Almost 7 year old & PlayStation

[Onlyfools]

Am I being too strict or should I ban PlayStation altogether?

Ds6 absolutely loves playing. I limit it to the weekend only but it’s getting to the point he doesn’t want to do things at the weekend now as he wants to play his games.

He gets overjoyed and extremely happy when I say yes he can play. He particularly enjoys fortnight which I don’t mind too much but I want him to still enjoy being a child.

Today I offer to take them (dd2 & ds) to farm or safari. He’s reluctant and says he really wanted to play the PS4. It pissed me off and I say no your not playing then and he’s crying upset.

I’m on the verge of banning it altogether but I know DH thinks I’m harsh if I do. He’s a gamer and doesn’t think it’s the worst thing in the world.

What would you do?

I wouldn't ban it all together, as that seems overly harsh and taking away something he genuinely enjoys.

Can you set aside an hour a week (or however long you see as appropriate) that he can always play? that way he has something to look forward to. Even if you set up a timer in front of him so once its gone off he knows thats it and he can also see how long he has left?

Thanks.

Whilst I was getting organised for the safari I said he could play. For some reason the PS4 wasn’t working, when I finally got it set up it had an update which I spent 20 minuets trying to sort for him.

Eventually I went to get ready and he came up crying as the uPdate got to 100% then restarted. I told him to wait til tonight when his dad was home. This then set off screaming, crying, clinging to my legs as I’m trying to get ready.

Honestly I’m done with the bloody thing. I think the problem is the game fortnight. It’s so addictive that he can’t handle it when it doesn’t go to plan.

Like DH and I, our children are gamers but from day one we have always had a rule of instantly doing as we say when it comes to playing. Basically, if I walk in and say, "turn the Xbox/iPad/Iphone/kindle etc off", they have to do so. If they tell me they want to save it first I'm happy for them to play on for a few minutes to a save point but I don't change my mind. They're still coming off. Because we have been pretty strict from them being just old enough to hold a controller, they take it as normal.
We don't even have set times for play or anything (some days can be a bloody game marathon without them moving from the room for hours and other days it's 10 minutes after school.)

I don't think it's the game being addictive but more of your DS's attitude to gaming and tantrumming and crying to get it back. That is what I would tackle first. Clinging to legs, crying and getting upset about things does not get you your own way. Mine would be punished for that rather than ignored or given in to. (I'm not saying that's what you do though)
He needs to learn that you're in charge first and foremost and behaviour like that means he's much less likely to be allowed to play.

My 3DCs iPad is currently on day 3 of being sat on the kitchen cupboards out of reach because two of them started fighting over it.
Last time it was up there for a month.

Take away the PS4 and tell your son that his attitude is the reason why. If DH thinks it's harsh then so be it but you still have to teach your DS the gaming rules.

You know fortnite is rated 12? Why is your 6 year old playing it? I could understand maybe 9 or 10 but 6?!