Gaming addiction or just normal kid stuff?

1w ago·1 min read

My 14 year old is absolutely obsessed with Fortnite and Valorant. He'd play 24/7 if I let him. I had to set a hard limit of 2 hours a day on school nights. He acts like I'm ruining his life and his friends get to play way more. I'm trying to be the cool dad who lets him game but also not raise a kid who can't function without a controller in his hands. Is this something other parents are dealing with or do I have an actual problem kid?

5 comments138 views

Comments(5)

JJustinRegular1w ago

Fortnite and Valorant are literally designed to be addictive. The battle pass system, the seasonal stuff, all of it. Not your son's fault. We set hard cutoff times at my house and my kids hate it but we stick to it. Some pushback is healthy.

SSteve C.Regular1w ago

My kid's the same way with those games. At least you set a hard limit before it got worse. Crockpot dinners ready when they come off the controllers helps smooth things over at our house.

LLeo R.Regular1w ago

Two hours on school nights is solid boundary setting. I've been fighting similar battles with my four kids and honestly that's about where we landed too. The key is sticking with it consistently.

KKyleRegular1w ago

The 24/7 thing is normal but also a red flag. Try having him track his own time for a week, no judgment. Sometimes seeing the actual numbers is what clicks for them. My 14 year old was shocked when he realized it was 6 hours on a school night.

NNolan D.Regular1w ago

14 is peak gaming age honestly. The addiction stuff is real but it's also how they socialize now. My suggestion is get involved with what he's playing, watch some streams with him, understand why he loves it. Then set limits from a place of understanding not just authority.