Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not let him play Fortnite?

60 replies

meanmummy1 · 05/04/2019 20:46

Okay so DS 7 (8 in June) has an Xbox in his bedroom. He's only allowed it for limited time and his room must be tidied and other bits (homework etc) have to be completed.

He has mostly Lego games, which I personally think are fun and age appropriate too....

At a class party this evening and all the other children in his class were on and on about Fortnite and how they all play together.
DS looked quite sad so I chatted to some other mums about it as I'm quite clueless when it comes to Xbox Live and my child's safety with joining.

They all seemed horrified I haven't let him play it. Said it must be a shame for him in school as their DC are all obsessed and he must miss out.
They said they all play together in a party or something and yes strangers can join in too?

Am I being clueless here or is this the case?

Anyway cue DS 7 hearing the conversation and the fact that all the mums seemed gob smacked and to be honest made me feel a little shitty for not letting him play, he's now sulking.. it's not fair, he always gets left out, etc, etc......

I remember my little brother used to get very upset when he was a child on his Xbox as some American boy was horrible to him on it.

I don't really want my child interacting with strangers over Xbox???

I know it is a 12 but Am I being too sensitive or is Fortnite safe and would you allow a 7 year old access to Xbox live?!

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock · 05/04/2019 22:20

It seems to be like a drug to young people, it brings out the worst in them.

VanessaShanessaJenkins · 05/04/2019 22:24

More kids are playing apex legends than fortnite now anyway.
(Which is basically the same but more realistic, graphic etc.)

geekone · 05/04/2019 22:25

I have played fortnite with my DS 9 and it’s really not that bad. I am not sure why there is an issue with it. However that said my DS sometimes plays forza or fifa while his friends are on fortnite and they can all still talk to each other. Sometimes there are 4 of them on 4 different games. Set him up with friends through Xbox (not through epic) and he might not mind that he isn’t playing the same game. Or play fortnite with him, see what it is like. Give him the same restrictions, the problem with all of these games and kids is usually that parents are not engaged enough or restrictive enough.

flamed12 · 05/04/2019 22:25

I allow my 7 year old to have it but the play station is in our family area. He plays with kids on our street and kids in his class. Yes it can be addictive but it’s about teaching kids how to handle it and putting boundaries in place. Sweets are addictive for kids but I put the same boundaries in place and allow it in moderation.

thornyhousewife · 05/04/2019 22:27

If you've already given him an Xbox in his room then you'll definitely let him play fortnite.

Can you come back in two weeks and tell us he's being a little cunt and you don't know why.

BlitheringIdiots · 05/04/2019 22:27

An X Box in his bedroom?? Far too young for that. DS13 has a console but downstairs in family area.

BasilBrushes · 05/04/2019 22:30

My just turned 7 year old doesn’t even own an Xbox, and isn’t going to any time soon. He won’t be playing fortnite either. He’s most put out he can’t even play minecraft. Thankfully none of his friends do either. Getting him off the iPad is difficult enough. Why are you clueless about his safety? Read up on it. Have school never done online safety talks? Don’t be naive. And bring the Xbox out his bedroom.

ThorsMistress · 05/04/2019 22:31

My DS (7) has a PS4 and tv in his room. He's also allowed to play Fortnite. I have set it so he can only play with his friends.

I also go on with him sometimes to help him with his challenges. He comes straight off when I tell him to and he would still rather go outside and play than sit and play on it all day.

Numptybean · 05/04/2019 22:33

Ds13 has only been allowed his Xbox in his room since Christmas. Why is a 7 year old allowed this? Not suitable at all. And Fortnite, yes for 11 year olds upwards imo but no younger. Just my opinion.

ThorsMistress · 05/04/2019 22:33

@thornyhousewife

Can you come back in two weeks and tell us he's being a little cunt and you don't know why.

My son has been playing Fortnite for months and is extremely polite and well mannered. Far from a 'little cunt' Hmm

babysharkah · 05/04/2019 22:36

I wouldn't have the x box in the room. My nearly 8 yo dts know it's not going to happen. They have a tv in their playroom, chrome books that are totally locked down, they're not having fortnite roblox or any of those things any time soon.

beeyourself · 05/04/2019 22:37

YANBU

I won't let my 8yo have a tv or Xbox in his room. There's no need.
I also won't allow fortnite in the house. The age range might just be guidance, but there will be rationale behind them & I'm sticking to them

Tunnockswafer · 05/04/2019 22:39

You don’t have to interact with strangers when you play. No headphone/mic means no one can talk to you. For an older child with a mic to talk to friends, again you have settings so can make it so only friends can communicate. And it’s a no brainier to have timelimits, take the controllers away at night.
I think 7 is too young but my 11 year old plays. I’m the uncool mum because he can’t play GTA, call of duty etc. But on here I’m the permissive mum it seems. I think a lot of parents don’t want to learn how a games console works. This leads them either to have an anything-goes approach, or to ban outright.

megletthesecond · 05/04/2019 22:41

Yanbu.
My 12yr old has only recently got Fortnite. After some teething troubles and his switch being confiscated for some time he now gets to play it for a while at weekends with friends. No screens are kept in his room.
It's not suitable for a 7yr old though.

thornyhousewife · 05/04/2019 22:46

"My son has been playing Fortnite for months and is extremely polite and well mannered"

Case closed everyone. ''Thor's mistress" says it's fine. Definitely let your 7 year olds play Fortnite.

ThorsMistress · 05/04/2019 22:59

@thornyhousewife

If you could could quote where I said 'it's fine' that would be great Smile

Just giving my honest opinion and stating that playing Fortnite doesn't turn all kids into little shits.

Tunnockswafer · 05/04/2019 23:09

Thorsmistress, you only know one example of a nice kid who plays Fortnite whereas Thornyhousewife knows dozens who have become “little cunts” from playing it, presumably, as her anecdata is better than yours.

LovingLola · 05/04/2019 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
meanmummy1 · 06/04/2019 00:04

Thanks for all your replies,

I'm unsure why some are asking if the thread is a wind up? Or which part would be ...

The Xbox in the bedroom is not an issue.
I have a younger son who is autistic amongst other health issues and will not tolerate DS 7 playing games in the living room. Also DS 7 is actually very mature and we have a chaotic house, it's nice for him to be able to go and chill and I think needs his own personal space, I'm a single working mother with a very difficult young child so he is understanding and probably older than he should be, bless him.

He doesn't have any access to You Tube, I don't like the sitting just watching and at least with the Xbox he does use logic and skill to complete the Lego games.

Like I said, there's currently no xbox live, no access to anybody and he only plays Lego games. It is restricted, he gets given a time when he is allowed it and he's fine with that, also there's no current obsession with the Xbox what so ever.

Thank you for the helpful replies where some of you are obviously in the same boat as myself.
I knew I should stick to my guns really, just wanted some extra opinions on what actually happens on Xbox live and whether it's the norm for the younger kids to play?

Thanks guys. X

OP posts:
Original poster
meanmummy1 · 06/04/2019 00:09

LovingLola

  • apologies for only just getting into bed and checking my phone. I've had a busy three hours...
OP posts:
thisisgettingridiculous · 06/04/2019 00:42

I let my two children (7 and 9) play though not every day, no microphones, and always supervised. I have even played a few games myself and I find it fun to play and watch. We do challenges to move up tiers and unlock new items. I don't think it's too bad at all, but it requires adult supervision due to the online aspect.

GenericHamster · 06/04/2019 00:46

Same thing happened to me. I said no and asked at school and yes, they were ALL playing it. He’s 8.

We let him play with supervision and he whines occasionally as with any game but he’s pretty good. It’s nicer than Roblox.

Waveysnail · 06/04/2019 01:09

I don't allow my 10 year old to play it. Mums of his classmates have took their kids off it as it's so addictive and causing upset

Somtamthai · 06/04/2019 02:47

My 8yo isn’t very interested. But I play it and I’d let her play. I wouldn’t cut her off mid game just tell her last game.

On the other hand she is not allowed to watch YouTube because of the content she could potentially watch.

Honestly fortnite is not as bad as it is made out to be :/. It’s not overly violent. Yes you kill people but you also kill people in mario, Zelda etc. If your kid is being a nightmare that is a parenting issue and should be addressed. Fortnite doesn’t make your kid a brat 🤣🤣🤣

PregnantSea · 06/04/2019 03:13

It's pretty normal for someone of his age to be playing fortnite. That doesn't mean that you have to let him. I wouldn't.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.