7 year old's teacher tells class she loves fortnite

[CathyNoodles]

My son is quite sensitive and we don't play computer games much at home (just old fashioned games now and then like sonic the hedgehog). When he first heard from school friends that fortnite is a game where "people kill each other until only one is left alive" he was really upset as he thought this was real - he had nightmares about it! We explained it was a computer game for older kids... Anyway that all passed and he was ok. Then recently his teacher told the class she loves fortnite and then made them all do dances from the game (when my son didn't want to one of the other kids said his Dad would kill him if he didn't - and I thought that maybe the game might encourage this kind of blase reference to killing people!).

I guess I am wanting to know if I have a right to be annoyed. I just don't think that celebrating this game is age appropriate for a class of 6 and 7 year olds? Maybe if they were 12+ it'd be fine? Or am I just being an old fuddy duddy?? What would others think if this was your child's teacher?

Doing dances from Fortnite in class...? Very odd. What educational purpose could this possibly serve? Sounds like the teacher needs to keep her hobbies out of the classroom.

I wouldn’t think anything of it. Most of the class love it so it wouldn’t be a problem.

You can’t expect a teacher never to mention it because your son doesn’t play it.

I wouldnt care, its unusual for a 7 year old to be so upset by talk of a game and I imagine the rest pf the class had fun doing the dances even if they've never played or heard of the game. People are going to talk to him when your not there, you can't do anything about that so you just need to prepare him for what they might say so he doesnt get upset or comfort him when he doesnt like what he's heard.
My 5 year old has never played fortnite but he's still learnt the dances from his friends and few youtube videos, he knows that you shoot and kill people in the game and that is something that would upset him to have to do but he understands other people are just playing on a screen, its not real life.

I think it's OK for the teacher to say she likes Fortnite but she needs to make it clear that the game isn't suitable for seven year olds. Unfortunately IMHE you are very much in the minority and I'm forever telling my class that the games they play aren't suitable.

The Floss, which has been a dance fad for the last year originates from fortnite. It’s not something I’d let my youngest play, but they still do the bloody floss.
I don’t see an issue with the teacher and the dances, but the kid who bullied yours is a problem and I’d consider raising that.

My kids (9 & 10) find the floss hilarious and have done for at least a year.

I don't think the teacher did anything wrong and I imagine the floss/dancing might have been used as a short movement break.

But it's not acceptable for another child to threaten yours - it would be worth flagging that with the teacher.

FWIW my kids play fortnite and specialise in camouflage tactics so they can spend an hour pretending to be a Boulder

Your 7 year old had nighmares about a fictional vieo game he had never even seen before?

I find that extremely strange.

The teacher did nothing wrong imo, I honestly dont know any kid from 5-19 who dont know the fornite dances, and I am in no way saying they all play the game but the dances have spread like wildfire through school yards and youtube videos.

Sorry, I hadnt finished, what the boy said to your son was not on and that does need addressing with the school.

I wouldn’t think much of it. Presumably this was a few minutes of class time, it’s not like the whole term’s learning is based around fortnite.

What age is the game suitable for? Doesn't sound appropriate for 7 years olds... and if not, why is the teacher encouraging them to play the game (without which how would they know the dance?)

I've never played or even seen the game, but I certainly know the dance! Pretty much every child in primary school knows how to floss!

It really is one of those dances that everyone knows even if they do not play the game. The teacher is entitled to like the game and honestly most of the class will have played it at some point, you should probably look up videos etc to show your son it is not at all like he will have imagined it.

I would be impressed that the teacher is engaging children's interests in the classroom. It sounds like it was a quick dance break and I wouldn't be worried about it.

Obviously what the child said to your son is unacceptable and yes you should speak to the teacher to find out what happened and discuss how it made your child feel.

Having said that I would also try to work with your son about being oversensitive. They are likely to cover topics in class such as remembrance day and the great fire of London. If he has nightmares about a cartoony game these subjects are going to be very difficult for him to process.

You are being far too precious, it looks like Fortnite is here for a while longer and it's just going to get more talked about as he gets older. My DS in Y5 plays it and has done since Y4. He isn't allowed to play during the weeks though. In his class it's a mix, some boys plays it 24/7 it seems, some play like my son and some aren't allowed to play it at all. They all talk about it though and know the dances.

The school very much needs to deal with that threat. It likely doesn't have much to do with the game (at most it would be one of many factors) and that would be my main complaint about this situation.

The Floss, like pretty much all the dances in Fortnite, predates and was not created by the team behind Fortnite. My understanding is that there isn't an original dance in the game (and there is a whole issue with several artists complaining about their dances being involved in the game - some openly stating they've chosen to get lawyers involved as the game developers refuse to give appropriate credit for their work - but that's another topic). It would not be that hard to have fun with the dances if the teacher so chose without discussing the game that is rated over their age even if some of the kids would end up recognizing them. A quick 'you may recognize this from Fortnite and was created by X' would be suffice and not take that much research if she really loves them.

I wouldn't expect a teacher to gush about any other video game rated significantly above their student's age. I wouldn't be particularly bothered but it does seem weird and - with the description - does feel like it could be done better, but as I said my main issue is a child being threatened that way.

You don't "die" in forttnite, any more than you die any other elimination game (various forms of 'it', hide and seek etc.) You just sit out until the next round of the game, that it's based around weapons for the tagging rather than physical is the only difference.

Obviously the theory and idea of fortnite rather than the reality is what entered his head and caused the upset, that's fine, but equally it means the actual topic is not out of bounds for the teacher to say she likes it, or do share dancing with the class inspired by it. The dances are very much a distinct part of the game - they were on Strictly a couple of weeks a go.

The threat from another child is certainly the thing to focus on.

did you mean the floss dance? my boy loved that dance, but as a non-game player, i had no idea it was from fortnite. however, DS's school sent an email telling parents it's not a game suitable for young boys, and parents should be aware of what the boys are playing.

Glad to hear it's entirely appropriate for young girls, although personally I can't see the distinction.

Fortnite is rated 12.

You are being precious. All the Year 3s in my school do the floss and I'm sure not all of them play Fortnite. I could see how it would be a good learning break. Most of the children will know how to floss and it is helpful for them to have some exercise during class time.
Obviously the threat that was made by the other child - if true - is inappropriate. Are you sure it really happened though? You child does seem to have a rather over-active imagination

DS's school sent an email telling parents it's not a game suitable for young boys, and parents should be aware of what the boys are playing.

Part of me is really hoping you come back and say he goes to an all Boys school, otherwise the email from the school is basically saying it is fine for young girls to play this game.

Yes the game is a 12, but truthfully its very cartoony and there is nothing in the game that younger children should find scary.

Complete gaming novice here - how did they manage to put a dance move into a game about eliminating people!!!

how did they manage to put a dance move into a game about eliminating people!!!

Because it's an online multiplayer game where you have to start at the same time. You have to wait around until there's enough people to start playing at the same time. At that point you can dance with your character. The dancing is also part of the monetization of the free to play game as people can buy access to dances that they would not yet otherwise have.

Other than the general theme of armed combat, there is nothing about the game that is explicit (no blood, no gore, no explicit death, just disappearance.)

@HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone
Yes, DS goes to all boy school, so school emails always address them as boys. sorry about the confusion.

None of my family played this game, so I had no idea how "scary" it might be. The concern was the violence nature in the game, so parents were informed. We are in a 7-13 school, hence majority of the boy would be unsuitable if we go by the rating. Therefore school would "discourage" this game.

Take a few moments to listen to this radio programme about Fortnite. It might change (or at least inform) your opinion.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b0bf56s5

Oh please.

"Teacher, do you like Fortnite?"
"Yes, I love playing it".
Add in a movement break of dances later on and here we are.

Now the other kid saying that about his dad isn't on and should be followed up, but you're being overly precious and ridiculous about the rest.