Age-appropriate console games and younger siblings

[ILoveAFullFridge]

Dc1 has a friend over, both are 12. I overhear them debating whether to ask my permission and encourage them to do so: they want to play a 12-rated game in our living room.

My problem is that dc2 is 10 and dc3 is 6, they are already doing something in the living room and will definitely watch the 12 game.

So what do I say? I'm not happy with the answer I gave them (that it wd be better to play it at the friend's house) because I think I've sent the message that dc1 should do things outside the house that I would not permit at home. Or am I over-thinking it?

BTW dc1 has mild Aspergers, so can take things very literally and jumps to some unintended conclusions.

I would probably be ok with the game being pages depending on exactly what the reason for the 12 rating was.

But if you're not happy with the game being played and presuming the reason to play it at the friends house is lack of smaller siblings then I don't see that there's anything wrong with what you've said.

So your DS is limited because of his siblings?
What are they doing in the living room that they will stop doing and watch the game instead? Could they move into a different room?
It is tough being the eldest, and as the parent of a child with AS, I'd be wanting to encourage friendships as much as possible.
Will you let them go to the friend's house for all age-appropriate things that are not OK for your 6 year old? What if the friendship founders because it's all one way?
I'd be finding other things for the younger ones to do, or at least the 6 year old, in order to facilitate my oldest having friends and activities he can share in his home.

The younger two were already on the computer together, and I didn't see why I should turf them off.

In the end the older two decided to go swimming instead, and then to the friends house.

There, already, they are getting freedoms that the 6yo does not get, rather than being restricted by the 6yo.

Yes, it is difficult being the eldest.

Fair enough that if the younger ones were already using the PC, we have a 14" TV and a Wii that are easy to move round the house.
FWIW, there's 4 years between my two, and DS is the younger. I spent a bit of time juggling what was fair between him and his older sister.
You would have permitted the game at home if the younger ones hadn't been in the room, so he should see that is the restriction and that it was reasonable.

I have this problem, teenager with 5yo sibling. Urk.