Kids say their parents are 'clueless' when it comes to Fortnite and other video games - here's a cheat sheet

Parents in the UK are clueless when it comes to video games - according to their own children.

A study of 1,000 kids aged eight to 17 found three in five have pointed out their mum and dad’s lack of gaming knowledge.

More than half have been left frustrated by their parents’ attempts to speak to them while they are in the middle of a game - because they don’t understand why they can’t pause it.

And three in 10 embarrassed youngsters have also had parents talk to them during the game without realising their online friends can hear every word.

Mums v dads

Only one in 10 describe their mum’s gaming knowledge as "brilliant" compared to a sixth who think this of dad.

But a tenth think their father is "totally clueless", while a quarter refer to their mother’s understanding as "not very good".

Charles Davies, MD at internet service provider, Hyperoptic, which commissioned the research, said, “Parents are surrounded by video games nowadays but often don’t fully grasp what’s going on, or how important gaming is to their children.

“It’s amusing to see what parents do and don’t know, but this lack of knowledge about gaming also means parents may not be fully understanding of their children’s hobby and why they do certain things.

“Many modern games consoles now connect to the internet and are played in real time, meaning you can’t ‘just pause’ a game."

What do parents really know about gaming?

The study also polled the gamers’ parents and found they are just as baffled when it comes to phrases and acronyms relating to the gaming world.

More than three quarters of mums and dads don’t understand 'micro-transactions' - purchasing in-game items with real money - and four in five aren’t aware that ‘FUT’ means FIFA Ultimate Team.

More than half of parents also think online gaming affects other uses of the internet such as streaming TV or downloading,

Of the 1,000 parents polled, 64 per cent think their child spends too long on video games at an average of 10 hours a week. And almost half (45 per cent) are worried their child is addicted to gaming and ask them at least twice a day to stop playing.

But when asked to take a break, more than half of kids admitted they wait until they finish their current round, compared to an eighth who pause immediately. A sneaky quarter even pretend to stop their game but actually continue to play.

As a result, one in four parents admitted to turning off the WiFi while their child was in the middle of playing a game.

How long should kids be allowed to play video games?