Young children watching adults play games

[Lara2]

I'm prepared to be flamed but this is something that really gets to me. I teach Reception and on a regular basis over the last few years, most noticeably 3 times this week with 3 different children, I have found myself saying "If you're too little to play the game, you're too little to watch". These are 4 year olds who watch their parents play things like Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto etc. What the hell goes through parents' heads? These games have ratings for a reason - would they let them watch an 18 rated movie ( no, don't answer that!)? It does frustrate and upset me that I often have to pick up the pieces at work in the form of inappropriate play/behaviour or distressed children. I do mention it to parents but usually get brushed off with a casual comment and a look that clearly says that I should be minding my own business! But if I don't say anything, who will? I am very careful how I approach the subject, and certainly do it professionally and non-judgementally. AIBU?

[Sirzy]

Yanbu, those games aren't suitable viewing for young children

[thebody]

It's sad and the parents need to grow up. Yrnbu..

[GrowSomeCress]

YANBU

[mademred]

No yanbu, my dh plays these games only when ds,7, is in bed or at school.they are not suitable for kids or the fainthearted for that matter, lol like me.but its a sad world we live in because some parents don't care wat their kids see or infact play on the computer.

[AThingInYourLife]

OMG I was thinking this would be about children having to watch their parents play Scrabble instead of everyone playing ludo together :o

It never occurred to me that anyone would play adult video games with children around.

[YorkshireDeb]

YANBU. I once heard a child mental health professional tell a parent that if she would not let her son watch a porn film (which I think the vast majority if parents would agree is wrong and/or damaging) then why would she think it's ok for him to watch other things that are deemed only appropriate for adults. They have no idea what damage they are doing to their dcs developing minds. X

[McNewPants2013]

Power rangers, Ben 10, transformers and alot if the tv programmes my DC watches has violence in them. Even though I don't play black ops 2 when DC are awake ( that is ME time) I really don't know what the difference is

[diddl]

I agree they shouldn´t be watching.

But it sounds as if you are giving the children the fault!

I´d be very pissed off with you speaking to my child like that.

It´s hardly as if it´s within their control, is it?

[catgirl1976]

Does Ben 10 shag and then beat up prostitutes?

Because that might be one difference.......

[flattyre]

Seeing no difference in the 'violence' in cartoons like Ben 10 to Black Ops is extraordinarily naive!

[fuzzpig]

YANBU, my neighbour plays those sorts of games (incredibly fucking LOUDLY until 3am ) and I know his DS has been allowed to play them for a few years (he's 9). He's a sweet enough boy but I don't let my 5yo to go to their house anymore because he just plays COD/AC etc while DD sits there watching - they can play out or he can come here and play age appropriate wii games but I am not having my DD watch those games.

Diddl is right though, you can't expect the DCs to actually refuse to watch them if their parents allow it :(

[JCDenton]

As someone who has played multiple Grand Theft Auto and Assassins Creed games, YADNBU! As you rightly point out, would they let their kids watch films and TV shows in the same vein like Scarface or Game of Thrones?

Thinking that video games are for children and letting them play because of that is stupid enough but to actually know the content of them and still let kids watch boggles my mind.

[McNewPants2013]

I have stopped my son from watching these cartoons, as it was encouraging violence when he was playing power rangers and Ben 10 in the play ground.

[oopslateagain]

YANBU. I complained in a bowling alley because they had a video game (don't remember what it was called but it had lifelike cartoons of people having their heads blown off with guns ) placed so you could easily see the screen from the front desk area. While waiting to be served, with a 6yo DD next to me, I was sort of mindlessly watching the 'action' on the screen until it suddenly occurred to me that DD could see it too. She was actually more interested in the 'claw-grab' machine next to it, but it worried me enough to speak to the manager. The machine was turned sideways the next day.

[Lara2]

diddl, I certainly wasn't stroppy or cross when I spoke to the children, it was in a chatty sort of way. We were doing some drawing together, all very relaxed. Part of my point is that if the parents don't guide the children in this area, then someone should put that little nugget of what's ok or not in their heads. After all we talk about healthy eating etc.

[Erimentha]

YANBU like you said. Age ratings are there for a reason.

[manicbmc]

The worst incidence I came across of this kind of thing was the kid of a very 'right-on', organic mung bean sort of parent who let her 4 year old (and his 10 year old brother) watch The Exorcist.

The poor kid came to nursery quite distressed about it.

Some people are just idiots.

[diddl]

But it´s the phrase itself "if you´re too young..."

That´s what you would usually say to someone who has asked to do something & it´s a way of telling them no.

It just doesn´t really make sense to me in this context-unless they have asked your opinion on it?

[MysteriousHamster]

There's a massive difference in violence between kids TV and a realistic video game that is rated 18...

A game that's rated 18 is no different to a film that's rated 18 - in fact it's worse as they're interactive. I don't know why some parents don't understand that.

I say that as someone who plays many games myself and would certainly not do so infront of my son.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Interesting 'parenting' choice to ignore your child and play video games instead of engaging with them anyway.

[fuzzpig]

The Exorcist?!? Holy crap.

I wasn't really censored as a child, allowed to stay up late with whatever my parents were watching etc. Certainly remember some less than savoury images :( but I'd like to think even they would draw the line at something like that (I watched it age 12 - me and my friends were all allowed horror movie sleepovers and watched loads of stuff which I certainly wouldn't let mine watch at that age)

I saw it the other day for the first time in years, had totally forgotten the scene with the word 'cocksucker' in it

[WhichIsBest]

I have been surprised a couple of times when visiting friends of my 4 year old and the other parent switched on MTV for the children to have a dance to. I think music videos are awful! Sexist, too sexual, blah blah blah.
But other people just don't see things that way I suppose. Everyone has a different idea about what is acceptable.

I don't have the TV on for me if DD is in the room at all actually. Is that weird?

[Erimentha]

fuzzpig you just back loads of wonderful memories of my friends and mine horror movie sleepovers at the same age [smie]

[fuzzpig]

Eri, we just bought a load of horror DVDs actually (thanks to HMV clearance) :o exorcist, omen, shining, Halloween etc.

It's crazy to think we all used to laugh at the horror movies - I am much more scareable now as an adult!