Why is Fortnite so popular right now? It’s free, available on lots of gaming platforms, like PlayStation, Xbox, PC and iPad, and everyone plays it!

School students, adults and lots of celebrities and athletes are talking about it.

So chances are, if your child doesn’t play it yet, they really want to.

What your child wants you to know about Fortnite

1, You cannot just pause an online game

A player who just leaves the game at any time lets down one’s whole squad. This is very important for parents to understand especially when setting time limits on games.

2, It’s social

We need to rethink the stereotype of the socially isolated video game nerds because online gaming can be very social.

In Fortnite, you can connect with others and together you are learning skills in leadership, teamwork and problem-solving.

That said, there is live, unmoderated chat possible between users in the console and PC versions of Fortnite: Battle Royale.

Both voice chat and on-screen text chat are options. This exposes players to random strangers and the likelihood of profanity.

Chat is currently unavailable in the mobile version of the game.

3, How do you turn off voice chat in Fortnite: Battle Royale?

Open the Settings menu in the top right of the main Fortnite page by selecting the three bars, then the cog icon.

Choose the Audio tab at the top of the screen. From there, you can adjust several audio features, including voice chat. Turn the setting from on to off by tapping the arrows.

4, I need you to give me lots of warning of when I need to stop playing

Instead of giving them traditional time limits, you could give them a limit of how many ‘rounds of Fortnite’ they can play.

Just for reference, five rounds will take about an hour if they win every round.

But they probably won’t, so some rounds are shorter.

Keep checking in on them and asking how many rounds they have left.

You’re actually doing them a favour because then they can tell their online friends that they only commit to two more games without letting their team down.

What they don’t want you to know about Fortnite

1, I don’t actually need to make those in-game purchases

It’s a free game. Free to download and free to play. But there are in-game purchases that cost real money.

You can upgrade your player with a new skin or victory dance, however that is not a necessity to play the game.

2, It’s very addictive

Fortnite is designed as a very addictive game that always asks you to play one more round.

If you are concerned about how much they play, then maybe you could approach it as a parent would approach any addiction. Offer support, limit use and offer alternatives.

3, Stay involved

Ask your child about Fortnite and what they like about it. Young people need their parents to remain involved right throughout the teenage years. This just might be your way in to a great conversation.

• Credit: https://www.theparentingplace.com and www.commonsense.org