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Hi all,
During video contact my ex is allowing my son to play his Nintendo Switch, he does like to show me stuff in his game but it's now dominating the call. It starts are ok but towards the end when he's engrossed in what his doing he just goes quiet, says bye and then hangs up!
Makes me feel rubbish tbh.
Anyone else experienced this? We've been having video calls 3 days a week since mid July now. Less than 2 weeks until section 7 hearing and still waiting on report to be written up!
Antdad
Hi Ant
I've not been posting much lately as I've had a few things on.
Re the video calls and your son on his Switch, I know exactly re this.. My eldest wants to show me fortnight and the younger two are massively into Roblox at the moment and so a lot of my video call time is spent on online gaming.
What I would say is that they do go through phases (so I hope), I try to just enjoy being on the call. Lately I do it so that at the start of the call I make it clear that I am really looking forward to seeing their online gaming but first we have to do some talking time (school, friends, what they've been doing etc) . Depending on how long they have for the call determines how long we talk and then do gaming. Sometimes it could be 10 mins out of an hours call.
You have to remember he is young and has a shorter attention span but also his Switch is his current passion.. Embrace it and show an interest but negotiate some talking time too.. It really isn't easy.
I was doing 3 to 4 video calls a week which is a lot. They were great but easy for the kids to get distracted..
I always try to introduce a game or activity to the call but its hard to compete against the might of a games console.
Don't let it get you down though or try to get your son to stop and not embrace it..
As I say the best approach I've found with mine (it is hit and miss) is to start with talking time and then gaming time..
Hope this helps..
Hello antdad, Is there anyway that you could break the call up into sections by using an egg timer? For example 10 mins for you to speak about something of your choice and then your son has 10 mins to show and tell something about his game? He sounds like its something he is passionate about, but I can understand your frustration as you want to spend time with your son! Perhaps you could make a quiz up together about gaming and test each other for fun, as another activity? Or suggest, if you have contact with your ex-partner, that your son has one gaming free video call with you a week. It maybe that he likes to do something whilst talking with you to keep his hands occupied. Just a couple of suggestions. Hope an amicable solution can be found! Best wishes, Fegans Parent Support Volunteer.
Hi Ant
I've not been posting much lately as I've had a few things on.
Re the video calls and your son on his Switch, I know exactly re this.. My eldest wants to show me fortnight and the younger two are massively into Roblox at the moment and so a lot of my video call time is spent on online gaming.
What I would say is that they do go through phases (so I hope), I try to just enjoy being on the call. Lately I do it so that at the start of the call I make it clear that I am really looking forward to seeing their online gaming but first we have to do some talking time (school, friends, what they've been doing etc) . Depending on how long they have for the call determines how long we talk and then do gaming. Sometimes it could be 10 mins out of an hours call.
You have to remember he is young and has a shorter attention span but also his Switch is his current passion.. Embrace it and show an interest but negotiate some talking time too.. It really isn't easy.
I was doing 3 to 4 video calls a week which is a lot. They were great but easy for the kids to get distracted..
I always try to introduce a game or activity to the call but its hard to compete against the might of a games console.
Don't let it get you down though or try to get your son to stop and not embrace it..
As I say the best approach I've found with mine (it is hit and miss) is to start with talking time and then gaming time..
Hope this helps..
Hi Daddyup,
Hope you're well!
I'm just trying to get involved with his game as much as I can at current, he gets so into it that he just stops talking at times but I'll get there! I tend to go with it for the first 25 mins then try to engage in something else for the last 5 mins (school or what he has been doing at weekend)!
At the moment Mum keeps cutting him off dead on the minute before he has a chance to finish our conversation, he gets very distressed by this!
I hope everything is going ok for you!
Antdad
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