Thread: Your Kids and Video Games.

Seeing as how most of us grew up in the generation of video games, I was wondering when you are going to allow your kids to play video games. Even more specifically violent games like those that are hosted here at TTP and games such as the Grand Theft Auto series?

Thoughts and discuss.

I think due to the way I grew up I may observe and see if my children are the same as me. If so I'll let them play M rated games at 14. Believe it or not I wasn't one of those kids on xbox live who talked about stupid shit, I actually said something useful, like "STFU and watch out for the sniper".

But if my kids are different, no teen rated games till they're 13. I want to protect them, and yet want to expose them to how life is at the same time. If anyone figures out how to do that lemme know cause I rather not take a wild guess.

I have three boys, currently aged 12, 10, and 6.
I am very involved in what games they are allowed to play and what games they are not allowed to play. I think being a gamer gives me quite an edge over non-gamer parents with regard to content control. My oldest just started playing "real" FPS games. I have allowed him to start playing Counter Strike (offline only, he is playing Condition Zero) and he just finished Halo: Combat Evolved. He also just finished Warcraft III. But this is all recent for him. There are still tight controls on him though. I would not allow him to play anything from the GTA series or the God of War series for example. My two youngest are not allowed to play anything more violent than the Legend of Zelda series.

I apply the same rules for TV, books, music, and video games. My wife (also a gamer) or I will read, watch, listen and play it first and then we make a judgment call. I do not rely on the ESRB, the MPAA, Vchip, RIAA, or anyone else to decide these things. I do not always agree with their ratings anyway. Violence and sex are not always the only thing that I think may be too much for them. For example, I have not let my oldest one (or the younger ones) read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix yet. I do not allow any un-monitored online time either. My oldest has a computer in his room. It is mostly for homework and games. I do not give him admin access and I set a static IP with no gateway so he has to come to the living room if he wants on the internet.
A parent must control a child's media access and what content is allowed. Some things just are not meant for kids. Anyone that chooses not to control these things is not much of a parent.

My dad was the type that said, "No let him go ahead and put a penny in the light socket....HURT LIKE HELL DIDNT IT, but you dont do that no more"



So when I have kids, before they play actual video games, I will make sure they understand what the video game is

I'm gonna let mine play the violent ones as soon as I deem them mentally old enough to handle it. But I will keep a watchful eye on their habits and language etc. If anything displeases me, I will have a sledge hammer at the ready.

Originally Posted by DuDDy

Seeing as how most of us grew up in the generation of video games, I was wondering when you are going to allow your kids to play video games. Even more specifically violent games like those that are hosted here at TTP and games such as the Grand Theft Auto series?

Thoughts and discuss.

I let my son plat World of Warcraft. I advised that he too would be giving up that game after his prepaid card/time had expire.

He find refuge in Battlefield series again which I am fine with. I was thinking for his birthday buying Battlefield 2 Bad Company.

Father & Son kicking ass and taking names.