Gaming with your child preposterous?

[FrivolousPancake]

A friend of mine who has always been very pfb with her now 11 year old son has just been on the phone crying that he spends so much time in his room gaming. She feels she’s “losing him” and he’s not her “baby anymore”

I suggested moving console and tv out of his room as that’s isolating and he’s still pretty young.

I also recommended that as well as getting out more that she should try gaming with him, I suggested a few games they could enjoy together.
I remember really bonding with my dad when he would show an interest in my gameboy etc and me and DD love gaming together, it’s really brought us closer at an age where devices and screens can do the opposite.

Anyway she told me not to be so ridiculous

I’m far from a cool gamer mum but I do think if you’re so worried about “losing” your son that it’s not such a preposterous idea to try get on his level a bit?

She has made me feel a bit ridiculous

My son and I play Zelda together. We've both got different strengths so we help each other out when one of us can't finish something. I love it!

I'm not much of a gamer but I do try to join in with DS as he's started to show an interest ince he started at junior school and, well thats just what you do isn't it? I couldn't care less about minecraft but I'll listen and let him show me what hes up to. She needs to lighten up and play Mario Kart - I can't imagine anyone not enjoying it

I’m useless at gaming....no coordination for pressing buttons etc but do play the occasional easier games with them which often causes hilarity at my expense. The one thing that neither my children ( 15 and 20) have had is a console or tv in their room. The PS4 has always been in the main room. They use it in turn with everyone else’s needs. Asking/ negotiating around tv programmes. It’s never been an issue. Youngest is playing FIFA in the same room as me as I write.

DH and I are both gamers and naturally now, so is DS. He has to have his console in his room, because DH's is in the living room and mine is in our bedroom. It doesn't bother me at all that he spends time in his own room - it's his room and his space.

We are a gaming family! I've gamed for 35 years, DH about the same so it was a given that DD would follow suit. Now she's 12 it's a proper family hobby, except when I ban her (joke) for beating my high score on Crash Bandicoot. I usually prefer serious, story games but you cant beat a bit of lighthearted family fun.

Hours a day gaming isn't ideal but a little bit is fine and doing it with him is a great idea. I hate gaming but DS is into minecraft and I've learned a little about it and taken an interest because I'm his mum. I do limit the time he spends on it though.

i game with my 9 y old(15 y old feels to old)we use minecraft as a educational tool as he spends days planing his worlds then copies them exactly on the game

we do the lego games(he has everyone going buy harry potter is our fave) together and the dimension ones we have turned into lessons

DS and I have gamed together a lot, we had our consoles in the same room for many years and were even in the same clan and took part in a charity stream together.

She just may not like gaming or hasn’t ever tried, I have been gaming for 40 years on and off.

My Mum used to sit in my bedroom with me when I was younger playing on my Commodore 64, I loved it.

I now have a Switch and love gaming with my 6 year old dd, we've just had an hour solving puzzles on Unravel 2.

My sister has never been interested in gaming, my husband and I enjoy it, so we're usually playing my nephew at whatever game happens to be his favourite ever, (or more accurately, favourite that week).

I have suggested a few that she could try with him, and she's just not interested, although my bil plays on his consoles with him.

I guess gaming isn't for everyone, and your friend needs to limit his screen time and find something else for them to do together, much like my sis!

I like computer games.
My children have Amazon fire tablets and we currently have a family Minecraft game. It's great working on something co-operatively, that Ender dragon won't stand a chance!
Right now they're playing Lego star wars. Well, I say "playing" it mostly smashing things and pushing bad guys off high ledges. But they're playing together and having fun.

Some of the stuff people are doing on minecraft is excelsior level geekery and I love it. A working hard drive???

I will play occasionally but am fed up with being humiliated by Dc1 as I truly suck at gaming. However he is taking his maths far more seriously after I pointed out that people actually work making the games and it takes a lot of maths knowledge to do it.

More chance of bonding over a console than having kids disappear for the day with the mate like when I were a lad. (yes, you can add the Hovis music in your head)

To be fair, I think once they hit 11 that ship has sailed really. My 6yo can kick my arse at mario kart and some wii sports. I'm going to need to actually put some effort in, or he will be refusing to play me by the time he is 7.

I have never been a gamer before in my life, but my kids got a Nintendo switch and I love playing sonic racing with them. I’ve always tried to show an interest in their interests - mine are both big tennis players so we all play as a family (they thrash me but we enjoy it).
Computer games I always thought were nerdy and for geeks but I’ve totally changed my tune as I’ve realised they’re really fun!

Lou898 you could be describing my house! I too am rubbish at gaming but play some simple, silly games with DS and DH (they find it hilarious that I don’t seem to be able to drive in a straight line, whilst on the PS4 I hasten to add).

The PS4 is in the lounge so there needs to be compromise when it is played.

OMG, I was so sad when my son lost interest in gaming!

Albeit I'm not into buying much, so it was the Wii, and an old mega-drive and gamegear. But wow, we kicked ass at Sonic the Hedgehog!

Then one day he was all grown up and wanted to spend his time Skyping his friends and making YouTube videos instead.

The gaming years are so precious, your friend should be cherishing every moment of them! (Only half joking)