Is Fortnite Dangerous For Kids?
Posted by: Kevin Mulryne
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Show notes:
This week’s episode of the Sue Atkins Parenting Show is sponsored by Rayden Solicitors
Rayden Solicitors are hosting a seminar on the subject of ‘Supporting Teens and Tweens’
Wednesday 10th October 2018 @ 6.30 pm
The Town Hall, Berkhamsted
Full details are below in the Sponsor Section of the Show Notes
In this week’s episode:
Is Fortnite Dangerous For Kids?
We discuss whether Kirstie Allsopp was right to smash her children’s iPads
Fortnite is putting children at risk from online paedophiles, can you argue with the National Crime Agency?
Plus …
Sue in Conversation with:
Dr Janet Rose, Principal of Norland College
You can listen to the full interview with Dr Janet Rose here
About Norland College
Norland College was founded in Norland Place, London, in 1892 by Emily Ward and has been at the forefront of childcare training ever since.
The education at Norland has always been progressive; today’s students study for a BA (Hons) degree in Early Years Development and Learning. The degree runs alongside the prestigious Norland Diploma; a unique qualification which teaches the practical skills it takes to become a Norland Nanny.
Norland graduates are famous for their best in class standard of training and their iconic uniforms. Norland trained early years professionals are employed worldwide through the Norland Agency as Norland Nannies and Maternity Nurses.
Norland graduates command the highest salaries in the industry, clinch the most sought-after posts and enjoy a busy life often working for high profile clients. With a degree behind them, many Norland Nannies also progress into other professions that involve working with children, including teaching.
For further information about Norland visit norland.ac.uk
Connect with Dr Janet Rose and Norland College
Our Show Sponsor – Rayden Solicitors
Why are Rayden Solicitors hosting a seminar on supporting teens and tweens?
Parenting tweens and teens can be challenging, stressful and sometimes upsetting. During the teenage years your children are maturing at an alarming rate with hormone shifts and developmental leaps causing havoc on their bodies and emotions.
In a 2016 survey for Parent Zone, 93% of teachers reported seeing increased rates of mental illness among children and teenagers and 90% thought the issues were getting more severe, with 62% dealing with a pupil’s mental-health problem at least once a month and an additional 20% doing so on a weekly or even daily basis.
As family law experts, we often deal with clients who are concerned that their relationship breakdown may have consequences for their children. Combined with the fact that almost every tween or teen will experience anxiety about school, homework, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, gender issues, exams, we felt that an explanation about different strategies that can be employed would be of benefit to all parents. We have therefore asked a number of therapeutic experts to discuss supporting teens and tweens.
You can book your place at this seminar via Eventbrite
Rayden Solicitors is an award-winning specialist firm of Family Law solicitors. We advise on all aspects of family law including: divorce and relationship breakdown; financial disputes and issues concerning children; as well as pre and post nuptial agreements and gay marriage. We have grown to be the largest family law firm in Hertfordshire and our clients are based across the county, in London, throughout the UK and internationally.
The firm combines specialist knowledge and experience with a cost-effective approach that recognises the individual needs of each client.
To book please visit Eventbrite
Connect with Rayden Solicitors
Don’t Stew – Ask Sue Parenting Q & A
Article:
Are you battling Your Child’s Addiction To ‘Fortnite?’ Here are my top tips.
Kirstie was rather childish & immature too! Whether angry or not she’s teaching her kids that’s it’s ok to break something if things aren’t going your way which models being rather petulant. It shows she’s not really in control of their tech discipline & teaches a lack of respect for items, possessions & people. What did they learn from what she did?
Like any game with a fiercely competitive online mode, younger players can find that Fortnite, from Epic Games and People Can Fly, makes them cross or angry when they lose.
This is common in games like FIFA and Rocket League, but even more so in Fortnite because you only have one life and then you are out the game.
The game – and its impact on families – is that children get addicted to it and depressed when they were not allowed on it.
People are concerned & plead for the game’s age certificate to be bumped up, even though Fortnite is currently at a 12+ certificate kids are playing it at just 10.
It’s vital for parents to set boundaries and give children alternatives away from their screens.
Fortnite, the online game craze, is putting children at risk from online paedophiles, the National Crime Agency has warned yesterday. The law enforcement agency says text chats between players over the internet cannot be turned off, meaning that mums and dads are unaware their children are chatting to strangers online.
The game, which features up to 100 players battling to be the last person alive in a player vs player combat, is proving hugely popular in the UK, with many young people said to be disrupting school lessons because they are so addicted.
Now the NCA has intervened to make adults aware of the dangers, stating that Fortnite is immensely popular with children and teenagers across the country. It features text chat which cannot be turned off, so it’s important that parents and teachers understand that risks broader risks associated with the game and enable safe playing.
Last month, a mother from Merseyside told how she intervened when her 12-year-old son was offered £50 to perform “sex acts” while playing the game by a man grooming him online.
Tips ….
- Make your own family media use plan.
- Be your child’s Media Mentor
- Set firm, fair, consistent boundaries – and have consequences that you keep if they are broken – kids are motivated towards something or away from something – work it out & voila!
- Do ‘ING’ activities regularly with your kids – chattING, cyclING, playING, eatING, bowlING,
- It’s a privilege not a right to use technology
- Model sensible use yourself !
- Screen time shouldn’t be alone time.
- Know the value of face to face time
- Be confident – who cares about Mrs Brown up the road
- Create tech free zones, days & spaces
- Don’t use it as an electric babysitter
- Media and digital devices are an integral part of our world today. The benefits of these devices, if used moderately and appropriately, can be great but find that balance!
PAUSE | THINK | DECIDE | ACT
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