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Parental Guidance may be advised

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Earlier this week, I told you about the podcast I was on where we discussed age rating and perceptions of gamers and gaming. We can debate the merits of rating systems and what is appropriate for children, however I think a lot of adults still need some guidance.

The brilliant minds over on Dorkly made this comic that shows just how out of control some fear mongering can get.

Parental guidance

Parental guidance is definitely advised, although parents often needs just as much (if not more) guidance than kids. Do you know what your children are playing or watching? Do you listen to age ratings? Or do you just let your kids do whatever they like?

Last Updated: December 6, 2013

19 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief of Souls

    December 6, 2013 at 17:35

    Once my daughter starts gaming, I most CERTAINLY will adhere to them

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      December 6, 2013 at 17:43

      I differ on your opinion on this subject but you’ll find out for yourself though.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Souls

        December 6, 2013 at 17:54

        I will adhere to the recommendations, and guide her through everything

        Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      December 6, 2013 at 18:09

      play the game first, then decide if its ok for her to play.
      gg.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Souls

        December 7, 2013 at 07:46

        Good strategy, then you can tell the missus you are doing “parenting” while gaming.

        I see your plan 🙂

        Reply

  2. Skyblue

    December 6, 2013 at 17:40

    Every child differs in how they interpret the world and how they decipher what they’re experiencing. It’s every parents responsibility to ensure that they only allow their kids to be exposed to what they feel comfortable with until such time that their kids can make their own decisions.
    I am very comfortable with my oldest child (15) playing whatever he wants to as he is well adjusted and I trust him to make decisions based on his comfort with the subject matter. I’ve kept my 10yr old away from GTA so far but he’s a level 100 Gears player (no headset allowed yet). He plays a well balanced mix of titles incl Batman, WWE, LEGO titles, etc with the stipulation that when he has friends over, he sticks to the family friendly rule.
    It also becomes increasingly difficult with the older kids playing games around the younger ones and we think they’re not paying attention and then they get clever and watch that Pewdiepie moron.

    Reply

  3. Matthew Holliday

    December 6, 2013 at 18:08

    I’ll be taking the “I’ll play it first, then decide if its suitable afterwards.” approach with my own kids.

    Reply

  4. Umar Seeker of Truth

    December 6, 2013 at 18:29

    Meh, honestly a parent should be worried about rearing their children properly and then everything will fall into place. A video game is not gonna mighty morph your kid into a deranged psycho. If he has been brought up properly in the first place, the child will learn to deal with influences appropriately . A kid can easily find influences in other things…just take care of your god damn kids and stop spoiling them. Giving them phones and crap at 8 years old. Chatting to older people on social networking sites. Taking selfies…my god….Video games is the least of the problem

    Reply

  5. ToshZA

    December 6, 2013 at 19:51

    If I let my son play games, even with an age restriction (certain fighting games, some for 12 year olds and so on) then I will be sure the content won’t be like GTA. I’d never let him play GTA, not until he’s 16 (even with an 18 restriction). By then he’s old enough to know better, because I would have taught him as much.

    Reply

  6. ToshZA

    December 6, 2013 at 19:52

    Also, that kid’s playing an Xbox. FTW.

    Reply

  7. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    December 6, 2013 at 20:20

    I think the key word is parental guidance, which is a very different beast to just allowing little Jimmy to play Call of Duty as a makeshift-babysitter or nanny. It’s about having the maturity to understand that your child’s development is unique. Some youngsters could possibly handle violent video games, whereas for some (in the same age group) the material would be grossly inappropriate.

    But the key is that parents need to know their kids, and this is where parental guidance comes in. As a parent, you’re in a position to know what your child’s limitations are and whether or not you should expose them to a title that’s probably not suited for his/her age group. But that doesn’t mean just buying a 14 year old a copy of GTA5 because he’s “14 going on 30”, but rather to guide their experience if you do. To be there to ask and answer the hard questions.

    I always remember sitting in a cinema watching Toy Story 3, and a mother was sitting with her 5 year old, and through out the movie, she would explain things to him. I actually thought that was pretty inspirational. I guess I’d do the same if I ever spawned and remained a gamer, because while games are a good entertainment source, it’s also a pretty decent tool to teach youngsters about morality, ethics and life, or what’s the difference between real and make-belief….

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Souls

      December 7, 2013 at 07:47

      Dammit Jim, when are you spawning? The Banana culture must endure!

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        December 7, 2013 at 09:39

        I have cats? 😛 But I guess the missus and I will probably have to adopt though.

        Reply

        • Lourens Jordaan

          December 9, 2013 at 07:51

          Cats FTW!!!

          Reply

    • Lourens Jordaan

      December 9, 2013 at 07:50

      Buying a copy of GTA to a 14 year old would be hugely inappropriate. I wouldn’t like my kid to be exposed to Trevor until at least 17+.

      And if that woman with her 5 year old sits in front of me and keeps on blabbing throughout the movie, I’ll go full Trevor on her ass, cause I can, I’ve been trained by the best, I played the game.

      In general I do agree with you but the age rating is a good guidance even if not perfect.

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        December 9, 2013 at 08:14

        Neither would I, but for every one who wouldn’t, there are those that would. In that sense, it’s probably best to be realistic (rather than outright condemn) and make an appeal to parents to be more active via parental guidance or even parental participation.

        Reply

        • Lourens Jordaan

          December 9, 2013 at 08:28

          I recently learned of a woman who bought her 10 year old GTA5. She said that she knows what the game is about. The point is that no ten year old can be ready for the very mature content within GTA5. Every body is free to raise (read screw up) their kids however they want, but that borders on the corruption of a minor. That I will condemn.

          Reply

          • Her Highness the Hipster

            December 9, 2013 at 09:11

            mixed feelings on this one. I read a lot of really graphic material as a young kid, and often watched R rated movies, too. my mom knew what i was reading/watching, but also knew I was mature enough to handle it. that said, there were other movies/books that were rated as more appropriate that i often found more upsetting or that she would tell me to wait on. I think it’s a matter of knowing your child and what will affect them negatively.

          • Lourens Jordaan

            December 9, 2013 at 10:18

            I see it this way: If you try to prohibit the child from accessing the material, and you make him understand that he is not allowed to play the game, he’ll still find a way to do it, but he’ll know you disapprove. That way you can limit his exposure to the few hours at a friends house. If you buy it for him, knowing it’s not age appropriate, then he has unlimited exposure to potentially harmful material. Even though I think my child is mature enough to have access to the material, knowing that there is the potential of harm would give me pause. Of course parenting concerning age appropriate matter is not limited to the above.

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