Postby MagnoliaMum » Mon Sep 02, 2024 10:53 am
I wouldn't agree to it at his age. Policing screen time is hard enough anyway, but if he is up in his bedroom, you will quickly lose track of any agreed limits or knowing what he is playing. And both my sons know boys who turn their computers back on after bedtime and play during the night, presumably without their parents' knowledge and to the detriment of their sleep!
With a downstairs computer, you will be able to more easily keep an eye on what is happening and see how your son deals with it. If he seems sensible and in control then you can review this decision when he's a bit older. If he has addicted friends who play all the time or he finds it hard to stop, then you will be glad that he is not shut away in his bedroom.
If he has to have a computer in his bedroom, then you could investigate switching the Wifi off every night or disabling it at times that he shouldn't be playing. Or a laptop might be a compromise, so that it can be removed and only given to him for the agreed gaming times. Otherwise my advice would be to keep ensuring he is doing lots of sports or other activities, so that gaming is only one of the things he enjoys. Now that kids play games together with their friends online, it is very social and really fun for them, so you have to make sure that other things match up to that and they get a balance!