How Young Is Too Young to Play Fortnite?

BadGiraffe on 31/12/2023 - 15:01
Last edited 31/12/2023 - 16:49 by 1 other user

My son plays Fortnite with his cousins. They're around 7 to 8 years old.

They started off with LEGO Fortnite and Rocket Racing, but they saw me play the regular one and wanted to give it a try. They love that more than the other PG modes.

There's no blood, and it's one of the more cartoony battle royale game out there. Still lots of guns and headshots though.

They watch things like Star Wars with bloodless killing in it.

What are your thoughts?

I started playing Wolfenstein 3D and Doom back in the day, but I was at least 13.

Should kids that age be playing games with guns and killing?

Gaming Epic Games Free to Play (Video Game) Video Game

Comments

  • Darude Sandstorm on 03/01/2024 - 15:58

    2-3

  • Munka on 03/01/2024 - 17:58
    +1

    I've got kids of a similar age and have spent a fair amount of time researching this. Over time it appears that the early conclusions that violent games are bad are less clear than first thought. But to say there is anything conclusively saying it is ok would be an overstep too. That said some studies are showing a benefit to learning skills in cooperation.

    Like others have said, each child is different. And as a parent you're best placed to know. Equally as others have said, the addictive nature, microtransactions and online interactions are bigger concerns than animated violence to me.

    Here's what I do to minimise the impacts:
    -they got the battle pass with their own pocket money, that gives them enough vbucks to get the next battlepass, if they spend it on something else, oh well, too bad, no top ups until a birthday or similar. So far we've only had one instance where they got a little too excited and overspent.
    - I log on and play with them regularly. Make it more of a family affair than a solo hobby.
    - I check their friends list regularly and control who they can add. Only people they know in real life can be added.
    - I try to set and keep reasonable screen time limits (in often fail at this).
    - whenever possible they are to play together, and work together. Even if it's in the pursuit of murdering 98 cartoon avatars at least they are working together.

    If you want to ban something online, YouTube and social media would be long gone before fortnite.

    • BadGiraffe on 03/01/2024 - 19:53

      That's really good info. Thanks for that .

      Yeah… I have trouble keeping screen time down. Especially when I'm working. But he could be playing Android games which I think is far worse what with the ads and time outs.

      I've decided to stick to the age limit, so I'll be creating gaming accounts with his actual birth year. I'll see how I go with that.

      And yes, social media is not really thing in this house. No TikTok, no Instagram. Maybe Facebook for family, but that's about it. And there's a crapload of rubbish on YouTube. Bad animation with bad voiceovers. His cousin showed him some video about Kirby doing… something… and it ended with Kirby shooting someone. They kept playing it in a loop until I found out.

      I'm old. I grew up with playing with action figures and Hot Wheels. Kids in my family don't do that and I find that a little sad.

      • Sheez on 03/01/2024 - 23:45

        "I'm old. I grew up with playing with action figures and Hot Wheels. Kids in my family don't do that and I find that a little sad"

        They don't do that, because you are giving them other options (other options that you didn't have).

        Guess what kids do when they don't have access to screens? They play with those toys, they raed books and they play outside. Guess what else? They love it.

        It's easier if you have more than one kid so they can play with each other, but kids get creative even by themselves.

        If any kid can't "survive" without a screen for a few months (aside using it for school work), then they have a problem that needs to be dealt with. Screens are NOT a necessity for kids, just like sugar, soft drink and juice are not in anyway necessary for kids (or adults).

        Yes it's hard to take the screens away and not allow it. But that is parenting.

        For reference our 8 year old gets 30 minutes a day screen time (he can choose TV or PC games), sometimes 2 x 30 minutes on holidays. He is happy and healthy, loves reading books, plays with toys, plays outside. He would also play on screens all day if we let him, which is part of the addictive nature we talk to him about.

        It's absolutely your right to make your own decisions about your kid and parent however the hell you see fit, just be honest with yourself about why they need screens etc. You are the adult, if you need to put your foot down and establish new rules, then by all means do it.

        • BadGiraffe on 04/01/2024 - 09:38

          For reference our 8 year old gets 30 minutes a day screen time (he can choose TV or PC games), sometimes 2 x 30 minutes on holidays. He is happy and healthy, loves reading books, plays with toys, plays outside. He would also play on screens all day if we let him, which is part of the addictive nature we talk to him about.

          I like that. I'll try that too. Slow and easy. Not cold turkey. Thanks.

  • BartholemewH on 03/01/2024 - 23:26

    Sons cousin is 9 and plays it. Son is 8 and I don't allow it installed at all.

    • BadGiraffe on 04/01/2024 - 09:37

      Yeah. That's the route I've gone down now.

  • GeneralKeen on 04/01/2024 - 10:37
    +1

    I guess we are about the same age. I started Doom and Wolf3d around 12-13 years old, but things were different back then, I guess even my parents have no idea what it's about due to the pixelated graphics. After Doom there were more brutal FPS, with better graphics, the notable one was Mortal Kombat, more bloods and gores, limbs flying and heads popping. Even though I was obsessed with FPS and violence 3d games, it did not influence me to become aggressive person, I don't fight and I don't like confrontation.

    • BadGiraffe on 04/01/2024 - 11:43
      +1

      Same. I avoid confrontation as much as I can. I'm fragile.

      One of the things I did pick up from playing those games was a good sense of direction. Worked really well when I was in Japan where every street literally looks the same.

      • GeneralKeen on 04/01/2024 - 13:33

        Haha, same here. As long as my brain doesnt go 'auto-pilot' mode, I will be able to find my way. I also noticed there's an 'alert-mode' whenever I'm in a new place, in foreign palces or areas where I deem unsafe. How to describe it, it's like in FPS games you walk straight, and lock your vision to check left or right, and slowdown at intersections and constantly checking behind. I also used to imitate the strafe walking back in school days, ahhh, the good old days.

  • syousef on 04/01/2024 - 11:54
    +1

    We use to have Family Fortnite often until my kids lost interest. They're getting back into it now. Oldest is 15 and much better than me, and I play regularly.

    If I was afraid of warping their sense of reality I'd be more afraid for my house and my furniture than the gunplay. Who wants kids growing up thinking they can throw a wood, brick or metal fortress in under 2 seconds? Ok point proven. My dad joke means I'm a dad right?

    I think we've lost the plot when it comes to raising children. We don't want to teach the difference between real life and play. We seem to have given up teaching them about road safety - I dread driving through school zones and it's not because I'm breaking the speed limit - it's because kids will happily step out in front of cars without looking. Likewise, I see kids that have been deprived play being more violent and anti-social, not less. But hey lets lock their phones in magnetic pouches during the school day - much easier than giving teachers real authority or teaching them the consequences of inappropriate use during school hours, or stopping the actual bullying, right?

    I would say supervise and play with your kids. It's not an electronic baby sitter. if they behave anti-socially, you take it away.

    • BadGiraffe on 05/01/2024 - 14:46

      Agreed. I'll be there whatever his interests are just so he knows someone is supporting and encouraging him for the good stuff. Depending on what I decide is bad stuff… well… that's just parenting, right? It's a fine line. You're right. I want him to learn, but also not hide things away.

      Just like now with the news. I won't him watch videos of buildings being blown up or kids bleeding, but I'll tell him about it. And I can see it going into his head and the gears turning. Kids are not dumb.

  • desert eagle on 04/01/2024 - 14:52

    I think the biggest thing is having house rules and sticking to them.

    My parents were quite strict with the content I watched as a kid since they were of the belief that you are what you consume. As I grew older I slowly changed from the state of mind of 'this is unfair, I want to watch everything' to 'okay, I can understand why they might not want me to watch this'. I think once the child breaks the threshold, introducing PG stuff is probably around the right age to start lowering the guard rails a little.

    • BadGiraffe on 05/01/2024 - 14:41

      Yeah. He's on to PG stuff now. But the stuff that I watched as a kid are all M. Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc.

  • Gorgeousmorgeous on 04/01/2024 - 16:06

    I asked my son and his mate who are almost 13 and have been playing fortnite since they were 12 at the start of yr 7.

    They both agreed no younger than year 5 and better towards year 6/7

    • BadGiraffe on 05/01/2024 - 14:40
      +2

      That's really good to know. Good kids. You've done well.

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