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Original poster

Kid just threw controller out of window

53 replies

Devinathequeen · 23/04/2022 09:32

My DS has just THROWN his PS 5 controller out of the second floor window after he has just been glitched out of his game of Fortnite and it has now been cracked and no longer works. I feel like punishing him but I don't want his anger issues to worsen.

OP posts:
BlankTimes · 23/04/2022 10:14

OP please Google Fortnite and anger issues and do some research.

Theunamedcat · 23/04/2022 10:16

Fortnite is very VERY anger inducing

needmorethanthis · 23/04/2022 10:18

Oh wow. That would be immediate game ban in our house for the week plus chores to pay it back. If his anger is that bad then no more fortnite. It makes my kids rage. That’s why we banned it.

Original poster
Devinathequeen · 23/04/2022 11:16

Yes he is 11 and it is a 1 off so I will probably just ban PS 5 for a month

OP posts:
Original poster
Devinathequeen · 23/04/2022 11:19

Yes it's a one off and he seems quite disappointed in himself. He has never lashed out like that before and a good one month of gaming will do the trick

OP posts:
DrDinosaur · 23/04/2022 11:22

The punishment is that his controller is broken and he can't play Fortnite.
Sympathise, but don't replace it until he's worked out why throwing valuable possessions in anger is not a good idea.

SweetPetrichor · 23/04/2022 11:30

Having broken his controller is the natural consequence. Don’t replace it for now, let him have a detox from games. Once a suitable amount of time has passed, buy a replacement if you wish.
I understand the gamer rage, but we can’t throw things when we lose our temper.

AngelaRayner4PM · 23/04/2022 11:34

It does depend a bit on age but I'm assuming if playing for nite on a PS5 with a high openable window we are talking about a teenager or at least a pre teen. If so he should be able to understand that playing a game that causes such big negative emotions may not be such a good idea for him and could work with you to set goals around much more limited time spent on the game or not playing the game at all. This helps to teach personal responsibility and also possibly moderation. With situations like this it's always better to try and find the teaching moment than try to punish the behaviour, and in this instance the punishment has happened anyway in the natural consequence of the controller being broken

Bunce1 · 23/04/2022 11:36

One month is far too long though-

How much does a controller cost?

Ssamjang · 23/04/2022 11:41

Fortnite is one of the worst games for kids with anger issues. We banned it last year as DS1 got so angry and frustrated, DS2 was fine with it but we decided on balance it's not a good game full stop. Cue a few days of tantrums and then much more peace. We are very strict now with gametime and it helps so much. They can earn 1-2 hours per weekend day doing jobs/good behaviour etc, and once it's gone it's gone. No games of any kind during the week. Best thing we ever did.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/04/2022 11:42

Bunce1 · 23/04/2022 11:36

One month is far too long though-

How much does a controller cost?

Sixty quid. Hence my suggestion that he earns the money to buy a replacement at a pound a task.

LowBatteryLife · 23/04/2022 11:45

His anger issues won’t get better if you don’t start putting in consequences for such actions. Be firm. Stick to the consequences. Don’t take his shot, he will act up now because he will think you’ll give in. DONT.. he’ll get worse and worse if you do. You’re his parent not his friend

LowBatteryLife · 23/04/2022 11:46

Devinathequeen · 23/04/2022 11:16

Yes he is 11 and it is a 1 off so I will probably just ban PS 5 for a month

He’s 11 and I can guarantee that if don’t deserve with him this now it won’t be a one-off

LowBatteryLife · 23/04/2022 11:47

dea with his responses.. is what I meant

Triffid1 · 23/04/2022 11:47

I don't think punishing him with a month of no gaming is appropriate. The main punishment is that the controller is broken so he can't use it. If he only has 1, then you'll have to agree what he's going to do to earn the money to buy a new one (and I think £60 seems high - I'm pretty sure we've paid less). You can agree together whether he has to earn the money first or if you'll buy the controller and then he earns the money.

If he has another one but has two so he can play with friends, well clearly he can't do that either until he buys a new one.

But really, 1 month of no gaming for a temper tantrum? That's excessive.

FrankLeeSpeaking · 23/04/2022 11:49

Devinathequeen · 23/04/2022 11:16

Yes he is 11 and it is a 1 off so I will probably just ban PS 5 for a month

Personally I wouldn't even ban it. He can't play it without his controller.
He can earn it back in whatever way you see fit, but don't put a time limit on it.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 23/04/2022 11:49

My 11 year old reckons chores to buy a new controller.

JoeGoldberg · 23/04/2022 11:50

I wouldn't punish him. He punished himself because now he has no controller. I'd say chores to save for a new one.

Bunce1 · 23/04/2022 12:01

Earn the value back.

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 23/04/2022 12:04

After a month of no gaming, he would forget what happened in a while. I think it's far more productive to make him replace it himself, through chores and spending money. And I bet he won't do it again.

Sandra2010 · 23/04/2022 12:04

No. He needs to understand what he did is unacceptable, and it definitely is. Do not replace it until his birthday or xmas. Or, if he gets pocket money or can earn money with housework, tell him he needs to save it to replace the controller himself. Understanding the value of possessions, both emotionally and financially, is a major part of their life skills, even from a young age. Maybe you could research anger management skills for children too, because you're right that there's an issue there.

ImTheFuckOffCar · 23/04/2022 12:04

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/04/2022 11:42

Sixty quid. Hence my suggestion that he earns the money to buy a replacement at a pound a task.

Show quote history

This ☝
Once he has earned the money to replace it he can play again.

Magnoliayellowbird · 23/04/2022 12:14

You need to read this about Fortnite and anger issues.
If he ever gets a new controller, then I would ban Fortnite altogether, its harmful effects on children are well known.

screenstrong.com/how-fortnite-makes-your-son-aggressive/

LindaEllen · 23/04/2022 12:19

Oh my god, fuck that. As a one off or otherwise, nobody of his age should think it's okay or acceptable to do that. If he was so out of control of his emotions because of a game, he should NOT be allowed to play it.

I suggest a heavy limit on screentime going forward, and if he wants a new controller he has to pay for it himself. If he doesn't have enough money he needs to do chores until he does.. and I'm not talking about the chores he should do anyway like tidying his room or washing up after dinner, but something that benefits you like washing your car etc.

Ssamjang · 23/04/2022 15:05

At 11 (my DS1 is 10) throwing a controller out of the window should be a 'never happen' event so I'd say fortnite is gone completely and permanently as a direct consequence. And other games he can get back when he's earned the controller through helping out. My experience with DS1 has shown me that anger issues can not be managed through games, games should only be available for children who can manage their anger already. That's been my experience anyway. DS1 now has game time because we had a long period without it where we worked on his resilience (playing lots of family games etc so he learned to lose better, still a WIP but much better). And now he has the ability to make a decision for himself to switch off if somethong gets too frustrating. But we will never have fortnite back, no matter how the kids develop.