Ds wants money for his birthday...

[Horsemad]

He will be 15 next month and wants cash to put towards a new pc. He already has a laptop but wants a newer pc (desktop) for gaming. I hate the constant battles to get him to use his laptop less as am sick of him gaming, gaming, gaming - to the detriment of his schoolwork; so he has now been limited but he can't police himself, so we have to - no internet until homework done, or revision completed and no screens in bedroom when he is going to bed.

I am not happy about him having a pc in his bedroom (I can't remove that every evening, can I?!) but we have nowhere else it could realistically go. Yet, I feel it's his birthday and if he wants cash, then he should be able to have the cash to put towards what he wants (within reason, obv!)

Any suggestions?

I think if I were you I'd try to avoid the pc in his room. Could you maybe compromise just now and if things improve he can get the pc at Christmas?

Is it online gaming? Because if it is you could just unplug the router (aware that might be a pain for everyone else in the house!). I think at this age it is difficult, asking for a pc doesn't seem that unreasonable. How about buying him one with a cordless mouse/keyboard and just taking these away from him when he is not playing ball? PC wont be much use without them.

If you can't stop the PC in the bedroom, then I would go with turning the wifi off at night.

Yes, I have the option of turning off the wifi - might make me go to bed that bit earlier too!