adhere to the age classification system.

I've not really noticed the Fortnite mania, mine asked for it a while ago, I had a look and decided it was a no (they're 9 & 11), and that was that.

I didn't realise it was such a thing and I'm pretty sure they're doing just fine without it.

Ok going to be controversial now!! We have 1 Xbox, 1 PS4, main computer, laptop, 2 iPads, 2 Nintendo switch. 2 DS's and they both have their own iPhones. (Their dad is a computer geek so very techy anyway) I have never limited screen time and the rules here are:

No screens until you're ready to leave the house for school/planned activity
No screens 20 mins before bed.

My DS's often choose to go out to the park, on their bikes, read a book, play in the garden. We occasionally have fallings out but in general we don't make it an issue so it isn't one. I think that being controlling around screens etc makes them more of a draw.

I realise I will get flamed for this!!

Sre you sure theyre getting on just fine without it? They're not friendless geek- billynomates?

They don't have mobile phones either and seem to be coping.

Well they've both got pretty packed social calenders Lethal, and I'm as sure as I can be that they're not hanging out with imaginary friends!

My DH works in a very niche area of tech, and we're a very analogue family!!

DCs have a PC each, but they're on Linux so gaming options are limited anyway.

@makeitpink we have the same attitude in our house, and very similar access to tech. And the same results. Two boys, age 10 and 6. They will play heavily for a few days if they get something new, but they balance it out after that.

How old are the fortnite offenders op?