6 year old playing Fortnite

[lavenderanddaisies]

My husband and I have been together 5 years and married for 3.
I have 3 dc ages 16, 13 and 10. Dh has one child 6.

Sc has very little rules at their mums house. They had a phone for their 6th birthday with access to WhatsApp and no restrictions on the internet or you tube etc. A few months later they were bought a switch and now they have unrestricted access to playing Fortnite.
Maybe I’m a bit behind times but this really horrified me. A 6 year old having access to a game rated at 12 plus with no safety features etc turned on.

my dh isn’t clued up on all the kids games etc and he seemed shocked when I said the age rating etc too.
I’ve said that I think the rules in our house need to be fair for all the children. So he doesn’t have his phone here and he won’t be allowed those games here either as my youngest doesn’t.
Is that reasonable?

I think it's absolutely fine to set your own rules in your own home. I think Fortnite does have some content that is ok for younger children but I agree unrestricted access is not a good idea. 6 is ridiculously young for a phone.

Thanks. I worry that my sc is being brought up with such contrasting morals and values it’s going to cause issues as they get older 🤦‍♀️

Anyone 🤷‍♀️

Up to you in your home but I don't agree that a 6 year old can't play Fortnite. My 6 year old has a phone too. Uses it to WhatsApp family and their friends who have a phone. And watches YouTube kids.

I wouldn't be bothered about Fortnite.

I would be very concerned about a 6 year old having unrestricted internet access though.

Same as mine - she has had hers since the same age.

Doesn’t play Fornite though and definitely isn’t addicted to her phone in any way. She’d still rather DO something.

No problem them playing Fortnite at six - loads of kids with older siblings do. No restrictions on a phone more concerning but frankly none of it is your business as you aren’t the kids mum.

None of my business at all what happens at their mums house but it is when it’s in my house.

Who in gods name thinks it’s ok for a SIX year old to have a phone?!!!
have you not followed any of the smartphone free childhood and seen all the terrifying videos and information. I’m truly shocked anyone would do this.

My son had a phone from 7 years old, its the norm nowadays.
As for fortnite yabu. Its fortnite not call of duty!

Actually it should be down to your husband & ex wife. Not you.

Fortnite is fine, the age rating is a bit misleading. But like other pp, unfettered Internet access would be a real concern.

However - your house & your rules so you wouldn't be unreasonable to keep things in line with the resident kids.

Though I would say.. Might be a good bonding thing for 6yo & 10yo to be able to play together

Your house, your rules … Grandchildren used to say Nannas house Nannas rules 😂🤣🤣

Surely no-one is giving a six year old unrestricted internet access? If they have, can't your DH at least put a blocker on adult content? A six year old shouldn't be able to figure out how to remove that.

As for Fortnite, I have a six year old and there are kids in his class who play it. They all have older siblings - I suppose it's difficult to stop it if their 12/14 year old brother is playing at home. I don't like it but it's not that unusual.

They play together on Minecraft. My 10 year old does not have Fortnite.

The ex wife makes the rules in her house. In our house we jointly make the rules as what happens in this house impacts my dc as well as sc. They are all treated equally and therefore have the same rules.

Sc doesn’t bring their phone or switch to our house so dh can’t really have much say. He did tell his ex wife that he thought sc was too young for the phone and suggested some safety options but she was not interested.

6 year olds do not need phones! It is ridiculous and dangerous for young kids to have phones and especially social media and messenger apps at that age.

I do not allow fortnight or roblox for my 8 year old. This will continue until they are a lot older, luckily they have shown no interest so far in either. But it is easy to say no to these things.

My 10 year old hasn’t asked for it and my 13 year old isn’t interested in it at all. My 16 year old occasionally plays it but not often.
I’d rather they play things that use their imagination like Minecraft or my 13 year old loves building planes on their Xbox.

This thread is quite an eye opener, really surprised to see several posters not seeing an issue with a six year old having a phone. There’s been so much progress made over the last few years around understanding of the effects of phone use on young kids but clearly there’s still some way to go.
As for Fortnite, there are a lot of young kids on it, but it’s really not suitable in my opinion. My 10 year old has just started having some very restricted and supervised access to it but no way would I have allowed it much younger.

I’m massively surprised too. As I sad my kids are 10, 13 and 16 and have had regular lessons in school on internet safety, gaming and social media. Games like Fortnite and Roblox are often brought up and being told how unsuitable they are for younger children.

6 is too young for having a phone. What 6yo needs their own phone and what on earth is a 6yo WhatsApping to their friends? It’s just wrong.
I let my 6yo have my phone to watch YouTube kids stuff and listen to a playlist we made together of songs she likes on Apple Music.
But she is not having her own phone or at least any access to any social media platforms for as long as possible! I’d be worried about online bullying etc and there are so many awful stories about phones/unrestricted internet access ruining kids lives.

Yep this exactly. Once my 10yo heard sc had a phone they started asking for one and I have stayed firm that they do not need one!

Kudos for that, as I can imagine it gets a lot harder as they get older with peer pressure etc

It really does which is why I want to keep it that all the children and treated the same in our house. So sc won’t be allowed their phone in our house until the age we agree on for the other children (eldest two that was secondary school).