Many of my daughter’s classmates were overwhelmed with excitement when “Halo 4” was released a month before Christmas. The game is rated “M” for mature, but that didn’t stop many of my daughter’s elementary age friends from owning prior installments of the games.
Halo: Reach,” the installment before “Halo 4” was rated one of the worst video games on the market for kids by Parenting because of the extreme violence. Should you absolutely refuse if your child asks for a violent video game like those in the “Halo,” “World of Warcraft” or “Call of Duty” series? Maybe, but there are a few considerations to ponder before making up your mind.
Can your child separate fantasy from reality?
The graphics in most of these video games are crisp and clear, but some are more realistic for others. For example, the aliens bleed blue and yellow instead of red in “Halo 4,” which makes it less realistic. Some tweens can handle separating fiction from reality, but others still struggle with it even as teenagers.
Does your child scare easily?
My daughter is still frightened by many Disney movies. A violent video game would give her nightmares for weeks. However, many of her classmates watch horror movies and sleep just fine.
Is your child mature enough for online communication?
Another tidbit parents should know is that many of these games encourages online communication between players. It is important to have a serious talk with your child about Internet safety and keeping personal information private before allowing them to engage in one of these games. By the way, violent games aren’t the only ones with the online component. I monitor my daughter closely on a game for tween girls called “Movie Star Planet.
Where to go for more information:
If you are considering purchasing a video game for your child, read the description and reviews thoroughly. Try renting the game to try yourself before deciding if it is appropriate.
Here are the most popular video games of 2012, according to IMDB:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II
- Far Cry 3
- Assasin’s Creed III
- Halo 4
- Mass Effect 3
- Hitman: Absolution
- Sleeping Dogs
- Dishonored
- The Walking Dead: The Game – Episode 1: A New Day
- Game of Thrones
All are rated M for mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). An M rating means the ESRB does not believe the content in the game is appropriate for children under the age of 17 because of blood and gore, intense violence, strange language and/or sexual content.
Common Sense Media (http://www.commonsensemedia.org) is a great resource when determining of a video game, app, movie or TV show is appropriate for your child. Their goal is to provide parents with unbiased information regarding media and technology. They also list their top picks for each category, so if you decide a game is too mature for your child, you can easily pick a replacement.
Trust your instincts.
The bottom line is that you know your child best. Only you can decide if they are mature enough to handle a scary or violent video game. If you decide to allow them to play the game, monitor them to see how they do with it and don’t hesitate to pull the plug if you have concerns.
