to think SIL was wrong to buy game for nephew?

[geekymummy]

The game is The Simpsons, my nephew is 5, the packaging says suitable for age 12+... she says she'll keep an eye on it whilst he plays.

I used to work in a game shop, I used to come across so many parents buying games for their kids that were unsuitable. It irked me no end, and this was before I became a mum

I know the game probably won't have blood and gore, but my point is about what I think is a lax attitude about these things...

I agree with you.

yup me too

I agree the age thing is there for a reason, Im always shocked by the number of people that buy those really violent shoting games, stalking etc games that clearly state 18 plus for their kids. Why not give them a beer and cigarette to enoy while they are playing them??

My ds's friend has Grand Theft Auto. He's 6.

I did casually mention, "er, the box says for age 12+", but I know that with SIL I would have heard a rant about how much I'm interfering, "what do I know, your DD is still a baby" etc

I'd rather he read more books, but I digress...

GTA at age 6??!!

For crying out loud!

I agree too. Its totally unnecessary, a five year old can get far more out of something more suited to his age.

But then it is up to your SIL...

stripey - I know, so I let it drop.

I know some of my parenting practices drives her round the bend!

I agree with you, there are plenty of games suitable for a five year old.

Seeker am at Grand Theft Auto for a six year old! it is a horrible game.

I agree with you. Ds (just turned 8, Y4) has a friend who has just turned 9 (also Y4) and this friend is allowed to play games on the Playstation for age 16!! It is violent, full of blood and gore and I really don't like ds playing them. Easily controlled when they come here to play, not so easy when they are at said friend's house.

Seeker, when ds was 4 and in reception he was invited to tea by a classmate. When he came home I asked him what they had been playing. Raffedotto was the reply. It took me a while to work out the answer was Grand Theft Auto and I was horrified! (This boy had two much older siblings and I assumed GTA was their game, but how did the 4yo get hold of it??)

Her child? Her problem.

Some people don't have a clue.

I don't let ds go home with this friend now - I keep on making complicated excuses and having the friend round to us - where he is more than happy to play FIFA07 on the Playstation and Club Penguin on the computer.

There's a huge difference between a game with an PEGI rating 0f 12+ and a game with an official BBFC 15 or 18 rating. There's no way I'd let my DCs watch a rated film or play a rated game, but loads of the games they have, have a PEGI rating of 12+ - IMO the industry is very very over cautious with it's ratings. Just looking at one now, Shadow the Hedgehog is rated 12+ because of violence and bad language There's no blood, gore or swearing, Shadow zaps the bad guys (and shoots around the screen at 3 zillion miles an hour )

If your SIL lets her DS watch the Simpsons, I can't see the problem with playing the game tbh. The PEGI ratings are guidelines not legal strictures. Now, if you'd said that she'd been buying him Hitman, or GTA Vice City...........

Someone I know let her 11yo son watch 18 films in his room, and bought 18 games for her 4 and 5 yos to play. I thought she was bonkers.

She thought I was bonkers for restricting dd's tv watching. Apparently 'they need to be able to deal with it'

Personally, I wouldn't buy any computer/PS/whatever games for a 5 yo. DD is 4 and is quite happy with dolls, books, colouring, cutting and sticking, garden etc. I just dont see the need to encourage her to stare at a screen. But I know I am in a minority there and that everyone has their own opinions.

Serenity, I don't agree that it is very very over cautious to recommend that a game with a character that "zaps" other characters (I presume the zapping kills or destroys them?), is limited to the over 12s. It really isn't a good idea to expose children to a lot of cartoon violence like this. They have a limited understanding of what is real and what is not real, and the very casual, fantasy element of many 'baddies' being destroyed, with no hint of the consequences of what it actually means for someone to be killed or hurt, deadens children to violence IMO. I don't understand why anyone would want their 5 year old to be playing a game where they zap baddies, when they would be just as happy playing a non-violent pc game, or even just playing with toys...

ok different view point...my DD age 6 loves her PS2 (well dads really) and her nintendo DS...but the 3+ games are much too easy and broing for her and there are not a lot of 7+ which only leaves the 12+ ...I do choose carefuly so no blood guts swearing etc(no GTA ) but she doe sin fact have the Simpsons game for the PS2 and it seems ok to me (I do supervise) the odd word (but not terrible) she knows are bad words anyway and we just have a giggle at naughty Bart....depends on the parent but as in everything there is not just a blank wrong and right!

Franny, obviously I don't agree with you (I'd be a bit of a freak if I deliberately exposed my DCs to something I thought was going to harm them ) but the world would be boring if we all agreed. Different people have different tolerances I suppose. Obviously I only have the experience of my own DCs who, despite playing games where baddies are dispatched on a regular basis, are the least aggressive children I know.
I really don't know what to say about the whole 'cartoon violence' thing, I'm just thinking of all the things I'd have to ban in the house for the Dcs not to be exposed - Tom and Jerry, the Pantomime we went to last christmas, pretty much everything on Jetix or CN!

What is Jetix or CN? [out of touch emoticon]

I do agree about the 'zapping' games being kept for much older kids. I am aware it sounds a bit po-faced and clearly the games you mention, serenity, are not 'overtly' violent as in blood and guts. But I do agree that a child younger than 12 sitting in front of a screen and 'zapping' things is sad. If they must do these games, surely for the formative years games which concentrate on creativity or developing strategic thinking, or working to 'build' things, are far far better.

for that reason I think the certificates are there for a reason and would do well to be noted.

Before becoming a SAHM, I managed a games shop.

The worst part of my day was trying to combat the ignorant parents buying unsuitable games for their children. Most thought that the PEGI ratings were for difficulty and would say "oh he's been playing games for ages, he'll be able to do it" or worse "it's just a game". What a lot didn't seem to realise was that the BBFC rated games are the equivalent ratings to films.

People would treat me like an idiot for either suggesting that games should be monitored, or not given, or daring to suggest that it might be the wrong one. The amount of parents buying 18 rated games for children as young as 5 was shocking.

The worst thing is that every time a new "shock" game comes out, there is a news report that goes on and on about shopkeepers selling games to underage children when I believe that the issue is unaware parents buying for their children because they have simply failed to make themselves aware or, sadly, because this is the game that keeps their child quiet and it is too much hassle to get involved in choosing a game with their child.

The reality is that a lot of parents say that they will watch whilst the child plays, however I doubt how often this happens. TBH, I would agree with Serenity that they do err on the side of caution with regard to the PEGI ratings but it should be your job as a parent to know your child and make that decision according to your childs maturity and experience. Conversely though, I would say that a PEGI 12 rating for a 5 year old is too old a game.

I dont think many parents watch their kids playing games tbh. If you've got the time to sit and supervise them playing a game, then why not use it to do something far more useful like read, draw, cook fairy cakes?

I'm far from being any kind of supermum and dd does sit in front of the tv every now and then if I need the space to get on with something, but sitting staring at a screen is not really a constructive way to spend time.

Jetix and Cartoon Network are childrens channels - mainly cartoons, some better than others.

Honoria - having baddies to 'zap' does not preclude a game having strategic elements, or developing the use of logic or having to use your brain. Like most things this isn't a black or white situation. DSs love role playing games, lots of puzzles, lots of figuring things out, but also battles and fighting.

LLPJ - I do agree with you, I should actually say that I doubt I would have bought The Simpson game for DS1 when he was 5 but I still don't think it was terrible thing to do.

I agree with you but as others have said, it's her child and up to her.

My sister took her DS to see the latest Harry Potter which I believe was a 12A - he was 3 (not quite sure how it all works with certificates these days but apparently is was OK as she was with him )

I think she's crazy and her DS is already a bit off the wall anyway but.....her child - her decision

I think I am a bit of a boring mum on this one. My children have NEVER watched a film or played a game that they are not "old" enough for according to the ratings. My dd was 10 before I let her go to a 12a film, and she has only seen 1 or 2 12s in the last few months, She is 12 in December. I think the ratings are there for a reason, and, anyway, if they see 12As when they are 5 and 12s when they are 7, what on earth are they going to watch when they are 14?

Am I alone? My children certainly think I am!

My sis buys 18 games for my nephew (9) which I hate as then my DS (6) wants to play them. Thankfully she knows I disagree so they are not allowed play them when my DS is there.

Having said that I have bought a couple of 12 games for DS - Star Wars Battlefront as he was desperate for it but he actually doesn't really like it and Pirates of the Carribbean for Xmas.