Kids playing over age games
Discussion
My 7 year old son got halo from his mum for Christmas, I don't mind him playing a few games, mine craft on the Xbox and Pokemon etc on his DS, but I'm not sure halo is suitable for him. I know he plays COD at his mums also. I'm not ok with this, but am I overeating? Will shooting virtual people affect him? He has a good grasp on what is real and what isn't real (films etc)
Do you let your kids play age rated games? Opinions please guys.
Do you let your kids play age rated games? Opinions please guys.
It is a difficult call. As just mentioned in another thread, I've been playing games since I was a young child and see nothing wrong with it -- but the graphics and the content of games has moved on significantly. I don't see a problem with a FPS (my wife does), but wouldn't let my young children play GTA V for example.
I played the original gta when I was 10 odd, I turned out fine. So long as the youngen realises a game is a game and reality is reality I see no issue. Whilst if I had kids I wouldn't let them play modern gta until they where in their mid teens I'd have no issue with games like halo.
I let my lad 11 year old play 12rated games but not 15+. He really wants too but I wouldn't let him see an 18 film. It's not the language. He knows all the words but maybe does not understand them all but somethings can be disturbing such as the torture scene in gta v.
He whines about it as his friend is allowed but tough my house my rules.
He whines about it as his friend is allowed but tough my house my rules.
I think a lot of it depends on the child in question, their upbringing and their personality; if they are well balanced, have no mental or behavioural issues and are respectful and know right from wrong then there is nothing to really worry about and also aren't welded to the games console but do other things too then I wouldn't imagine there is anything to worry about, also their age has to be reasonably appropriate too.
My wife works in a nursery and sees kids who are 4 who play violent games on consoles; up till late at night and that is all they do, they are generally poorly behaved and have violent tendencies but also they have parents who don't really care, aren't told off and are left to get away with most things.
My wife's cousin has a young son who lives infront of a console, he plays violent games and is generally very hard work but he has other issues too, playing these games hasn't made him hard work, however playing these games, his family life and other issues all combine to making him hard work and unruly.
My wife works in a nursery and sees kids who are 4 who play violent games on consoles; up till late at night and that is all they do, they are generally poorly behaved and have violent tendencies but also they have parents who don't really care, aren't told off and are left to get away with most things.
My wife's cousin has a young son who lives infront of a console, he plays violent games and is generally very hard work but he has other issues too, playing these games hasn't made him hard work, however playing these games, his family life and other issues all combine to making him hard work and unruly.
Lots of conversations about this in our family. 12 year old son has had CoD for a while, but was pressing for GTA5.
In the end he got it for Xmas, on the basis that he is a smart and sensible lad who can clearly differentiate between attitudes and vocabulary in a game and what is appropriate with his mates, with his parents and with his grandparents
.
As he manges these distinctions adeptly, I have no real concerns.
I will update this thread tomorrow, admitting my error, when he executes me with a Glock in my bed tonight.
In the end he got it for Xmas, on the basis that he is a smart and sensible lad who can clearly differentiate between attitudes and vocabulary in a game and what is appropriate with his mates, with his parents and with his grandparents
. As he manges these distinctions adeptly, I have no real concerns.
I will update this thread tomorrow, admitting my error, when he executes me with a Glock in my bed tonight.
I let my 4 year old son play Red Dead Redemption. Trotting around on a horse from town to town, catching the train, etc.
However he soon learnt the game and worked out how to shot someone in the head so he is now banned.
Saying that, he is outside now in his cowboy outfit pretending to shoot the neighbours. You know....doing stuff boys do when they are little.
However he soon learnt the game and worked out how to shot someone in the head so he is now banned.
Saying that, he is outside now in his cowboy outfit pretending to shoot the neighbours. You know....doing stuff boys do when they are little.
My 8 and 6 yr olds are allowed halo but not call of duty gta etc.
No swearing in halo and very sci if. Shooting aliens with a laser gun is different to stabbing a person with a knife.
Their friends do play gta cod and they know the words, but my house my rules....... That said, I would let them play cod on the ps2 as no swearing and much less realistic, but mum says no.
No swearing in halo and very sci if. Shooting aliens with a laser gun is different to stabbing a person with a knife.
Their friends do play gta cod and they know the words, but my house my rules....... That said, I would let them play cod on the ps2 as no swearing and much less realistic, but mum says no.
Definitely comes down to the child...but I always consider...these games are 16+ / 18 for a reason.
Is it OK for my kid to hear all the swear words I can think off when playing a game...I don't use them on a regular basis, he will hear them irregularly at school ...but is it OK in a game ?
Is it OK for my kid to see gratuitous violence when playing ? I don't think so.....but just my thoughts.
Our children grow up too quickly these days anyway. My 11 year old won't be getting CoD or GTA any time soon. It's not that I think he'll go AWOL as soon as he plays...I just think the content is inappropriate for an 11 year old. He'll be old enough soon enough.
We're also getting the "but all my friends play"....tough....I'm your parent....therefore I get to decide what's right and wrong while your 11. He won't suffer by not playing them...he "may" have a "poor" reaction if he does.
No brainer for me...wait until your a teenager at least.
Is it OK for my kid to hear all the swear words I can think off when playing a game...I don't use them on a regular basis, he will hear them irregularly at school ...but is it OK in a game ?
Is it OK for my kid to see gratuitous violence when playing ? I don't think so.....but just my thoughts.
Our children grow up too quickly these days anyway. My 11 year old won't be getting CoD or GTA any time soon. It's not that I think he'll go AWOL as soon as he plays...I just think the content is inappropriate for an 11 year old. He'll be old enough soon enough.
We're also getting the "but all my friends play"....tough....I'm your parent....therefore I get to decide what's right and wrong while your 11. He won't suffer by not playing them...he "may" have a "poor" reaction if he does.
No brainer for me...wait until your a teenager at least.
Edited by Steve Campbell on Saturday 27th December 10:17
MonkeyBusiness said:
I let my 4 year old son play Red Dead Redemption. Trotting around on a horse from town to town, catching the train, etc.
However he soon learnt the game and worked out how to shot someone in the head so he is now banned.
Saying that, he is outside now in his cowboy outfit pretending to shoot the neighbours. You know....doing stuff boys do when they are little.
Yeah, but buy him a real Smith and Wesson and see what happens.However he soon learnt the game and worked out how to shot someone in the head so he is now banned.
Saying that, he is outside now in his cowboy outfit pretending to shoot the neighbours. You know....doing stuff boys do when they are little.
I never had any restrictions on what games I played from as soon as I had my own Sega Megadrive aged 4, I had Mortal Kombat and Splatterhouse from about age 6. I played the first GTA as soon as it came out, and I turned out fine. I never had any restrictions on films I could watch either, and come to think of it, neither did my mates. I suppose this "think of the children" parenting is a new thing, perhaps brought about by the stories of murders who happen to play computer games, or listen to Marilyn Manson, it's a manifestation of our society's increasing reliance on the nanny state, wrapping children in cotton wool and not trusting them to have any sort of decision making capability, or responsibility.
If my parents had been heavy handed, I would have missed out on these amazing gaming experiences, in particular things like Manhunt, which was an amazing game. On the other hand, the kids at school who were not allowed to play the games and watch the films that the other lads were allowed were picked on.
If my parents had been heavy handed, I would have missed out on these amazing gaming experiences, in particular things like Manhunt, which was an amazing game. On the other hand, the kids at school who were not allowed to play the games and watch the films that the other lads were allowed were picked on.
Mastodon2 said:
the kids at school who were not allowed to play the games and watch the films that the other lads were allowed were picked on.
Lete get this straight, the kids who watched/played violent games bullied those that didn't? What might this tell is about age appropriate media callmedave said:
My 7 year old son got halo from his mum for Christmas, I don't mind him playing a few games, mine craft on the Xbox and Pokemon etc on his DS, but I'm not sure halo is suitable for him. I know he plays COD at his mums also. I'm not ok with this, but am I overeating? Will shooting virtual people affect him? He has a good grasp on what is real and what isn't real (films etc)
Do you let your kids play age rated games? Opinions please guys.
You're concerns are far from unique!Do you let your kids play age rated games? Opinions please guys.
My 13 year old son had 2 18 certificate games given to him for Christmas.... Call of Duty and another similar. The only one we forbid is Grand Theft Auto.
I think Halo is fine for 7, but not COD.
tangerine_sedge said:
Lete get this straight, the kids who watched/played violent games bullied those that didn't? What might this tell is about age appropriate media
Kids will bully other kids over anything. It may come as a surprise to know that bullying predates video game entertainment. Whether it's having ginger hair, the wrong trainers, or mummy not letting precious little Tarquin play GTA is irrelevant, kids will find some reason to bully one another.Thanks guys, I feel reassured. He does know right from wrong, he is a happy kid, goes to football at the weekends and is doing well in school etc. he is aware of swear words and knows not to use them, he will actually tell me off if I accidently swear infront of him! I agree shooting aliens with a laser is better than people with a gun.
I will speak with his mother about a limit on games.
Thanks guys.
I will speak with his mother about a limit on games.
Thanks guys.
As said before, a lot of games are really realistic these days but most are probably ok. Call of duty etc are not too gruesome apart from a bit of blood.
Really really don't let him near gta5 though. It's very very adult.
At one point you have to torture a bloke with pliers, knives etc. then I believe you burn them alive.... I'm 28 and felt wrong 'playing' that part.
Really really don't let him near gta5 though. It's very very adult.
At one point you have to torture a bloke with pliers, knives etc. then I believe you burn them alive.... I'm 28 and felt wrong 'playing' that part.
Edited by vescaegg on Saturday 27th December 11:48
Halo will be fine, it's fundamentally aimed at teenagers, not adults.
Pretty much the only current games I wouldn't let someone under the age of around 15 play would probably be current Horror, unless they love the genre, and GTA V. First Person really does push that game over the edge to something I can understand why kids shouldn't play. It's brilliant though.
There's no real evidence that any child is effected by media they see, without an already underlying issue. Obviously within reason but it's just over worrying to think they're going to feel that killing things is okay due to doing it in a video game.
Pretty much the only current games I wouldn't let someone under the age of around 15 play would probably be current Horror, unless they love the genre, and GTA V. First Person really does push that game over the edge to something I can understand why kids shouldn't play. It's brilliant though.
There's no real evidence that any child is effected by media they see, without an already underlying issue. Obviously within reason but it's just over worrying to think they're going to feel that killing things is okay due to doing it in a video game.
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