AIBU not wanting to change Fortnite lunch bag?

[aahah]

I've just had a call about my son's (age 6) lunchbag from the deputy at his school. The 'issue had been brought to her attention by the head teacher. (We're into the second term now . Says it's promoting Fortnite as a game in school whereas they discourage it because it isn't age appropriate. I said it's just a deal we had that if he takes a piece of fruit into school each day he can have whichever bag he likes. No more sinister than that. And that he doesn't have a game console at home or an iPad to play it on. She wants us to change it. I said I'd process what she's said and decide accordingly.

What do you think?

I wonder if it's any coincidence that just yesterday after school I spoke to the head about the crappy parking arrangements at school, and the lack of communication from school re school uniforms which aren't in stock...

The bag...

Are they serious?! 😂

id tell them to go jump

I guess if the school are having issues with the behaviour of some children who do play it they just don't want it advertised at school, it's not rated for primary children. Both schools I went to everything had to be unbranded or with the school logo only, I guess that avoids things like this.
I'd pick your battles is a lunchbox, why would he want a Fortnite one anyway if he doesn't play it that in itself seems odd

Lots of younger children can be interested in Fortnite without knowing anything about what the game involves, because they see older children doing the dance moves and want to join in. It sounds like they need to stem the real issue which is more than likely to be children in year 5 and 6 playing the game at home. The actual 'moves' from them aren't really an issue, in my book. If they want to get this serious about it then they should ban all 'superheroes' and similar merchandise, as all in their own way promote violence in some way, even if it just to a small degree. Plenty of pre-schools (especially those aligned with churches/church schools are banning anything featuring 'superheroes'. It seems like the nanny state gone mad but there is a degree of evidence and experience behind it.

In answer to the OP though I would re-iterate to the school that they should focus their attentions on older children playing the game, but not discourage the interest in 'moves' - in any case, I've actually witnessed first hand overweight, very shy children becoming a lot more physically active, losing weight, and gaining friends by engaging in 'moves' throughout break and lunchtimes.

It's tricky, there is real evidence, but I think in your case it really is just a lunchbox with a word on it.

it's not rated for primary children.

I imagine that is partly the issue.

I cant see the issue?! school needs to get a grip, how pathetic.

Ha Ha Ha!

Is she for real?

Presuming there was no notification of banning particular merchandise before the summer holidays, then I would say that you appreciate where they are coming from and will replace it with a non-branded lunch bag when it needs replacing.

Have the Head or Deputy not got better things to do? How ridiculous.

I'd tell her to get fucked.

In slightly more polite language.

I personally don't see it's worth getting worked up about. Get him another lunch box (or a plain box if you can't afford a new one) and let him use the Fortnite box out of school.

Schools ban "the latest craze" items all the time; not sure why this is any different?

MrsStrowman He may watch his older cousins play it when he visits them, and he may have a go when they let him, but it really is very rare. He's much more enamoured by the dance moves!

They haven't given any directive that lunchboxes should be unbranded.

I’d be inclined to say your budget doesn’t allow you to replace it. If they want it replacing they can provide an adequate replacement. Or I’d just get him a different one if I thought the school might hassle him directly about it. I almost get their point having worked in an education setting it’s technically not age appropriate. I guess it’s like when the playbunny bags were very popular. But without a clear lunchbox policy I don’t think they have much to go on.

Tell her to get a grip, its a trend that will eventually fade and this Fortnite hysteria schools and some parents are pushing is quite frankly pathetic. I remember back when I was in primary my school tried to ban tamagotchis and confiscate my sisters furby backpack.
Same idea, different time hahaa.

Says it's promoting Fortnite as a game in school whereas they discourage it because it isn't age appropriate.

Has this been made clear to parents by way of a newsletter/note home/the school website?

Bloody hell, tell them to get stuffed.

It's also pretty plain and schoolish looking compared to the My Little Pony and Care Bears pink lunch bags my DDs have had.

It's a bag with a word on it!!

Any kids that know about the game aren't going to be influenced in any way by seeing that bag.

I wouldn't change it.

Tbh I agree with her.

I don’t buy my Ds anything fortnite because he doesn’t play it.

However I would be asking if this is a message directed at all parents and not you.

Unless they are also banning football/Marvel/pop groups/disney, etc, etc on lunchboxes, then it does seem unreasonable. Going by the picture there's nothing offensive about it, it's just a word. I could understand if they had wanted to stop lunchboxes with violent images, pictures of weapons, etc. But cash-strapped parents should get plenty of advance notice of any rule changes about uniform or kit.

Most of the Marvel films are rated 12 and over yet to the best of my knowledge no one wants to ban Spider-Man lunchboxes. It’s daft my 8 year old DD knows all about Fortnite but she’s never played it. They should just let the craze run it’s course instead of glamourising it by banning it.

Are the school guidelines that lunch bags should be logo free?
If so YABU.
I'd just avoid the hassle and spend £3 or whatever in Wilko rather than give your son the message that what the school request can be ignored.
I do think it's a bit ridiculous though.

In that case they need to publicise new guidelines regarding lunch bags! What if a girl has a barbie lunch bag, that could be seen as promoting unhealthy female ideals, couldn't it?

If you can't have your bag then no one should have any logo'd lunch bags surely

And I don't particularly want to defend Fortnite as I hate it but it's a ridiculous demand imo

If it’s banned, then that’s that. YWBU to change it now you know.

Fortnite isn’t really comparable to My Little Pony or Football themed lunchboxes as they’re not age-inappropriate designs.