Do you have kids over the age of about seven? Then you’ve probably heard of Fortnite… and it’s possible you’re feeling a bit worried about the grip it has over your kids.
I asked my seven-year-old son if he knew about Fortnite, and he started telling me about how he played it with his friends at lunchtime. After a minute or so I realised that he and the other boys were playing a live-action version of it in the schoolyard. Yep, this game is so big that kids will play it in real life when they don’t have access to screens.
So what is it exactly, and why has it become an obsession for so many kids around the world?
Fortnite Battle Royale is a multiplayer shooter game, described as a cross between Minecraft and The Hunger Games. The idea is that 100 players land on an island that has weapons and other combat items around it. From there, it’s a fight to become the last player standing.
What makes this different from other battle-type games is that it’s more cartoonish than gory, so it’s appealing to younger kids. Players die, but you don’t see the blood and guts. Dance moves are a part of the game, and people – including Major League Baseball players in the US – copy the moves in real life. There’s also random fun stuff being added all the time, like dinosaur-inspired outfits.
Top Comments
I don’t agree with the psychologist at all as it relates to collaborating with friends or problem solving. I also don’t agree with the “if you can’t beat em join em” attitutude. I do not have to play Fortnite with my son or make that game a priority in any way. I’ve learned to moderate and regulate it like anything that gets out of hand or is unhealthy. I researched 5 articles to help with my sons Fortnite obsession and this was the least helpful. A few valid points but nothing that translates that a parent should take control, love their child,explain why it’s not healthy to obsess and gain their respect. This can be done without cutting them off from the game or allowing them to feel ostracized at school. Do research like I have been. Too much of anything isn’t healthy.
there is a series of videos on how to get children to stop playing fortnite which supports this theory https://www.youtube.com/wat...