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 😞

OP I’ve not read what others have said but I have read your posts. So sorry if I’m repeating.

It may be the only social online thing they do but children don’t need a social online thing. Take the x box away for the rest of the month. Simply put it away. Anything that is affecting your children’s attitude and behaviour is simply not good for them. They clearly aren’t emotionally mature enough to deal with having an Xbox. That’s not a criticism of your children or your parenting.

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

That poster basically wants their kid to be bullied at school. Being an "oddball" is horrible at that age.

Not RTFT
The Xbox got taken away when arguments started including over Fortnite. They get it back on the weekend on the clear understanding that arguments and excessive play loses them the Xbox again.

I’d unplug it and put it away for a month. No joke. I did this with ours and the change in behaviour was astounding.

Teachers job is to engage the students in lessons our school use the latest crazes in their lessons they even made fidget spinners at one point as a dt lesson, minecraft in maths using blocks etc.

My DSS is obsessed. To the point where his mum bought him a brand new PS4 and headset with 8 games when he's already got a PS3. He's 8.

We've got a free version here but his mum downloaded him a £50 add on so he's not wanted to come over the past few weeks because he'd rather be at his mums playing on it - which she lets him, every night. Every time he has been over here he's sulked about not playing it and complained we don't have the expensive add on.

It's really hard for children in blended families - we now feel compelled to buy something we can't afford to ensure he comes over - we won't because we can't, but it makes it super hard when his mum is buying him literally every add on imaginable. I don't think he should be playing it at 8, and his behaviour has gotten worse. But we keep getting told it's not or decision (true) and he can't miss out (rubbish, most of his class don't have a PS3, much less a PS4 in their own room ffs). Things like toys and computer games really points out obvious parenting differences.

Conversley, it kind of saved our family. My three DDs entertained eachother but DS outgrew them. We lived on a pretty chaotic street and just as DS childhood friends began experimenting and pushing boundaries, generally being a nuisance, DS was safely indoors online with school friends living just too far away to hang out with after school. Many of his local childhood friends have become drug addicts or served prison sentences. DS got a degree and has a good job.

If they bicker or refuse to come off then remove the right to play on it. Extend the period they lose if for if they carry on. Even if it doesn’t stop them at least you’ll get a break from it.

That would be quite difficult, since I haven't really posted on TES for around ten years now, so let's put that particular pile of crap to bed right now.

If you don't want people to comment on your business, then I suggest you stop posting about it on MN constantly.

Good luck with the PhD - it's going to be tricky to complete in between arguing endlessly all day and every day with hundreds of different MN posters but will obviously be a much better use of your time and ultimately your blood pressure will thank you.

@ButtMuncher Fornite isn't available for the PS3. So it's not crazy that she bought him a console that can actually play the game.

I thought you weren't going to engage?

Anyone can use AS to see that you do indeed spend every single day lashing out at anybody and everybody. Granted, it's harder to spot them in between all the deletions. There is a similar AS function on TES, btw, which would also refute your silly claims. Teachers on TES debate endlessly about lots of things, but they don't tell other teachers they've never met that they must be crap, purely based on internet posts because it's infantile, ridiculous and impossible to judge. I've seen you do it several times, however - twice just this week.

And you needn't bother inferring again that MNHQ are involved in my 'stalking', just because I am daring to call you out on your deeply unpleasant posting behaviour - that's also a lie. They have been involved, but it's very much the other way around.

@straightjeans oh the PS4 wasn't an issue at all. It's the tonne of games, the add ons and the expectation that he can just stay there playing it for hours rather than come and see his father and his little brother. And the assumption we can just pay for everything to match what she has (words out of her own mouth)

Getting an xbox is perfectly fine and reasonable and not at all OTT but getting two so they don't fight over it is. You really have brought this on yourself. Either get rid of it or grin and bear it I suppose. What else is there to do? You can't expect children to behave reasonably in this situation.

I teach an 8 year old that plays it
I take it it’s not suitable for that age?

It's rated 12.

Thanks raining
Am not surprised. What are parents thinking?

No, for me it has been fine. They work hard at school and can do what they need to relax in their down time. They share it also and have times so couldn't go on the whole time.

It's rated 12 because it's played online rather than because of the violence.

Last week my 15 yo's cclass did Fortnite dances in PE.

It's a 12 because of 'frequent scenes of mild violence' according to the VSC.

The dad is constantly complaining about his reading too. Get him off the bloody computer then.

My ds has no xbox or computer/iPad during school week (so Friday night - Sunday 6pm) only Netflix (in family living room) and phone but phone for texting only (no gaming) He has unlimited time on anything from Friday night to Sunday 6pm so long as school grades stay high, homework is done and club sports continue. Works for us. Im not sure but maybe because there is “no limit” (other than 12pm bed time) there’s no worry about getting on it. He goes in phases - sometimes he’s absolutely transfixed - when fortnight (or fifa or whatever) first comes out, he often plays for 8 hours straight but it doesn’t last long. Currently been at least 3 weekends since the Xbox has been on at all. Self regulation is the key .... it’s gets boring doing it all the time.