Gaming: «As soon as my son gets hold of a device, it starts»
Yanik, 8, has learnt how to play Fortnite from Andrin, 14, and is already playing like a big boy. This sometimes leads to stress between parents Saskia and Michael.
Andrin: «I'm playing Fifa at the moment. I usually play for an hour and a half after school, then I take a break, then I play again. But there are also days when I don't play.»
Michael: «Really? I see the screen time and realise he's been on for another four hours.»
Saskia: «When he has to switch off, he's quickly at 180, even if he loses.»
Michael: «I thought a herd of elephants was running around once, that's how crazy he got. He once broke the Playstation.»
Andrin: «It was just a scratch. But when the WiFi cuts out in the 88th minute of a game, it just makes you angry. And yes, you don't want to stop, you want to carry on, get rewards, win...»
Yanik: «When Andrin used to play Fortnite, I used to play along sometimes.»
Saskia: «Fortnite is not for Yanik's age. But he sees everything at Andrin's and as soon as he gets a device, he starts playing like a big boy.»
Sometimes it's also practical to let him play for a short time. Especially when I'm working from home.
Saskia
Yanik: «I like games where you have to be quick. Or scary things. Or Fortnite.»
Michael: «You always notice when it's suddenly quiet. Then you go into the parlour and see him sitting at the Playstation, completely focused.»
Saskia: «Sometimes it's also practical to let him game for a short time. Especially when I'm working from home. It's taboo to admit that you get some peace and quiet that way. I often realise that it's the same for others. Of course it's not good.»
Michael: "It makes me angry when I come home and find the little one playing PlayStation in the best weather. Or when Andrin just sits in his room at the weekend, possibly with the blinds closed. Saskia and I often get into arguments because she thinks: «Do you always have to grumble?»
I'm not the only one who gambles. All the boys my age are like that.
Andrin
Saskia: «But you also come home and the first thing you ask is: Are they gaming again? They may have been playing for ten minutes. But yes, sometimes I'm too nice because I don't want to discuss things again.»
Michael: «Yes, the discussions take up a lot of space. What's more, Andrin sometimes spends his entire youth wage - 100 francs last month - on buying FIFA players. And Yanik sometimes seems so nervous when he's in game mode.»
Yanik: «But I'm really good at finding weapons in Fortnite, sometimes better than Andrin.»
Gaming improves reaction
Michael: «Yes, I'm amazed at his dexterity and how quickly he reacts.»
Andrin: «Gaming definitely improves my reactions. If a fly comes into my field of vision when I'm cycling, my eyes close much faster than they used to. But Yanik should play outside. I didn't appreciate it enough in the past. At my age, you can hardly go out without equipment. And there's always someone around who's just on their mobile phone.»
Saskia: «Andrin is starting to click. What's more, he's not just gaming, he goes to football training three times a week and often has matches at weekends.»
Andrin: «And I'm not the only one who gambles. All the boys my age are like that.»
