What should I do

[Mrsh1980]

My son's 5 and I'm separated from his dad. My son sleeps over every weekend for 2 nights. His dads a walk over but son has a great time, happy and loves his dad like crazy.

However, his dad has been letting him play games and watch horror films with 18 rating - Jason, Walking Dead. I told him to stop doing this a few weeks ago, but it's transpired hes been watching them again after he came home yesterday and used a swear word from one of these films.

I've been reading up on the affects of children watching horror films and I'm obviously concerned and contemplating contacting social services for advice. Maybe this would be an over rereaction(?) But I honestly think his dad can be genuinely a bit stupid at times. I've warned him if he keeps letting him watch this stuff I'll stop him sleeping over - I'd never stop my son seeing his dad. I recieved a threat back along the lines of 'if you do that what happens next is on you, so I sent him an article about it and he later apologised but I'm not 100% I can trust him.

My dad passed away a few months ago and my son's been having some anxiety about death. I put this down to my dad passing away but now I'm wondering if these films are playing a part in this.

What should I do, am I over reacting? I'm just worried about my son.

I think that there is enough evidence to support it’s a huge risk to allow children to watch inappropriate content. Their brains are not mature enough to process it properly in a balanced sensible way. In some cases it’s reported that children can become desensitised to violent, gorry things.

Some young kids can be exposed to aggressive violent computer games, and be the most gentile ever. Some kids may never be permitted in such games or videos but be aggressive little devils.

My now adult boys were allowed certain games and were allowed to watch movies some older movies. Not rape, murder, racism, torture, sex, drugs, kidnapping ( anything real).
Personally I wouldn’t take the risk. The Jamie Bulger murderers had been exposed to a lot of violent material etc I’m sure this wasn’t the only factor in their MH issues but it was certainly contributory.

As a mum I’d encourage things they are more likely to have in common with their peers, relatable things. If your son starts to tell his friends he watches kill Bill for example, the friends go home tell parents ‘ my friend ::::: is allowed to watch it’ your son may become frowned upon as well as his parents.