[Telemakhos]

I don't mean to sound like the old fart that I am, but you keep describing games in terms of "junk" and "as good as [junk]": maybe instead of giving a bundle of ad-free junk, none of which actually captures his attention and all of which amounts to "doomscrolling," you might consider finding something that does get his attention and occupies it more usefully.

Swift Playgrounds was (is?) ad-free and teaches programming. There are music studio apps that let him compose his own music. Plenty of apps let kids create things actively instead of just playing games. There are also all sorts of non-electronic activities that could occupy his time more fruitfully, but I'll skip over that.

[spwa4]

> Swift Playgrounds was (is?) ad-free and teaches programming. There are music studio apps that let ...

And that works until they have 1 conversation with other kids, in school or whatever.

[kQq9oHeAz6wLLS]

Until they find that one other kid in school with the same interests. Then they find a lifelong friend, and they create things together.

[lelanthran]

> Swift Playgrounds was (is?) ad-free and teaches programming.

But, the kid wants to play games, not build something.

You can get entertained by both, but doing only one of those things is boring.