How do you handle gaming arguments? | DadHQ

How do you handle gaming arguments?

5d ago1 min read

My 10 year old plays Fortnite with his buddies online and when I tell him to get off he literally has a meltdown every single time. He says he can't leave his squad in the middle of a match and I get that but sometimes it's past 10pm on a school night. We're trying to be reasonable about it but it feels like the game controls him more than the other way around. What's the best way to handle the shutdown without it becoming a whole thing?

6 comments178 views

Comments(6)

AAntonioRegular5d ago

Yeah, the "can't leave his squad" argument is real with the online games. I found setting a timer 10 minutes before shutdown time helps my kids mentally prepare instead of just pulling the plug. Takes the meltdown factor down a notch.

PPaul W.Regular5d ago

With three kids and their screens, I hear you. Might sound weird but we treat gaming time like an appointment that ends at a specific time each day. Once it's non-negotiable in his head, the tantrums actually decrease because there's no room for argument anymore.

BBrandonNew Dad5d ago

Man, I deal with this constantly with my two. The key thing I learned is they genuinely feel like they're letting their friends down mid-game. We started a rule that he can only join matches he can finish before his time limit, which gives him control and eliminates the "but I'm in the middle of something" excuse.

CChris M.Regular4d ago

Oh man, the tantrums are real. My oldest does the same thing with his squad. I started letting him stay on long enough to tell his friends he's leaving instead of just disappearing mid-match. Kids respect that more than adults do apparently.

JJosh M.Regular4d ago

This is where I learned that consistency beats everything else. You give in once and it's game over. Have to hold the line every single day or they'll push back harder next time.

RRobertRegular3d ago

The hardest part for me is that they genuinely don't understand why they have to stop mid-game. I've tried setting timers but 10 year olds have selective hearing when it comes to countdowns. What finally worked was having him finish his current match before logging off - gives him a natural stopping point instead of just yanking the controller.