18 cert video games.

[tintin1]

I would like to canvas opinions about this subject . I have a 10 yr old boy who would dearly love to be playing these sorts of games as all his friends do. I have said no as I dont believe it is good for him or the right kind of stuff for a 10 year old to be doing.
It would seem that he is the only one in his group who is not allowed to play these games and this is causing him problems , i.e people dont want to play at our house as his mates know I wont allow these games into my home. I feel quite strongly about this issue and am pretty certain that he will not be allowed to play these but am now feeling bad that I am possibly making life hard for him among his peers ? Am I being unreasonable ?

[scurryfunge]

10 is too young in my opinion for these games though I relaxed when DS was 14/15 and allowed them.

[SenoritaViva]

Stick to your guns, I think it is atrocious that all his friends are playing 18 cert. games.

[jeee]

Some 10 year olds do play 18 games - but all children claim that they're the only child in the class who isn't allowed to play them/watch the SAW movies/have their ears pierced. I have absolutely banned them for my DS (9) - though I may well relax the ruling when he hits his teens.

You certainly won't be the only mother evil enough to prohibit them.

[cantspel]

what game does he want to play?

[AdamJSusan]

which game? all kids say they are the only one not to have the latest game,trainers,console...

[SenoritaViva]

Hell, sorry about the unintentional pun

[tintin1]

He would mainly like to be playing all the murder death kill ones ! Like the call of duty series and another especially gross one asasins creed . I know all kids will say they are the only one not to be playing / watching this stuff but in our case especially among his close circle of friends he is defo the only one not allowed .

[cantspel]

I do know many 10 year olds who play COD but i would say they are still too young for it. They are normal 10 year olds so i dont buy into it turns them into violent thugs but i still would say to young.
My teens do play cod and halo and they dont have a violent bone between them.
Make him wait until at least 13

[tintin1]

I will think about it again as he reaches early teens but it just annoys me that it is affecting his social life as his friends social lives revolve around playing these games. I do not believe they make kids into monsters but I do believe it changes their behaviour and not for the better. I am friends with all his friends mums who just think I am a bit bonkers and dont see the problem. It is far harder doing the no thing than just saying yes go ahead.

[emptyshell]

Think back to when you were a kid...

"But everyone else has Nike trainersssss..."

"But everyone else has their ears pieced...."

"But everyone else's house has a video recorder...."

"Everyone else in my class is allowed to eat Pot Noodles, I'm a deprived child because you won't let me have one" (yes I did actually come out with this one)

My mother's reply was always "I'm not everyone else's mother."

Yes there are kids out there playing them, no it's not the entire class (despite what you're being told on the kid grapevine) and since I never became a social outcast for not having tasted the fake meat soya goodness that was a dehytrated noodle snack - I think he'd come into adulthood unscathed by the denial to be honest. Like Euphemia says - lots of the kids that are somewhat more "interesting" to handle in school are usually the ones playing shit like Grand Theft Auto (I personally don't mind shooty games, but GTA I find utterly abhorrent... I have two types of games banned in this house for the hubby - GTA and fucking Football Manager ones - because of the "I'll just win the Premiership and then I'll do the washing up darling" factor)

[valiumredhead]

YANBU! I too have a 10 year old who thinks he is the only one in his year who isn't allowed to play on them - turns out he's not, there ARE a shocking number of kids who do play on them but there are an awful lot who don't.

A compromise for us instead of COD was Quantum of Solice which seemed to satisfy his need to tell his peers he has played on a FPS game. Funnily enough he only played on it for about a week and now isn't that bothered.

As for the parents who let their 10 year olds play on Grand Theft Auto - yes I WILL judge you AND I will judge your parenting choices! Harumphhhhhh!

[squeakytoy]

You wont be able to stop him playing it if he is round at a friends house, but you can say you will not allow him to play it or have it at home.

Playing these games is not going to make him steal a car, or use a real gun, in real life, anymore than the vast majority of children who have played pretend cops and robbers go on to become the next Ronnie Biggs.

[duchesse]

These games are rated 18 for the same reasons a film would be rated 18- mostly extreme violence. If you wouldn't let your child watch an 18 film, then they should not be playing 18 rated games. In my view allowing them to access either is child neglect. Some (many) parents are so stupid about these games and think their child is in some way gifted for being able to play games that are 18-rated. Morons.

[AdamJSusan]

Hmm Assassin's Creed is a tricky one. There is no sex in it, and it actually quite educational, running around ancient cities and monuments brilliantly re-created. The violence is very 'fantasy'unlike popping people in the head with a gun. It explores Leonardo da Vinci's inventions, Papal politics and is rated a 15.

It is one of the few games I like to watch over their shoulder as I get a tour of ancient Rome or Venice.

[valiumredhead]

You wont be able to stop him playing it if he is round at a friends house, but you can say you will not allow him to play it or have it at home

I have had to let parents know that I don;t want my ds playing on 18 games whne he comes over to play - he is TEN fgs which is far too young. When did it suddenly be ok to be letting such young kids play these games? Shocking imo.

I had to go along the route of " I don't know if x plays on COD/GTA but would you mind making sure ds doesn't while he's with you as his behaviour is appalling afterwards" rather than " I cannot believe you let your child play on those games don't you dare let my precious boy anywhere near them!"

One friend of mine swore blind that her boy wasn't affected by playing GTA and yet my ds was coming home asking what 'whores' meant and 'mutherfucker' as they were discussing it on the playground. Nice.

[squeakytoy]

The thing is though, these kids have older siblings who are also just as likely to be playing it.

You cant shield them from these games until they are 18, but you can make sure they know that the language used in them is unacceptable in real life.

We all knew what swearing was without any sort of games console when we were that age.

[tintin1]

Not sure about the Assassins Creed thing its still getting reward for negative behavoiur. Its still get more points for more killing ! I dont know its difficult and I am realistic I know he is exposed to this shite whether I allow it or not , for me its about limiting the exposure .

[MrsBethel]

Does he like football? Some of those video games are really good.

[seeker]

My ds is 10 and he's not allowed to play these games either. He does have FIFA 11, thoguh, and all his friends want to play that when they come round.

I'm even tougher, though - they are only allowed an hour on the computer/playsatation/whatever and then have to go outside to play. After token moaning they go - and have a fab time/

Stick to your guns - but be prepared to offer some alternatives.

[TheLadyEvenstar]

I have a 12 almost 13yr old son, a 10yr old nephew, 7yr old nephew and 3yr old son.

12yr old - age appropriate games and films
10yr old - 18 games and films
7yr old - 18 games and films
3yr old - age appropriate games and films.

Now my sister and I were brought up the same way by the same parents and have very different views on parenting.

For me they are 18's for a reason and until my children are the correct age they won't be watching or playing them.

[cantspel]

Fifa is a 3 so suitable for anyone

[DoMeDon]

YANBU - it's your job to make his life hard sometimes. Some people cannot be bothered to parent - don't be one of them. There are ratings for a reason.

[valiumredhead]

Completely agree with DoMeDon!