Right! So where do I go?

[sobeyondthehills]

DS is 6 and despite my objections DP is introducing him to video games on consoles (this is a compromise)

My problem is, for the first time in my life I have just thought I rely on my DP for something, these computer things, I literally know fuck all, including but not limiting on parenting controls, how the fuck any of these games fucking work, when I see parents saying their kids spend fuck knows how much on games, I have no idea how that has worked.

DP can sort all of this, but I need to learn, so apart from DP where can I learn the basics?

Also I love DP but he is not the best sort of teacher

YouTube. Anything you need to know is on there.

YouTube. Anything you need to know is on there

Lets say you are dealing with a fucking idiot, what the fuck do I look up?

There are certain phrases you don't want to search on youtube,

YouTube, any gaming store will help. Play a bit yourself and learn. Your son will love that you have joined in and you will quickly learn what you will allow him to play and now allow him to play. Ie absolutely no M or R rated games. No to most of not at all T or 14 + rated games. Even some E or everyone games are iffy depending on your child.

I say this as my ex asshat of an H had my 7 and 5 yrs old playing Call of Duty. My oldest is terrified of the dark and has been every since playing...

If you search parental controls for x-box or play station some user friendly apps come up. You can even go to devices website and look it up.

The other option is to take control of your wifi through your router as most games need wifi. Turn the wifi off and the games go down. This is what I do.

YouTube, review sites for parents.
Basically, check the games age/suitability rating and search out reviews on-line. Ensure any game has a pause function so dc doesn’t feel pressured. I Limit online time to a couple of hours a day and no electronics in bedrooms. Set the rules now so easier to enforce later.
Is your dc going to play online or offline? If online, be careful, many games have messaging systems and can/have been used for grooming.
On finances, games can be bought for very little but then the player is encouraged to buy add-on feature packs or skins, and bills can add up. Make sure there is a secure pin on your AppStore account.
Talk to other mums.

Ie absolutely no M or R rated games. No to most of not at all T or 14 + rated games. Even some E or everyone games are iffy depending on your child.

I hate to admit my age but I was selling the PS2 when it was new, so thank god I know about age limits otherwise I would be completely fucked

Thank you for your other suggestions though

If you search parental controls for x-box or play station some user friendly apps come up. You can even go to devices website and look it up

Yep dont use fucking apps

Just bugger, bugger and bugger

For the record I know I use the internet, but I know how to deal with my little part of the internet, I am not use to dealing with the stuff my son might have do deal with

I meant friendly videos:). It apps. I have used them myself when setting up our PS4. Single mom so learn by trial by fire. I have learned through my wifi provider how to shut it down through the internet on my phone. Very easy to do once learned.

Maybe contact them during business hours and see if you can do that? I can set up hours they can use it and change it very easily.

*@CanuckBC *

Thank you, got you, what I really would like at any moment is the Ark Angel Gabriel to pop down sort this all out for me and the give me the bloody knowledge.

Parental controls is the magic keyword .

If you have an Xbox, make sure you create a kid's profile and you'll receive a report with how much time your son has spent on it, what he's searched and you can choose to lock pretty much everything.

Probably similar for a PS4, but I'm not familiar with them.

Also, make sure he can't make any purchases!!

I think you need parental controls on your language  hopefully there's a swear jar at home if you talk like this in real life...

My son who is 13 is off school due to lockdown, I’m so concerned that his only interest is PlayStation - never off it and has now started being on it till 1-2am! He’s getting up at lunch time , going straight on it and Prety much in it none stop! It’s really getting me down now-he dosnt do anything else- sais he has nothing else to do and he’s so moody and sullen now, swearing constantly- advice please - btw I’m a single mum x

Allison, my DS is 10 and would be the same if I let him. The answer is to unplug it and take it away. While he's asleep if necessary. I know its hard, I am also a single parent but our job is to be the adult and make the unpopular decisions. I have in the past taken controllers or the console or whatever and either locked them in the car or put them in the loft. If they cannot self regulate we have to do it for them. He should now be back to some sort of home learning as term has, started, even if it's just a little bit each day, watching bitesizr.
OP, my ex started my son on going at 3 😞. I'm now having similar issues to you in that I'm not interested, I don't game so I have to learn in order to keep him safe.

Ok, well given your son is 6 I doubt he's being given access to any hugely complicated games.

I was 8 and my brother 6 when my dad bought us our first console (a Nintendo 64!).

If a 6 year old can learn these things, so can you.

The best way to learn is to pick up the controller and have a go. Learning the theory on YouTube is all very well but not much use if you're too scared to actually use the thing.

My mum got her first smartphone just before Christmas. It sat in her bag for weeks before I pointed out that there was bugger all use having it if she wasn't going to use it. I showed her some basics and told her to practice with it, just a few minutes a night. Now she loves it.

Get in there and use it. You might not have much interest in it but if you want to learn, that's the best way.

Oh sorry, zombie thread - my bad