Let's be honest: your kid is probably already playing Fortnite, or desperately wants to because everyone else is. It's the defining game of this generation of childhood, for better and worse.

The 'worse' is significant: the monetization is predatory, the addictive design is real, and the unmoderated social environment can be toxic. You will have battles about screen time, spending, and 'just one more match.' This is not a game you can just hand over and forget about.

The 'better' is also real: Creative Mode has genuine educational value, the skills kids develop are legitimate, and the social connection matters. Some kids use it as a virtual hangout space more than a shooter, building elaborate worlds with friends.

If you're going to allow it—and the social pressure is intense—go in with eyes open and boundaries firm: friends-only voice chat, no V-Bucks without discussion, hard time limits with consequences, and regular check-ins about how they're feeling during and after play. Treat it like the powerful, designed-for-engagement product it is, not like the innocent games of your childhood.