DS obsessed with Fortnite

[Schnoofard]

My DS received a Switch on his 11th birthday, and we allowed him Fortnite this Christmas. He has since become completely obsessed with the game. We restrict the time he’s allowed (no switch on school nights, 2 hours over 2 sessions per day at the weekend) but he always begs for more time (I don’t relent) or screams and shouts when I tell him to quit a game because it’s time for dinner. When he’s not playing Fortnite he’s watching YouTube videos on Fortnite, which I’ve also ended up restricting. I understand the social aspect of the game (he plays in closed groups with friends) but I wish this game didn’t exist! His behaviour is affecting my much younger daughter. He has ADHD, not badly, but I think this has reinforced his obsession. I’m trying to teach him that they design these games to suck you in, but it’s having no effect. We’re quite strict on tech, he doesn’t have a smart phone and we set parental controls, but taking Fortnite away seems very mean when it has helped him to make friends at a new school where he knew no one. I’m sick of the begging, complaining, shouting, attempts to circumvent parental controls, all because of Fortnite! How do you handle Fortnite or gaming with your tweens or teens? Are there any other games we should avoid?

I understand fortnite has changed my little ones mind! Wish it did not exist kids seem to be so addicted to it!

Poor love. It’s so easy to be sucked into these addictions with ADHD. Is he medicated or if not, what self regulation activities does he do or you do either him?

#BunnyRuddington he sees a psychologist and and a sophrologist, and I talk to him about it regularly. He’s not medicated, he does well at school so it was deemed not necessary. I had no idea Fortnite would cause such conflict when I agreed he could have it, I checked it out for age appropriateness and advertising etc, but the sheer pull of the game….He just asked if he could have thousands of v-bucks for his birthday, the cost is £89!! I said no. I’ve restricted how much pocket money he can spend on it otherwise he’ll blow all of his savings on Fortnite. I’ve decided to restrict him to weekends only (for an hour a day) because it has really been affecting family life during the week. I’ll just have to tough out the begging and upset until he gets used to it…

BrendaDowley11 It must be the social aspect that hooks them in, as well as being a good game and Fortnite constantly dangling live events, battle packs etc in front of them. Very clever but I wish the tech bros would step up and protect our kids. Wishful thinking. I’ve signed up to the Smartphone-Free Childhood campaign, this experience has hardened my stance on smartphones. If he can’t resist a game (through no fault of his own) what chance would he have with the internet in his pocket?

Are you in the UK @Schnoofard? I’ve never heard of sophrology before.

No, I’m not in the uk 😊, I’m in mainland Europe. Sophrologue/psycho-motricity is all about teaching the person to manage their emotions and their behaviour/concentration by using a mix of psychology and mental and body awareness techniques, eg breathing exercises, meditation, games, massage (through clothes in this case), mindfulness and so on. It’s been really beneficial to my DS, and he always comes home very relaxed afterwards! I’ve definitely seen an improvement in my DS. Until Fortnite arrived at least!