Why do some parents let little kids play violent video games?

[lizzie1238 538]

This is something I've never understood. My parents have always been kind of strict about the games I play, so I've never been allowed to play anything too violent. However, many of my 9 year old brother's friends play m-rated games like Call of Duty, and have done so for a few years. And I know their are plenty of little kids who's parents allow them to play games like this.

 

But I just can't understand what could possibly go through a parent's head that would make them think it's okay for a child under 10 to play something so violent and inappropriate for their age.

[Wolfgang 735]

Cause they played games when they were that young and were violent.

Idk

[Kaiso 2,764]

I dunno man it's kind of iffy... I myself wouldn't allow my kids to play certain games at a young age if I didn't think they could handle certain things in certaing games. But I mean like if the parents are able to teach the kid to understand why the games are dubbed as violent, and if the kid is mature enough to understand that sometimes the violence in the game isn't something that should ever really be alright to reinact in the real world then I don't see why not let them play them?

[coolwings 1,546]

Because violent video games are fun

[Number XV 490]

Yeah, it's entirely dependant on the child's maturity or parent's stupidity.

[Queen Tery 4,591]

If the parent doesn't understand the rating system, or doesn't care, or the kids get the games from their friends who have parents that fit the first two descriptions, then that's why they can play violent video games.

Edited August 19, 2012 by Ertyx

[SinHeartlessAngel 555]

I'll never restrict my kids from playing games unless they go too far. but i'm going to MAKE THE firetruckING LOVE Kingdom Hearts. and nintendo

[rich543543 9]

Most kids think they are cool and play them at friends or when there parents are at work, and there are alot of parents out there that don't care enough to see what there kids are doing. I find kids that play m-rated game end up not playing games unless they are m-rated and miss great games like kingdom hearts and final fantasy that are E or T

[Madara Uchiha 50]

In my opinion it doesn't matter until it reaches GTA lol. All games are pretty fair in my opinion I see no reason to make COD rated M. KH shouldn't even be E+10. Those are my 2 cents.

[Elijah Gravenhorst 480]

I hate it when that happens. Those kids are so annoying in multiplayer.

[KissyFace 134]

It's partly out of ignorance, or the will to cater to their children's wants.

 

But I imagine that they think "Is it worth not buying my child this game and risking them hating me? Nothing bad could possibly come of this, my child won't turn up violent."

 

But from my experience, my dad was a little concerned with the games I played at first, but my mom really wasn't. She would let me buy M rated games (this was before I got a car and driver's license).

[Zenithia 305]

tutti frutti. That has been something that I have often wondered myself for years. I had to let a woman know about GoW3 that her 7 year old son wanted. She knew nothing about the game, and when I told her about it, she put it back on the shelf. But the thing that gets me is that why parent always blame video games for being violent, when there are movies and tv shows that show violent things as well.

[WakelessDream 2,278]

Yea I don't really understand why parents let kids play violent video games either, I may be speaking as a hypocrite because when I was 9 or 10 years old I used to play the GTA games but I kind of consider that mild lol.

 

What was really annoying was when this 10 year old kid was telling my 17 y/o brother that he could own him in CoD and then he was like "my cousin's really good I bet he could own you too." And my bro was like "how old's your cousin?" and the little kid is like "hes 12" Fail ;P not saying age has anything to do with skill level but 10~12 year old kid doesn't sound very threatening.

 

Remember the days when rated "M" stood for mature instead of "mommy bought this for me?"

Edited August 19, 2012 by WakelessDream

[Geralt 4,874]

Cause some don't really care cause when they grow up they're gonna end up most likely into that stuff anyways soooo....

[Rob 5,571]

My grandson was allowed to play GTA when he was 9 or 10, but thats due to his parents not knowing about what the game is until after he started playing it. It didn't matter though, his father(also my grandson) was pretty strict, so he(little grandson) knew not to do anything wrong, or else......Win-Win for both sides.

[baylaust 2,531]

*parent buys kid M-rated game without looking at it carefully*

 

*learns game is violent*

 

WHY IS MY KID PLAYING THIS, THIS IS EVIL!!!!!!! *boycotts games*

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

I think (and this is just my opinion), the maturity you have gained over the years is reflected on that of your younger siblings. For example, when I was young, my parents wouldn't let me and my middle sister watch Episode III of Star Wars when we were around eleven because they thought it was too graphic when it came to Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader. But when my little sister was around eleven, they let her watch it. She thought it was cool.

My impression is that the maturity me and my middle sister gained reflects on that of my little sister, which changes her perspective and causes her to handle certain situations more calmly. Which is why parents lessen the stricter rules as their kids grow up.

Just my opinion though. uwu

As for why your parents still don't let you play violent video games, I don't have an answer to that.

[Geralt 4,874]

My grandson was allowed to play GTA when he was 9 or 10, but thats due to his parents not knowing about what the game is until after he started playing it. It didn't matter though, his father(also my grandson) was pretty strict, so he(little grandson) knew not to do anything wrong, or else......Win-Win for both sides.

 

Damnnnn everyones your grandson D:

[Dracozombie 4,554]

I would hesitate to let any young kid of mine play violent games like GTA, but if they really wanna play it, they're mature enough to handle it, and I can successfully teach them that no, that shit isn't cool in real life, then I guess I'll let them. I personally don't support exposing them to that kind of violence that young, but in this day and age, kids are being exposed to more "adult" content, for better or for worse. I'd rather them play more wholesome games like Pokeymans and Kingdum Harts, but if they really want to, I guess I can't stop them.

Edited August 19, 2012 by Dracozombie

[lizzie1238 538]

Most kids think they are cool and play them at friends or when there parents are at work, and there are alot of parents out there that don't care enough to see what there kids are doing. I find kids that play m-rated game end up not playing games unless they are m-rated and miss great games like kingdom hearts and final fantasy that are E or T

 

Yeah, that's what it seems like a lot, they're missing out on some really great games.

[Number XV 490]

Honestly, you know it's not even technically illegal for a minor to buy an M-rated game? Most stores just have it as a policy.

 

Anyways, if you're too lazy to check the box for your kid, why are you buying them video-games in the first place?

[Vector 4]

I was lucky enough to grow up playing games like quake, psi ops and the such, because my parents trusted me to tell the difference between real life and video games.

 

But sadly, This doesn't apply to parents these days; they buy M rated games because it's usually easier for them to buy them a game to get them to shut up instead of actually spending time with them or anything like that.

 

Pokeymans and Kingdum Harts

 

Oh god, the memories are flooding back in. Damn you.

Edited August 21, 2012 by Vector