YOUTH NOW
The Case for Playing Fortnite with Your Kids
Videogames do not represent our children’s fall from grace. It’s time to get in on the fun.
My Bose QuietComfort headphones are great for blocking out the engine hum of a commercial aircraft, but they’re useless when it comes to masking the sounds of two preteen boys at home on summer vacation.
My older son is leading some sort of military campaign through the game world. He yells commands into his headset: “Fall in. Fall in! Now cover me. Go, go, go, go!” I hear the click-clack of the Cherry MX Blue switches on his mechanical keyboard, and I regret how few opportunities he gets to practice his leadership skills when he’s not role-playing at his desk.
Meanwhile, his younger brother has been planted in front of the Xbox since waking up this morning. He’s screaming at the top of his lungs: “Don’t take my loot. I mean it! Why are you doing this? Stop. Stop it!” He seems angry and frustrated. But then, just as quickly as he can maneuver between the items in his inventory, his disposition turns affable — like he just drank a chug jug of giggle juice.
All day, I’m bombarded by the sounds of Fortnite: Battle Royale. And it’s not just my kids I’m hearing. Everywhere I go, everyone seems to be…
