How to Sneak Downstairs to Play Video Games

Last Updated: March 2, 2021

One thing that teens and adolescents tend to do at night is get some gaming time in, which is definitely understandable. Here are some steps and pointers on how to get away with playing video games at night while parents/guardians are sleeping.

Steps

1
Wait until a decent time at night (12:00, 1:00, 2:00) to make your move. When you are ready, sit on your bed, and slowly slide yourself down until you find yourself standing on the floor next to your bed.
2
Slowly and steadily walk to your bedroom door and open it with a slight lift. This will reduce friction between the hinges, thus allowing little to no creaking.

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3
Open your parent/guardian's door enough to fit one eye and check for any sudden movement, fishy positions, and/or abnormal breathing.
- Heavy breathing: Awake
- Normal breathing: Awake or making attempt to fall asleep
- Light breathing: Light sleep or normal sleep
- Snoring: Deep sleep
4
Make your way to the stairs and try to skip as many steps as possible, this will reduce noise and any chance of creaking. Also, step on the end of each stair step, the middle of each stair step will have less structural support and increases the chance of stair movement, which will result on creaking.
5
Once at the bottom floor of your house, you shouldn't be hearing TOO much creaking, but if you do, stay close to the walls.
6
Once you've made it to the desired room with the gaming system, slip through the door and keep the door a quarter of the way shut. This will help you hear any outside noise, and reduce the amount of TV light that leaves the room.
7
Have a seat on a chair that doesn't squeak too much, preferably a sturdy and non-swiveling chair. Remember, we want to reduce, if not eliminate any noise from entering the parent/guardian's room.
8
Most gaming systems have an "On" button on the console itself, it would be better to turn on the console by the controller. Doing so will not activate any start-up sound.
9
Once your gaming system is on, remember to turn the TV volume off, or to the first or second lowest volume setting. Headphones will work the best because it will give you the ability of having one ear out, and one ear hearing game audio.
10
Once everything is to your liking, have fun. Remember, you are doing this to have a good time, so the more stress you add, the less fun is had...
11
When done and ready to crash, repeat steps #4 and #5.
12
Check your parent/guardian's room to make sure they haven't felt, heard, or saw anything suspicious.
13
Head back to your bedroom in a quite and subtle manner and make sure everything is placed the way they were the last time they came in. Slowly sit and lay on your bed to avoid creaking, and have a good night's rest.

Warnings

If you hear noises of footsteps or any shuffling happening upstairs, don't panic. Turn off the TV and gaming system, speed walk to the kitchen, and explain you were getting a drink.

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