Are zombie games ok for five year olds to play in the school playground?

[Phoenix07]

Just wondering, is it usual for five year olds to come home from school asking what zombies are, and if zombies eat brains?

My 5yo plays zombies - why do you think it's a problem?

Because they are dead people walking and they 'eat brains'? I guess I remember the horror films from the 80s and 90s and think it's scary. Obviously not?

Yes. Plants v Zombies is popular from pretty young.

And there was always some bogeyman or other to 'terrify' in the playground.

I'm sure the films are scary, although I've never watched one! And DS definitely hasn't - he just likes walking around with his arms out!

Yep totally normal. My 5 next month ds2 and 9 year old ds1 are always playing zombies. It's coming from plants v zombies.

DD commented recently that she prefers some of her classmates being zombies to being themselves

You can always tell which kids have older siblings by the games they play. Ds1 very innocent wouldn't have had a clue about any of this. Ds2 on the other hand...

I think zombies are just a bit of a 'trope' at the mo - like vampires a few years ago - I don't think you need to worry (as long as your dc is clear that they are a silly made-up thing, of course). Incidentally, ds - at about 7/8 - found PvZombies absolutely terrifying - but he was absolutely the only one of his peers to do so!

Ok, I obviously need to catch up!

Is CBBC showing Zombie Hotel at the moment?

Yes. The KS2 children at our school enjoy playing zombie tag (you have to shamble around like a zombie tagging other players if you get tagged). The little ones want to join in or copy, and in many cases are younger siblings.

My 5 year old DD loves the whole zombie thing. They play various zombie games in school at playtime. I think it might be a bit of a 'thing' just now as a lot of kids appear to be playing zombie games.

Mine weren't allowed to play plants v zombies but old reruns of scoobie doo had plenty of zombies/mummies/monsters/vampires (all the caretaker of course in the end cursing those pesky kids!)

I meant they weren't allowed to play plants v zombies on the computer

Often things like this start with children who have older siblings so it can be a surprise when your firstborn comes home with new ideas :)

My son pretends he is a zombie as he loves Minecraft and there are zombie villagers in that.

My daughter is 7 and the kids play zombies a lot. It did initially upset her a bit but seems to be pretty normal in the playground.

Yes was also about to say there are zombies in Minecraft.

Yes Zombies seem very popular, my 6 year old has explained it all to me! But they are not real!!

I was really freaked out when my ds started talking about zombie pigmen etc, but when I saw them they are just funny pink cubes. No big worries...

Thanks ladies, glad I'm not the only one who's a little surprised. Also glad to know it's 'normal' for them to talk about zombies!