Grand Theft Auto in the playground

[loopydoo]

Am I being a bit prudish or does anybody else think that 8 year olds playing copy cat Grand theft Auto in the playground is slightly worrying?

I have emailed the school to mention it but tbh, it's more of a safeguarding thing really - children that age should defo not have access to GTA at home.

Would it concern you if your 8 yr old came home and declard they were playing this in the playground?

I played cops and robbers at that age, complete with shootouts, car thefts and some excessively gruesome (imaginary) murders. In my day it was based on 'The Bill'.

As long as they aren't playing at picking up hookers, I can't imagine it being much different.

I'd be really concerned.
Re-enacting scenes, even if they don't include stripper or prostitute scenes, does sound like some children are actually seeing the game played, which is completely inappropriate compared to cowboys and Indians hat I grew up with in the 70's.
I think you've done the right thing emailing the school.

We played wars,with pretend Tommy guns and bombs.

Cowboys and Indians. Complete with pretend scalping and arrows in your back.

Is it really much different?

Yes usualsuspect, I think in a way it is different.

Imagine if they were playing out porn scenes; I know for a fact that preschools/schools/in fact all carers, would report that under the concern that the children were watching inappropriate material at home.

I understand that all kids play at guns/wars/army etc however, I was concerned that 8 yr olds obviously know the content of GTA and DS said his friend asked him if he wanted to play it on the PS3 at his house. DS said he wasn't allowed.

In March this year, a London school banned any playground involving imaginary weapons. Whilst this might seem like a tad too far, look at gun and knife crime in UK cities !