To not want my 7 year old playing Fortnite?

[OverTheRubicon]

My DC2 is going to stay with his cousins this weekend. He's just turned 7, his closest in age cousin is just 8, though in the same school year.

Cousin and his big brothers are really really into playing Fortnite, and apparently that's what the boys are looking forward to doing all of Saturday. I have no issue with Minecraft or Roblox but really don't like the aggressiveness of Fortnite or the loot box system, for a child who is young and very impressionable.

SIL and I have a decent relationship but aren't close - she's kindly doing this to help out as I'm a lone parent of 3 and it's been a hard few weeks.

Would it be ok to ask that they don't play Fortnite, or will it seem ungrateful and judgy and I should just let it be their house their rules?

yanbu fortnite is rated at 12 and for good reasons. you need to speak to SIL about it but you will need to have a backup childcare option that you can use that will be Fortnite-free if she doesn't agree. my 11yo hasn't got Fortnite because I still think he us too young for it (not mature for h iui s age) so 7yo is totally reasonable to avoid it!

As much as I understand your not wanting your child to play the game, I don’t see how you can tell your SIL that without appearing judgmental to be honest. If you feel strongly about it make your excuses and keep your DS at home, although tbh your child won’t turn into a hoodlum overnight by playing Fortnite for a bit.

I absolutely hate Fortnite and am thrilled my DS never took to it but... you can't police what happens in someone else's home. Ask by all means but be prepared for a) it to happen anyway or b) to have DS at home if she refuses.

I honestly think a day of it won't hurt him though. Depends how much you need the break.

I wouldn't ask myself. She's having your son to help you. Even if she says nothing and spends the weekend stopping the kids from playing fortnite you can bet it will make her weekend hard enough that she won't offer again. You know the culture/vibe in her home and it is good enough for your son - or it isn't and you keep him at home.

I wouldn’t want my 7 year old playing it either, BUT... your SIL is doing you a massive favour, you can’t expect her to stop her own children playing it in their house. A couple of days of fortnite isn’t going to harm your child, just don’t let him play it at home.
Personally I let my boys play it from age 10/11 because I tried it out myself and didn’t feel it was in any way gory or aggressive. But obviously I have put certain restrictions and time limits on it and it has been fine.
If you’re really dead against it I would suggest you might need to make alternative childcare arrangements!

You can't send him then.
I wouldn't want my DC playing fortnite at 7 either, his cousins will be angry at him if it is banned.
Mind you most 11/12 y.o's in DD's class has moved from fortnite to call of duty COD.
Awful game for that age it's 18's for a good reason.

There are lots of aggressive games on Roblox. I wouldn't let a 7-yr-old play Roblox or Fortnite but if your DC is going to stay , I don't think you can ask her to stop her DCs playing their games. You could ask that your DS doesn't play but that will be miserable for everyone.
Our neighbour let her DS play lots of games that our DS wasn't allowed to play. I chatted to her about it and when he visited they didn't play those games. But that was a visit, not staying overnight. You can't expect them to change their parenting rules for their DCs for an overnight stay imo.

Honestly? I would just let it go for one weekend.

I clutched my pearls about DS1 playing it but relented when he was about 3 months off turning 10. He is now 11 and plays it and his 6 yo brother watches him play it, but not for too long.

It isnt actually that bad, the only issue we have is getting 11yo to come off it after a few games. He certainly isnt aggressive as a result and the 6yo likes to talk to him about his 'skins'.

I would let him go, please dont ask SIL not to let her kids play FN as it will foster resentment with the older cousins who will want to play online with their friends.

If i were the SIL i would be letting the older ones play FN and do something else with the younger ones.

I say all this as a pretty overprotective helicopter parent. I am having to unclench now that DS1 is in Secondary School.

Yes we have the COD issue now, DS1 played it at his friend's house and tbh i wasnt happy about it. This is one game that DS1 will not be allowed here for some years.

I explained to DS1 that COD is too realistic, but FN is quite cartoon-y and it is clear that FN is fantasy but COD seems more like real life.

Thanks! I had suspected that it would be inappropriate to ask for no Fortnite for him, and sounds about right.

I'm probably a bit overprotective because his older sister has no interest in these things and because his dad is quite an aggressive man, which has made me want to really encourage the gentler side of my sons - but his cousin who plays a lot of Fortnite is fine, and I'll relax a bit!

It was a kind and unexpected offer from SIL and I do want it to work out, so fingers crossed all is good.