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7 y/o and violent video game
My 7 y/o asked me to buy him the game Grand Theft Auto for his Nintendo DS. I had heard of this game but didn't know much about it. I asked my brother (video game geek) bout the game and he immediately told me NO- don't buy it for him, he's way too young, etc. He then explained that in the game they steal cars (obviously), kill people, pick up prostitutes, rape (!?!) the prostitutes, steal money. etc. Obviously, now that I know more about the game, I will NOT be buying it for my children.
But what bothers me is that my son has seen his friends play this game. He goes to a before/after school program at the school and the kids are allowed to bring their Nintendos DS on certain days. So I learned from my son that his friend (also 7 y/o) has Grand Theft Auto and has been playing it at the before/after school program. I am slightly disturbed by this! #1 I know this kid's parents and am disappointed that they bought this game for their 7 y/o. #2 Maybe the before/after school program should be paying closer attention to the games the younger kids are playing. I am on a friendly basis with the other kid's mother as well as the lady who runs the before/after school program so I am not sure how to handle the situation without offending anyone.
(p.s. Since there is no school next week- my son will be at the before/after school program ALL week and I would rather him not spend a week watching his friend play this video game!!)
Any advice?
Re: 7 y/o and violent video game
You cant control what others allow their children to do in their homes, but you certainly can talk to the school about it. This game is disgusting and even disturbing. I remember when my yound son asked for it...ummm no way...I do believe they actually shoot cops in it too.
I would go to the school and speak to the director of the program about it, if you get no result go higher! Tell her it is not a game for kids and that you dont want your son exposed ot it.
Exactly this. You'll get nowhere with the mom. I mean, it's really dumb that she's letting her 7 year old play that game, but you saying anything isn't going to change her.
But it is unacceptable that any after school program would allow kids to play violent video games. I would think once the director is made aware of it, administration would put a stop to it. If the don't, we'll then I'd probably be looking for a new after school program.
Call the after school program administrator ASAP and let them know that another child was playing GTA at the school.
There is no way on earth that the program should allow this game to be played there.
Actually, I'm surprised they even let the kids play video games. Maybe you can also ask them about having activities for the children that involve something other than them sitting on their cans and playing video games for an afternoon.
I would be really pissed off if I found out my kids' school wasn't monitoring video games. That GTA game is disgusting.
This is one reason why I'm glad my DH is into video games - he knows which ones are and aren't appropriate for kids!
Yeah - i would take it up w/ the school. You can't control what the kids do at home, but at school - there absolutely should be rules about these games.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
Are you *sure* the kids are playing the game at school? Perhaps your son's friend has been talking it up to your son, but your son hasn't actually seen the game. I can't imagine that the after-school program would have permitted it.
If the mother allows her son to play this game, she either doesn't give a shiit about the violent content or she doesn't have any interest in monitoring/previewing the games he plays. It's a shame, but if you make a comment to her it's not going to do anything except piss her off, so don't even waste your breath.
I would talk to the aftercare director and say something like, "My son mentioned the GTA video game recently and I'm wondering where he's come into contact with it. Are the kids allowed to play DS games in aftercare, and if so is there a monitoring process in place? Or if they're not actually playing it in the program, have you heard any of the other kids talking about this game?"
Is it possible the kid sneaked the game and his mom didn't know? Just saying - it might be the dad's or an older sibling's game.
Agree with PPs to call director.
74 books read in 2011
This game is horrible, my ADULT brothers wont touch it with a ten foot pole.
Talk to the school. They can make sure the game is not permitted because the game does actually have an age recomendation on it.
Talk to your son, as you would to an adult, and explain how horrible the actions of this game are. Explain that even if it is a fantasy game, those types of things do happen in the real world and you would rather he not be exposed to such foul, ugly and gross behavior. He is 7, and kids grow up so fast. If /when my daughter starts asking questions about drugs, illigal activities, sex, etc... regardless of age, I am discussing it with her. This game hits on all those topics so starting the education now cannot hurt.
Is this private or public school? Because that would answer my first question of wth video games are even allowed to be brought in, even for just one day a week. That's just a nightmare waiting to happen in itself with kids bringing their games.
I would do as pp's have said, call the director and let them know you've heard that they may be playing an inappropriate game and they will hopefully look into it.
Good advice! Sometimes if you simply ban something, it makes it all that much more enticing to kids. If you take the time to explain WHY the game is so bad, your son may decide that he's not interested on his own. I remember when we heard my little brother (he was probably about 7 at the time) using curse words in a sentence. My mom calmly asked him "do you know what that word means?" When he said no, my mom explained, and we watched my little bro's eyes get really big as his face turned red. He had no idea what he was saying, haha! That's all it took.
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