FPV DOMINATION: My Secret Strategy to Switch My Daughters from YouTube to FPV Simulator Practice

Are you a dad who wants to teach something useful?

Hello fellow FPV and non-FPV pilots! I don’t know how many of you have the pleasure of being fathers, I myself have that badge multiplied by four.

Yep, two daughters by my side and two more by my wife’s. Totalling four daughters, ages 7, 8, 10 and 13. And yes, I am a prepared father of four beautiful daughters: I have a shotgun and an alibi, so please don’t give me an excuse to use them.

Since a few years ago I’ve been seeing how my daughters, especially the youngest ones, are more and more addicted to Youtube.

Hey, I don’t have anything against youtube, even myself have a very good educational channel there. The problem starts when instead of watching educational videos, they spend 2-3 hours watching cat memes and “challenges” that could land them in the ER.

So Rafa, what did you do to tackle this problem?

What every other smart parent will do: I trick them. A few times a week they watch me train FPV flight on my computer. I use the DJI FPV RC2 and LiftOff (Even if I have other simulators installed on my mac, as Uncrashed FPV and TrypFpv, I like to practice on LiftOff as I feel it more realistic regarding crashes and accidents with the drone) and they feel attracted for the flight acrobatics and the tracks, so I tell them that they can play…

…as a reward for their good behavior

I’M EVIL

So meanwhile I shave off hours of binge-watching Youtube of their days, they started to develop a really useful skill that many pilots lack of (in big part because nowadays most drones almost fly themselves between the stupid-proof camera/sensors/lidars and the nanometer-level GPS), except, obviously, FPV pilots.

But let’s talk with the truth: have you ever been flying and your drone entered ATTI mode? And I mean wild-crazy-I flew-wherever-I-want-ATTI-mode, trust me, that scares you and if you are flying indoors it’s going to be a challenge for you as a pilot and as a human being. Well if you copy this trick not only you (and your kids) will avoid this, but will let you fly with more security and finesse.

So what’s our gain here?

Well, for starters, my daughters are developing actual piloting skills while having fun. I’ve noticed they’re picking up on things like throttle control, orientation awareness, and recovery techniques – all crucial abilities that many modern “pilots” lack. Instead of mind-numbing content that teaches them nothing valuable, they’re learning spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination that translates to real-world benefits.

And here’s the kicker: they don’t even realize they’re developing a marketable skill. The drone industry continues to grow exponentially, with FPV piloting becoming increasingly valuable in fields from cinematography to search and rescue. While I’m not saying my 7-year-old is going to be filming the next Hollywood blockbuster anytime soon, I am giving them exposure to technology and capabilities that could spark genuine interest in aviation, engineering, or technical fields.

This little parenting hack has become our special thing.

What started as a sneaky way to reduce YouTube consumption has evolved into quality time where we bond, laugh at spectacular crashes, and celebrate when they nail a particularly tricky maneuver.

They’re learning persistence too – the understanding that skills take practice and that failure is just part of the journey toward improvement. And honestly, isn’t that a lesson worth far more than whatever “life skills” they might pick up from watching endless unboxing videos?

So fellow drone parents, I highly recommend this stealth training approach. Not only will you reduce screen time devoted to mindless content, but you might just be nurturing the next generation of expert pilots.

And if nothing else, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing your parenting trickery is actually beneficial for everyone involved. Now excuse me while I go “reward” my daughter for cleaning her room with some simulator time – we’re working on power loops this week!

So, are you going to try installing an FPV simulator for the kids at home? tell me in the comments how it went!