There seems to be a common misconception out there among many parents these days. That misconception is: Videogames are for kids.
These people, I firmly believe, think this way because they haven't picked up a controller since the days of the Atari 2600. I have noticed on many an occasion that young kids (ie. ages 8-11) seem to be able to get their hands on videogames that are clearly age inappropriate for them. How do they get them? Either by young store clerks who forget that they have to check ID when selling or renting videogames out, or by relatives. Parents mostly, but grandparents, aunts and uncles are to blame here, too.
The Boy (who shall herein be referred to as "The Boy") had a friend just down the street from our old house that was a year older than him. About 4 years ago, he brought Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas over to our house for the two of them to play. Since The Boy is 12 now, do the math. The question is why did his parents give him that game in the first place? Did they want their young son to be exposed to cop killing, drug dealing and prostitution? Or do they fall in to the "Games are for kids" category? I'm not a betting man, but I'd put money on the latter. This is not the only time that I as a parent have had to deal with age inappropriate games. It's hard to maintain rules as a parent when everyone around you seems to not share the same standards.
I think what really irks me about this is that these same people take the time to ensure that kids watch movies and TV shows that are age and subject material appropriate, but seem to ignore those same ratings on video games. We're not jumping over barrels to rescue the girl from the ape anymore. Games have come too far too fast to ignore the labels on the packaging. I may be mocked as being too old to game, but at least I know what's in the game when I hand it over to a 12-year old kid.
Come on parents, wake up and smell the "Hot Coffee". Believe it or not, it's not just a beverage anymore.
As a parent, you can make all the rules you want about what your kids are going to see/do at home. Once they step outside the front door it's a whole 'nother world out there. You could make rules about what games friends bring into the house but that would just mean the boy goes over there to play it instead of bringing it home. kai has young kids so he won't play MW2 until after the kids have gone to bed because he doesn't want them exposed to the violence. You can't parent another person's child like you use to but you can put the fear of god into your own kids. And then hope and pray they turn out okay.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, I know. I have too many stories of idiocy.
ReplyDeleteThe Boy and all his 12-year old buddies think that they're 18. Some of these parents don't seem to do much to dissuade them from that notion. I look like a party pooper because I don't give the free reign when they're at our place. They seem to think that it's OK for them to get hopped up on energy drinks and be idiots until 5:00 am. I guess some parents are lazy about that sort of thing.
As it is whenever he as friends around him he acts like he's 40 lbs. heavier and a foot taller, but his IQ drops a good 30 points. Maybe 40. I tend to put a stop to that pretty quick because I don't care who's here - rules still apply.
I wish I could say it gets easier but I don't think so. But, in the end one day he'll look back on his youth and thank you for all you've done.......if you let him long enough, that is. :)
ReplyDeleteUpdate.
ReplyDeleteThe boy made it to 13. Barely.
Yeah. Barely. By the skin of his teeth.
ReplyDelete(Mental note: I must remind him to brush his teeth. They have skin growing on them.)