To not let my boys have games consoles in their rooms

[3Blues]

I know this is slightly controversial amongst parents, and I don't judge either way, I just do it my way for my reasons, but now I need to know if I ABUF or not?

I have three DS, 13, 12 and 5. We have all games consoles in the living room, as well as a TV in the conservatory. DH and I also have one in our room - kids have access to all of these. We don't allow games consoles in their rooms, as we don't want them hiding away all day and not functioning - I.e. going out with friends, sports, family time etc. I know kids who spend all day and night playing on these in their rooms - and they refuse to contribute to chores, school work or family life.

My DC 13 has just asked if he can sleep in the living room tonight so he can play on the games console with his friends all night. I've said no. And now I'm public enemy number 1, its unfair that they can't have consoles in their rooms, they're being left out etc.

DS 13 has a laptop, phone etc in his room. He's allowed to play during the day, the boys work on a rota system when we don't have plans. AIBU?

they refuse to contribute to chores, school work or family life

Do parents actually allow their kids to say no when asked to do these things? I don't think a console is the issue if a child is refusing to do things that are asked of them.

Thank you all for your replies! I agree, will rethink the one-off all nighters to use the console. Maybe not on a week night, even during the holidays, as DH and i work full time and he'll just make a racket and eat us out of house and home. He spends plenty of time with his friends, they're all over here playing and he often has sleepovers, so we have them all downstairs during the night.

The boys all have their own rooms - so you can imagine the expense if each of them had a console. Once he has a job etc, it won't be a problem - but I do have concerns (possibly from when I was younger with my own DB being addicted to consoles and never leaving his room) about becoming addicted or just not leaving the house if he can be in bed all day playing on them. With 3 DS's, they all need different things all the time and things can slip from my side - such as monitoring usage levels etc.

I know loads who let things slide, I'm seen as quite strict just because they have to contribute to the house - whether it's emptying the dishwasher or putting their own washing away

@3Blues emptying the dishwasher or putting their own clothes away definitely doesn't make you strict. These people you know sound really shit at raising kids if they literally teach them nothing at all!