Parents should be aware...

elphie · 01-22-2009, 09:23 AM

I have been noticing a disturbing trend in the video and online games my kids enjoy. Almost all of them have some kind of virtual money that you earn and spend. You can buy items for your characters such as clothes or furniture, unlock other characters, etc.

The most distrubing thing is that on some of the sites they can apply for credit and make payments for purchases. A friend told me that he believes at least one of the sites I was talking about my kids visiting was owned in part by a credit card company and that they are trying to impress upon young minds that credit is a normal way of life. ARGH...

Part of me is really irritated by this but I've decided to use it as an opportunity to open the discussion and teach my kids my own values about these things on a level they can understand. I talked to them about saving up the virtual cash for big ticket items instead of using credit and we set up goals for what they wanted to earn. They know I'm going to be checking in and that if they use credit the privelage to play will be taken away for a while. Still irks me that these companies prey on kids like that but at least I was able to turn it into a posotive.

Patty A · 01-22-2009, 09:31 AM

I can't believe that they start trying to get kids involved in the credit game so early.......I really think this stinks, what every happened to games that was about playing, having fun, and doing things that didn't cost in order to have a good time. I really think its sad that they are starting to push credit for game playing, sure lets you know why this is a generation of "quick fix" with credit.

Greebo · 01-22-2009, 09:40 AM

I'm thinking this could be an excellent opportunity to show them how destructive and limiting the use of debt can be without actually using real money.

Jskell911 · 01-22-2009, 09:55 AM

My son, 12, does play some of these types of games. I believe the newest Animal Crossing is one such game. Thankfully, he is a part of many of our financial discussions and we have impressed upon him the fact that saving is a much better way to obtain what you buy than buying on credit.

For example, he knows we have both a credit card and a savings account. He is saving for a Playstation 3 right now, and we have agreed to contribute $100 towards this. He has not once asked us to put it on the CC as he knows we will not do that (because it costs us more in the end). He does, however ask regularly how much we have saved towards our $100!

MomToTwoBoys · 01-22-2009, 11:35 AM

It's why I monitor what my kids play. I don't allow them to play games that teach them about things like that, even at an impressionable age. It's all about being vigilant and not allowing your children to be exposed to content of that magnitude.

UUMomof3 · 01-22-2009, 11:52 AM

This is an excellent teaching opportunity. We're come late to the frugality game, but have been discussing with our kids why we're doing it. They have an age appropriate understanding of borrowing and interest. The other day, the conversation in the back seat was like this:

MDD: I still don't have enough saved to by some stacking cups.

ODD: I'd loan you the money if I had any. I wouldn't even charge you any interest. Although...that'd be a good way for me to get more money. If I had any to begin with.

MDD: yeah, but the money you'd be getting would be mine. So I wouldn't borrow from you anyway. I'd rather just keep saving. Maybe Mom can help me find some cheaper ones on ebay.

YDD: We'd better find a way to earn some money.

TexasPeanut · 01-22-2009, 12:03 PM

My 11 yr old son isn't even allowed on the computer without asking permission first and it's in the living room right in front of every one else so there's no question about what he does online when it's seen by all. I religiously monitor what sites he's allowed to go to and not go to for the exact reasons of this post. You can't trust anyone to do right by your kid but yourself.

nuisance26 · 01-22-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jskell911

My son, 12, does play some of these types of games. I believe the newest Animal Crossing is one such game.

~I play this game. There is a bank card you receive and you can only use it in one store and only to access money you have in your savings account. It's not a credit card. AC teaches great lessons about money. You have to earn your money by gathering and selling fruit, bugs, fish and fossils.
It is very disturbing indeed to see credit cards marketed to kids as a normal way of life without presenting an entire lesson in credit. Do you all remember that ATM machine toy that was introduced a year or two ago? Sad.~

YankeeMom · 01-22-2009, 01:12 PM

My kids play Animal Crossing too. It's just like Constance says. They really learn a lot about saving up for stuff they want. My older two also do NeoPets.com. They have a stock market like game you "buy" stuff w/ neopoints you earn by playing games & stuff. There are "pay to play" stuff on there, but my kids aren't even interested in it. Or as my younger dd says "it's lame to pay for something you don't even get to see/use". (like "virtual clothes" for your neopet LOL).

My biggest peeve right now? That "credit card" monopoly game

pop goes the weasel · 01-22-2009, 01:53 PM

Our 14 year old isn't allowed on the computer either unless we are right there. She used to but every time she 'd get into a certain site we would end up with a trojan virus. This is a very popular site. All the games she wants to play are violent anyway. What gets me is they took off the roadrunner because it was too violent but have you seen the cartoon that's out there lately? I agree only you can can regulate what goes on with your kids. Maybe not 24/7 but most of the time

Jskell911 · 01-22-2009, 08:47 PM

Thanks for the FB on Animal Crossing. It's a game he plays with my mom at her house, so most of their discussion goes over my head. Glad it is actually reaffirming what we are teaching him at home

Michelle · 01-22-2009, 09:38 PM

The only game like this that my kids have played is Animal Crossing, which is good in terms of teaching them that they need to pay off debt, work to earn money, etc. It's been a great teaching "tool" here.

zakity · 01-22-2009, 09:46 PM

My guys mainly play RPG games like RuneScape. It is hilarious because they won't pay for them. They don't want to spend their money on it.

Darlene · 01-23-2009, 08:01 AM

In answer to the op... Yep, all parents should be aware of what their kids are doing & seeing & talk, talk & talk some more about it. It's our job to make sure they know right from wrong, real from pretend etc.

I didn't shelter my kids from much. I wanted them to know that no subject was taboo & what's out there so we could talk about it. From Pedophiles to credit scams & everything in between, we talked about it. And yes, Grand Theft Auto & Animal Crossing were played in this house. I wasn't worried about corrupting their minds, the game was a game, not real and they knew what good behavior was and didn't turn into thugs or thieves or dig up the yard looking for cool things to sell at the store, lol.
That said , a 6 year old isn't a 14 year old and you do need to "keep it real" appropriately for their age. Just the way we look at it all in this house.

napswithkats · 01-23-2009, 10:09 AM

Credit is a tool and like all tools should be cared for properly and guarded carefully :-) I don't think I would be doing my children any favors by saying "Credit is evil, don't use it" I think they would be much better off being told "Credit exists, here's how it works, and here are the good things about it and here is how to avoid getting yourself into trouble with it" (and then the dealhunter in me would say "and here's how to get the MOST out of your credit card (rewards, etc.)