Should your children play Fortnite? How do you know? Is Fortnite bad for kids?

This Fortnite review for parents details the pros and cons for letting your children play this combat video game.

I will admit when I first heard about the Fortnite video game, I was extremely apprehensive. People shooting people? Enough said. Fornite… bad for kids.

So, I avoided exposing my children to Fortnite.

Related: Earn video game time with chores

But, like most things, Fortnite crept into our home through others who were playing and loving the game. It wasn’t long before my children were seated in front of our Nintendo Switch watching a sibling choose weapons and fight to become the last person standing in Battle Royale.

Is Fortnite safe for our kids?

Deciding whether or not Fortnite is safe for all kids everywhere is not my place.

Every family… every child… is so completely different that parents must make this assessment on his or her own. Loads of parents have different opinions.

Playing Fortnite

Despite the different modes of play, the object of the game remains the same… Be the final player (or team) alive. In order to achieve a Victory Royale, you must use strategy, building skills, and weapons mastery to kill all the other players in the game.

A player can choose from playing solo, duos, squads (four people), or 50 versus 50. When a player joins a team, they can communicate with one another using a headset.

Don’t choose to be oblivious. Don’t send your child to their room to play and just hope for the best. Know how to play the game and who your child is playing with online.

Related: Plan a family game night kids will love

My husband and I watch our kids play Fortnite on the television in our living room. (We only have one TV in the entire house.) We even had the kids teach us to play too.

Talk about Fortnite with your child

Watching the game isn’t enough. Have a conversation with your child about Fortnite. Why does he play? What is his or her favorite part? How does she feel about shooting people in the game?

I asked my 11 year old son how it made him feel to be killing people in Fortnite. He had several thoughts:

1) “Fortnite isn’t violent. There’s no blood and gore.”

On one hand, I agree with him.

No one bleeds in Fortnite, although a medical kit or bandages are required to restore health to an injured player. But, you never see the result of your attack in a physical way.

The only evidence that you are damaging your opponent is the numeric variable that displays when the opponent is injured. For instance, if the other player is using a shield for protection when you shoot him, a blue number will pop up. Once the shield is emptied, the number appears in red.

Fortnite is violent. Just talking about head shots and guns is enough to communicate that the very foundation of the game is violence, even if it is candy-coated.

A “head shot” is the most powerful but the impact varies based on the type of weapon used.

Which brings me to the part where I disagree with my son.

Fortnite is violent. Just talking about head shots and guns is enough to communicate that the very foundation of the game is violence, even if it is candy-coated.

Does that make Fortnite bad for kids or do they see the same amount of violence (or more) on the evening news? Every parent must make this decision for their children.

2) “It isn’t really killing anyone because they are beamed back to the island to play again.”

Upon logging in to Fortnite, you are in a holding area where you can interact with other players using “emotes,” or dances and signs. Once enough players have gathered virtually to play, the “battle bus” departs and the game begins.

When a player is eliminated, they return to the waiting area to either play again or exit the game.

In my son’s mind, the players inside the game are just that… characters playing a game and not real people.

The idea of “characters” is reinforced since players can choose different “skins” or costumes and equipment to define their character’s personality.

3) “If a person is smart, they realize that it’s just a video game. You shouldn’t play with guns in real life.”

My husband and I have taught our children about gun safety. While we personally do not own guns (aside from a couple of bb guns), we are not opposed to them. We are also very aware that our neighbors do own guns and we want our children to understand that guns are not toys.

Hearing my son talk about the difference between Fortnite guns and reality is reassuring… but it still leaves me nervously wondering if Fortnite is safe for kids to play.

Prior to Fortnite, he did not know the names for guns and weapons. Now, he knows which guns are best for close action and long range. He talks about RPGs and remotely detonated C4. He strategizes how to “snipe” an opponent.

Not exactly the kind of conversation this mom wants to have around the dinner table.

Analyze your child’s behavior

Is your child becoming addicted to Fortnite? How long is he playing each day? Has she lost interest in other hobbies? Does he become aggressive when you ask him to stop playing? Has she withdrawn from the rest of the family?

Any changes in your child’s emotions or behavior could reflect a dangerous attachment to Fortnite.

Also, what is your child’s attitude when playing the game? Does making a kill excite him? What kind of things does she say when in combat?

Listen to your gut and trust your instincts to protect your child. Only you can know if Fortnite is safe or a bad influence on your child.

The positive impact of Fortnite

As much as there is about Fortnite to make me cringe, there are other details that make me smile.

Taking turns

Since we only have one television, our children are forced to take turns playing Fortnite.

While this comes with its own set of “It’s my turn! He played longer than me!” it also means my children are more aware of how long they have been sitting in front of the television… because their siblings are watching the clock.

Choices and consequences

“Don’t chase the guy! Hide and survive.” <<– My advice to my oldest son as he plays Fortnite. Does he listen? Nope. He would rather chase down and opponent and risk failure than to let than to lay low. But I’m glad he does because it gives me the ideal opportunity to teach him that his choices have consequences.

Chase the guy and risk dying. Or lay low and let him face another opponent.

It’s definitely like life. You have to choose your battles wisely. Know what is worth fighting for and when you should just let it slide.

Leadership

I have always known that my oldest son had leadership ability, but listening to him chat with a squad of Fortnite players… confirmation. He makes a plan, gives orders, gently reprimands as needed, and gives accolades when they are earned.

Related: Teach children leadership with chores

Observing his Fortnite games yields many opportunities to guide him as he grows into a leader.

Reporting

Fortnite gives players the ability to report foul behavior. Of course, my children detest coarse language and will not engage with other players who curse. If they accidentally enter a match where someone is being mean, they can mute the speaker or report the player.

Why I let my kids play Fortnite

If there is a risk for my children to be exposed to foul language or aggressive behavior, why would I allow them to play Fortnite? Shouldn’t I just delete the game from our Nintendo Switch or “be the parent” and refuse to let them play?

I totally could. And if you feel this is necessary for your family, do it.

In our home, banning our kids from playing Fortnite when it is so wildly popular and played by all of their friends would result in a cornucopia of behavior issues.

1. My children would be resentful towards me, which doesn’t scare me but it would hinder the openness in our relationship.
2. Banning leads to lying and sneaking around behind my back to do what they want to do. I would rather be involved in what my children love and use it to teach them life lessons than forbid them to play.
3. Avoiding Fortnite would also cause them to feel isolated from their friends who are all talking about and playing the game. We have a lot of changes happening in our lives and allowing them to have something in common with their friends gives them a social connection to help bridge these other challenges without feeling alone.

How do you feel? Is Fortnite bad for kids?

Why or why not? Leave a comment. I would love to know how you came to your decision because I learn so much from other parents just like you.