Gaming sessions are getting ridiculous - 6 hours on a Saturday

Dec 81 min read

My 13yo will literally sit and play Minecraft for an entire afternoon if I let him. Doesn't even seem to be having fun anymore, just... grinding. I set limits but he argues about them constantly and I hate being the bad guy every single day. His friend's parent apparently lets him play as much as he wants and now there's resentment. I don't think unlimited gaming is healthy but I'm so TIRED of the daily battle. Anyone else in this boat?

11 comments8 views

Comments(11)

TThomas H.RegularDec 8

The arguing about limits is the bigger issue than the hours honestly. That's him testing boundaries he knows aren't working. What happens when you enforce the cutoff?

DDan M.RegularDec 10

Yeah 6 hours is the moment where it stops being fun and becomes compulsion. The 'just grinding' comment you made is the red flag - when he's not actually enjoying it anymore but can't stop.

NNick G.RegularDec 11

Try swapping it rather than just cutting it. Instead of 'no more gaming after 2 hours,' offer him specific alternatives he actually wants to do. My 13yo finally accepted limits when I said he could either grind Minecraft or we'd go to the skate park - can't do both.

WWes B.RegularDec 10

Have you tried doing something WITH him in the game instead of just shutting it down? Not saying that's the answer but sometimes they want the engagement more than they want the game itself. Just a thought

RRich B.RegularDec 10

Have you asked him WHY he wants to keep playing even when he's not having fun? Sometimes at 13 it's less about the game and more about feeling like he's accomplishing something or escaping something else.

PPaul T.RegularDec 10

The arguing about limits is the hardest part for me too. My son will literally negotiate like a lawyer. I started telling him the limit the NIGHT before so he can't ambush me with the "but dad" right when I'm trying to end it

MMatt J.RegularDec 10

Real talk - is he okay otherwise? Grades, sleep, friendships? Sometimes the grinding is a symptom of anxiety or depression, not just addiction. My nephew went through this and it was actually about avoiding social stuff at school.

DDrew H.RegularDec 10

6 hours is a lot but also... that's one day? On a Saturday? If it was every single day after school I'd be more concerned but one weekend afternoon is like, pretty normal for a 13yo honestly. The "grinding" thing tho—that might be worth a conversation about whether he's actually enjoying it or if it's become a habit

SStan D.RegularDec 11

Minecraft specifically is designed to be endless though. There's always something to build, farm, or optimize. That's different from other games that have a natural stopping point. Might need limits that account for that.

BBob M.RegularDec 11

This is tough because Minecraft is different from like, a mindless scrolling game. But if he's grinding and not having fun that's a red flag. Have you asked him what he's building? Sometimes getting them to actually TALK about what they're doing makes them realize they're just... not enjoying it. Mine did that and actually logged off because he realized he was just mining blocks for no reason lol

DDave K.RegularDec 10

The constant arguing wore me down too until I realized I was negotiating. Now it's "when timer goes off you're done" and that's it. No discussion. He doesn't like it but he stopped arguing because there's nothing to argue about