Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Squid games and 10/11 year olds

149 replies

Blendedperfectly25 · 02/02/2025 07:49

My DD is year 6, she comes home every day talking about squid games because her whole class are obsessed.

she then asked if she could watch it, I had never watched it so I put on episode 1 last night just for me to watch to see if it was suitable.

I am shocked at how many 10 year olds are watching this ? I know today I will have the debate with daughter who claim life is so unfair and she won’t fit in if she doesn’t watch it.

anyone else let their 10 year olds watch it ?

OP posts:
Oddsocksanduglyshoes · 02/02/2025 07:49

no not mine

Eenameenadeeka · 02/02/2025 07:51

I think some parents must not be supervising what their children are watching at all, because some of the shows my children mention others are watching are so inappropriate. Then they talk about it to their friends and the parents just don't bother to check.

MumonabikeE5 · 02/02/2025 07:53

Stand fast in your opinion that this is unsuitable.

do not let the poor parenting decisions of others adjust your opinion.

my kids go to an inner city state primary school and they are not talking about squid games.

Original poster
Blendedperfectly25 · 02/02/2025 07:54

Eenameenadeeka · 02/02/2025 07:51

I think some parents must not be supervising what their children are watching at all, because some of the shows my children mention others are watching are so inappropriate. Then they talk about it to their friends and the parents just don't bother to check.

well this is what confused me to 🤣🤣 my daughter played sims with me the other night ( was with her the whole time and she just wanders around does the house up never baby making etc ) and she told her best friend ( mum is my friend to )
anyway friend messaged me to ask me not to let her talk about sims as she is not allowed I was like that’s okay but then she lets her watch squid games ? 🤣

OP posts:
Tisfortired · 02/02/2025 07:54

Same here OP, my DS is 11 and in year 6, he and his friends are obsessed with Squid Games - he has never watched it but tells me ‘all’ of his friends have. I am not sure how true that is but me and DH have watched both series and it’s 100% entirely inappropriate for children. Mine would have nightmares if we let him watch it.

Zanatdy · 02/02/2025 07:54

No, year 6 is way too young. No doubt it’s a discussion you’ll have many times over the teen years that so and so are allowed to do X,Y,Z. Stand firm as it’s really not suitable for a 10yr old

SmileEachDay · 02/02/2025 07:55

Watch Beast Games with her instead. It’s a similar concept but without the death.

Zanatdy · 02/02/2025 07:56

SmileEachDay · 02/02/2025 07:55

Watch Beast Games with her instead. It’s a similar concept but without the death.

Yes second this, much more family friendly

Original poster
Blendedperfectly25 · 02/02/2025 07:56

Zanatdy · 02/02/2025 07:56

Yes second this, much more family friendly

Show quote history

Ah will have a look at this ! Thank you

OP posts:
DisappearingGirl · 02/02/2025 07:57

Yes same here, DD is 10 and in Y6, several of her friends have watched Squid Games. They are nice caring families too! DH has watched it and thinks definitely not suitable.

NoWordForFluffy · 02/02/2025 07:58

My DD is 11 and Y7. We were generally chatting and she said that kids at school were talking about Season 2 of Squid Games, but she didn't know there had been a S1. I told her it's because she's not old enough to watch it, so didn't need to know about it. Then we briefly discussed why it was unsuitable and moved on.

God knows why parents are letting kids watch it!

Nectarines · 02/02/2025 07:58

I overheard my eleven year old telling cousins that she’s watched squid games. She hasn’t. She only watches TV in shared areas and all parental controls are in place.

I think a lot of kids lie about what they’ve watched to fit in. Which in turn makes it seem everyone is watching it!

WonderingWanda · 02/02/2025 07:58

I am constantly astonished at what my students tell me they are allowed to watch /play on xbox. It's like some parents have given up parenting because they cannot possibly ever say no. I would imagine almost all of us had something our parents said no to that all our friends were allowed to do and we felt hugely upset at the time but we all survived, I think it's character building, learning that the thing we want isn't always the best thing for us.

For me I remember at infant school being made to go to bed at 7pm on summer nights while friends played out in the street. I think I must have been about 5 or 6 and I reflect now and agree it was too late on a school night to be playing out. Also, in juniors not being allow to watch Nightmare on Elm Street.....when I was in my 20's I did watch a bit of it but despite the laughability of it I actually hate horror and jump scares and at primary age couldn't even watch Scooby Do without hiding so again my dm was absolutely correct. As a teenager it was all about being allowed out, into pubs, to stay up and watch twin peaks etc.

napody · 02/02/2025 07:59

Blendedperfectly25 · 02/02/2025 07:54

well this is what confused me to 🤣🤣 my daughter played sims with me the other night ( was with her the whole time and she just wanders around does the house up never baby making etc ) and she told her best friend ( mum is my friend to )
anyway friend messaged me to ask me not to let her talk about sims as she is not allowed I was like that’s okay but then she lets her watch squid games ? 🤣

Show quote history

When squid games first came out some children in my year 3 class were allowed to watch it! I actually found it really depressing and a sign of how the pandemic had broken those families- it's like people have given up even trying to be responsible for their children and what they're exposed to.

It's so so so far from ok for primary age children. If it was a film it'd be an 18.

distinctpossibility · 02/02/2025 08:03

Some of the children talking about it will absolutely not have watched it. My son watches those videos of other children playing video games (WHYYY) and it's occasionally mentioned. It's sort of a cultural movement, a bit like Friends was, so they might just be referencing aspects of it.

We've let our 13 year old watch it over the last fortnight. We didn't allow her to watch it on her own, she had to be with us and watch an episode at a time. We won't allow her to watch Stranger Things as she'd find that too upsetting and disturbing. It does depend somewhat on the particular child and the context, but 11 year olds will nearly all be too immature to watch it. It's a waste, too, as they won't grasp some of the more subtle/ pervasive themes.

lljkk · 02/02/2025 08:08

Series 1... I felt uncomfortable watching it with nearly 16yo DS... the sex scene is one of the least erotic sex scenes I've ever seen, at least.

I can't comment on Series 2.

HPandthelastwish · 02/02/2025 08:11

Children lie though, their older siblings might have watched it and retold it to them or even played the games with them.

There is a gameshow version without the death DD and I watched that.

I'm not into anything graphic so DD watched it alone recently but she's 15, she certainly didn't watch it when it first came out.

RedRiverShore5 · 02/02/2025 08:13

I watched the first one and it seemed to be aimed at the 15 - 20 year old age group, I believe it's a 15 rating, I haven't bothered to watch the second one.

Forgot to add, I would have probably allowed DS to watch it from 14 though

wipeywipe · 02/02/2025 08:14

There are games based on the same "what's the time Mr Wolf" premise so dc might not actually be watching the real thing.

wipeywipe · 02/02/2025 08:15

Mine know what it is but have never watched it.

wipeywipe · 02/02/2025 08:17

My son watches those videos of other children playing video games (WHYYY) and it's occasionally mentioned.

One of mine sometimes does this & I'm like why would you choose to watch this shite!

Shutupyoutart · 02/02/2025 08:18

i bet half of them haven't watched it at all, there's a huge hype over it and there's lots of talk about squid games on YouTube videos ect even one of the adverts on TV. my dd10 came home from school asking to watch it, I've seen season 1 &2 so said absolutely not, however I did let her watch squid game challenge which is games/challenges played by real contestants, no sex or violence.

RareMaker · 02/02/2025 08:19

No, haven't let year 7 Dd but she insists she is the only one.

BlueSilverCats · 02/02/2025 08:19

A lot of parents do indeed let their kids watch it and other inappropriate movies/tv shows.

However, when something is a big fad, popular and everywhere , even without watching kids can become familiar with a lot of the elements of the show. Especially if they have social media, watch YouTube, play Roblox etc. which are deemed more acceptable. And of course, word of mouth in the play ground.

Superhansrantowindsor · 02/02/2025 08:21

Not appropriate but not surprised. I have had year 7’s talking about Game of Thrones.