SacMomsClub.com

I've seen a paradox in the video game world.  Our children are taught to play sweet, fun and some educational video games.  As they graduate through the "E" for everyone to the "T' for Teens and innevidably to the "M' for mature.  Why do the games get more voilent and graphic?  I'm finding myself telling my kids...."No, honey you can't play that game. It's an adult game."  So, in affect,  they look forward to playing the violent and graphic war like video games.  Is that maturing our children properly? I'm taking a second look. 

What we do is preview games, movies and/or books before they are shared.  We  tell the kids that we will preview the game, book or movie.  If we feel it is well made, age appropriate, and not overly violent.  They are allowed to watch it.  We feel we are demonstrating an adults mature ability to discern the content of a book, game or movie.   My children are learning to do the same. 

My eldest son of 12 is a "bookie".  He has recently been sampling some more mature novels like Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.  He enjoyed the stories and wanted to read more from that author.  He found some more "mature" content in one of the authors stories and when he did he brought the book straight to me and said,  " This is not for me."   I was very suprised and proud.  

It is difficult to try and filter everything but, it is possible to teach your child how to choose properly for themselves.

I view video game rating systems the same as I do movie rating systems. I wouldn't take a 10 year old to an R rated movie, nor would I let the same 10 year old play a video game that has an "M for Mature" rating on it.

From Wikipedia: M — Mature: Contains content that is considered unsuitable for children under the age of 17. Titles in this category may contain intense violence such as blood and gore, sexual references and/or strong language. Many retailers (such as Target and Wal-Mart in the United States, Future Shop in Canada, and Best Buy in both countries) have a policy of not selling games with this rating to people under the age of 17 without parental presence and approval

So that is how I view it. You wouldn't let your child go see an R rated film, don't give them an M rated video game. They aren't all made for kids. In the same vein, just because something is a cartoon doesn't make it for kids either: Family Guy, South Park, most Animae that i've seen, etc.