Struggling with DS17 and video games

[Anonymous]

Wanted to get a barometer on this issue.

DS17 has a video game that he likes to play - mostly to the expense of all else. As we all know, school this year is kind of a push - and summer is approaching. I see that a lot of parents here are taking the approach of simply letting their teens "enjoy what's left of their childhoods" or similar, during this unprecedented time.

Here is my issue.

We live in a fairly small house. And he gets LOUD while he is playing - it's a constant chatter peppered with random outbursts. It is aggravating, to say the least, and disruptive to the workday/sleep at the worst. We have tried to discuss/remedy the situation, but I don't think he can see/care that his actions have an impact on others in the household.

How would you handle this?

[Anonymous]

Shut his door and wear ear plugs at night. I’d also probably record him and play it back to him so he understands the volume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shut his door and wear ear plugs at night. I’d also probably record him and play it back to him so he understands the volume.

Re: the first suggestion - doesn't that just teach him that it's ok to be disruptive and not respect the needs of others?

I like the second suggestion.

[Anonymous]

You are probably hearing my teen through your kid's headset. LOL!

So, my kid has finals and AP tests, so school work comes first, obviously. But after that, the computer is the best way to keep him in the house (and we have an immune-compromised person in our home). If he's loud when others have gone to bed, we turn off the internet, so he's not loud at night. We also just ordered a sound barrier blanket to hang in the room (it doubles as a green screen so he loves it). This is mostly in anticipation of summer when he no longer is in class all day, and we still have to work at home.

[Anonymous]

Ours must use headphones. If he shouts at the screen, he gets one verbal warning. After that, we march over, unplug it and haul it to the basement storage for a while.

We live in <1500 sq ft apartment, and there isn’t room for someone ranting at the screen over a stupid game.

[Anonymous]

unplug after a certain time. Hide the chord.

[Anonymous]

We have the same issue with my 11 year old and fortnite. I make him play on the switch not connected to our TV in his room so that I don't have to hear his loud voice talking on the headset. He plays for an hour or so a day, so nothing totally insane in terms of amount of time.

[Anonymous]

After 2 warnings I turn the router off. Only had to do it twice in the last two months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours must use headphones. If he shouts at the screen, he gets one verbal warning. After that, we march over, unplug it and haul it to the basement storage for a while.

We live in <1500 sq ft apartment, and there isn’t room for someone ranting at the screen over a stupid game.

THANK you.

If it matters, he lives with us 50% and his mom 50%. I think her rules are more lax - so if I try any type of restriction, it comes across as "unfair", "being mean" in my house. Personally, I think I am teaching him what it means to be respectful and learn to live as part of a household, but, hey, everyone's MMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are probably hearing my teen through your kid's headset. LOL!

So, my kid has finals and AP tests, so school work comes first, obviously. But after that, the computer is the best way to keep him in the house (and we have an immune-compromised person in our home). If he's loud when others have gone to bed, we turn off the internet, so he's not loud at night. We also just ordered a sound barrier blanket to hang in the room (it doubles as a green screen so he loves it). This is mostly in anticipation of summer when he no longer is in class all day, and we still have to work at home.

Can you share a link?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After 2 warnings I turn the router off. Only had to do it twice in the last two months.

Thank you.

I like this. I had a similar suggestion - but he got angry because somehow, he will "get banned" for dropping out of a game while in play. Maybe the two wannrings and then it goes off is a good solution.

Can you tell me how long the router went off for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are probably hearing my teen through your kid's headset. LOL!

So, my kid has finals and AP tests, so school work comes first, obviously. But after that, the computer is the best way to keep him in the house (and we have an immune-compromised person in our home). If he's loud when others have gone to bed, we turn off the internet, so he's not loud at night. We also just ordered a sound barrier blanket to hang in the room (it doubles as a green screen so he loves it). This is mostly in anticipation of summer when he no longer is in class all day, and we still have to work at home.

Forgot to ask: does it work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are probably hearing my teen through your kid's headset. LOL!

So, my kid has finals and AP tests, so school work comes first, obviously. But after that, the computer is the best way to keep him in the house (and we have an immune-compromised person in our home). If he's loud when others have gone to bed, we turn off the internet, so he's not loud at night. We also just ordered a sound barrier blanket to hang in the room (it doubles as a green screen so he loves it). This is mostly in anticipation of summer when he no longer is in class all day, and we still have to work at home.

Can you share a link?

https://www.amazon.com/Audimute-Sound-Absorption-Sheet-Soundproofing/dp/B07ZPC6WLH/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=soundproofing&qid=1589904648&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-11&th=1

There are panels too:

https://www.amazon.com/DEKIRU-Soundproofing-Insulation-Absorption-Decoration/dp/B081JSW5F5/ref=sr_1_14_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=soundproofing&qid=1589904580&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-14-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyNkI4RkhIVFEwNkZCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjE4NDkyM01YNE5ZUldFRFI0USZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDE5NDg4U1Y2Rlo2WUdOUTQxJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After 2 warnings I turn the router off. Only had to do it twice in the last two months.

Thank you.

I like this. I had a similar suggestion - but he got angry because somehow, he will "get banned" for dropping out of a game while in play. Maybe the two wannrings and then it goes off is a good solution.

Can you tell me how long the router went off for?

DP: True: on line real time games are trickier, because you aren't just punishing him, but everyone he's playing with too. It kind of like turning off the outside lights in the middle of a two team basketball game because your one kid didn't come home when called. Something to consider, since the more his friends start hating him, the more he'll start hating you. To combat this, we told DS that he may not start those kinds of games after 9 pm or he is choosing to risk getting shut off and making his friends mad. Like anything, setting rules up front that are reasonable and considerate of everyone tends to work best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are probably hearing my teen through your kid's headset. LOL!

So, my kid has finals and AP tests, so school work comes first, obviously. But after that, the computer is the best way to keep him in the house (and we have an immune-compromised person in our home). If he's loud when others have gone to bed, we turn off the internet, so he's not loud at night. We also just ordered a sound barrier blanket to hang in the room (it doubles as a green screen so he loves it). This is mostly in anticipation of summer when he no longer is in class all day, and we still have to work at home.

Forgot to ask: does it work?

It is not sound proofing, but dampening. Sound waves are absorbed instead of bouncing off. Sound will still travel, but less amplified. It also improves the sound in the room if your kids do any recording. Mine is in theater sound, so he repositions it to create different sound effects when recording his own sound file creations.