It’s 2am CST and I am playing Modern Warfare 2 with some adult friends. We are talking with each other and occasionally with players from other teams. We talk about parenting, drinking, working, married life, sex, paying bills…normal adult conversations. We swear and joke about adult situations. We should be allowed to, it’s “adult time”. Anyone online at that time should be of an age to handle it. Then out of nowhere there emerges a tiny, squeaky voice.

“I’m going to own you guys!!!”

That’s it. My night starts downhill. This squeaky voice comes from a 10 year old boy. He’s not bad at the game, nut that’s not really the problem. He is talking non-stop. Screaming and cussing at his enemy. Talking smack to anyone that will respond to him. And, saying things that would probably make his mother clutch her heart, keel over, and die.Or at least grab a bar of soap for his mouth!

A host of questions start scrolling through my brain: Why is this kid not in bed? Where are his parents? Do they have any idea what goes on on Xbox LIVE? Do they know he is playing a Rated M game? Do they know what Rated M means?

Children have a lot of hobbies:sports like football or baseball or lessons for music or dance. Personally, before I signed up my children for these things I did some research. I checked out the football team and the dance company. I talked to other parents who had experience with these organizations before I decided what was appropriate. Football makes me nervous, so I sat through my son’s practice for 3-5 days a week, August thru October. And being in Chicago it’s not pleasant. But, I went out of my way to make sure he was safe. He is only 6 so I knew he would horse around, get tired, maybe even cry at some point and he would need me. He did all of the above. He loves football. He loves my support. He loves that I know the rules and the positions and that we can talk about it. It’s something he spent a lot of time doing for a few months. As his parent, I feel it’s my duty to understand every aspect of the game.

How is gaming any different? It is a hobby that people love. Some spend hours a day playing. It has rules and positions in its own way. It has teammates and practices. It definitely costs a pretty penny, just like any sport. We get mad or frustrated when things get tough. But to most parents it’s just a toy. They shell out the cash because their child put it on a Chistmas list and there it is under the tree. They have no idea that the game they suggested Grandma buy might contain sexual or violent material.

To make matters worse, they allow the online content as well. It’s a new age of technology. Maybe their friends play online, so it must be fine for their child! One parent in a circle of kids makes a bad, uniformed choice and it can spread like wildfire.

Video games have become the new baby-sitter. When I was a child people said it was TV. Kids are right in the other room or downstairs. They are safe, right? Not really. They have heard people use obscenities that frighten my grandmother. They could be talking to a 40 year old man who wants more than your child’s gaming skills on his team. They could be giving out information about your private life: address, place of work, school…the list goes on. I had to explain to my mother that the headset is like talking on the phone. Its instant; I can have a conversation with someone like they are in the room with me. I can even send pictures! Webcams aren’t just for PCs anymore.

I tell other parents at school that we play video games online and I DO NOT think it’s something our children are ready for yet. I describe things I hear when I am playing everyday. If they laugh it off like I am some kind of immature weirdo, I try to at least mention that the consoles do have parental security options. I can hope they look into it. The consoles make it easier to integrate a child into the online world of gaming in a safe, slow approach. We can use passwords to allow access to in-game chat, messages, private chat, even allowing how much time or what time they can play.

As a gaming parent I am more than aware of what dangers are out there to prey on my children. I caught my son signed into my husband’s account playing Left 4 Dead online. He had on the mic and everything. He was yelling at the TV like no one was listening until some guy said, “Is that Pikachu?” Luckily the group he was playing with was kind and didn’t say innapropriate things. Being the mean mom that I am, everything was shut off and he was grounded. Beyond that one experience my children have only ever played online with our friends or their children, in private games. They do not have online capable accounts.

Mature gamers have a duty to the next generation. We have to keep parents on their toes. If you know parents of young children, make them aware of the gaming culture. If you hear mothers talking about it in Best Buy politely offer your two cents. Some may be thanking you for it later!!

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