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Community Corner

Mom's Talk: Video Games

Do you really know what the kids are playing?

Each week in Moms Talk, our Dacula Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

This week’s topic:  “Video Games: Do you know what the kids are playing?”

Most everybody’s kids are playing them.  Whether it is on a DS, an iPad, iTouch, Xbox 360 or any other gaming system it’s the “in thing” with kids ages approximately five and up.  So my question to you is this: ”Do you know what your kids are playing?”  Now I know you know what they play at home, you probably bought them these games, but are you keeping check on what they play when they aren’t at home?  Did you realize everybody doesn’t agree about what is appropriate for kids?  When the kids walk over to the neighbor’s house, when they swap games at the restaurant, when they are watching over someone else’s shoulder while waiting at the dentist, do you really know what they are seeing?

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I only bring this to your attention because I believe this is an area that lots of parents either feel differently about or are oblivious to.  Have you checked the rating on the games your kids are playing? 

Here is the scoop. 
Games are rated as follows:
eC for Early Childhood – suitable for kids ages three and older.
E  for Everyone – suitable for kids ages six and older.
E10 for Everyone 10 and older – may contain cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language.
T for Teen – suitable for ages 13 and older – violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, infrequent use of strong language.
M for Mature - suitable for those 17 and older – intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language.
Ao for Adults only – enough said.

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So now it’s your turn, let us know in the comment section below what the kids out there are playing, if you abide by the above rating guidelines, and if you and other parents are really checking the ratings of the games your kids are playing.

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