My 13-year-old son wants a game for his Playstation that is only recommended for ages 16 and up. I'm actually against it, but I'm afraid that otherwise he'll play it with a colleague . What should I do? Doris, 47, Heerbrugg SG
What our three experts say:
Nicole Althaus: The answer is in the first two sentences: The son is too young and you are against it. Forbid him to play it. Maybe he will actually play it with his colleagues. You can't prevent that. But you can make it clear to him what you will and will not accept in your home. This will make your son think.
Tonia von Gunten: You're against it, then tell him that. It's quite possible that he'll play with his colleagues, but you'll have to live with that. After all, you can't spare your son from all the evils of this world. Personally, I have a clear stance: we don't play games like that! My colleagues may play them, even if I don't like it. Talk to your son about his fascination with computer games. He has to decide for himself how to deal with it.
Peter Schneider: Raising children could be so easy if you were all alone in the world or at least lived in North Korea. The only person there who owns a Playstation is the Great Leader, and ordinary parents are relieved of any educational worries, especially as the internet doesn't work either. But things are not like that here. In the event that you are only against the game because of the age rating, you can console yourself with the fact that such information is not based on decades of research, but belongs on the packaging like the expiry date on the jam. And if you buy your son the game, you will at least casually get to know some of his colleagues with stricter parents who will now be playing the game in your home.
The authors:
Nicole Althaus, 47, is a columnist, author and member of the editorial board of "NZZ am Sonntag". She was previously editor-in-chief of "wir eltern" and initiated and managed the mum blog on "Tagesanzeiger.ch". Nicole Althaus is the mother of two children, 15 and 11
Tonia von Gunten, 42, is a parenting coach, educator and author. She runs elternpower.ch, a programme that aims to bring fresh energy into families and strengthen parents in their relationship skills. Tonia von Gunten is married and the mother of two children, 9 and 6.
Peter Schneider, works as a psychoanalyst and columnist in Zurich. Until 2017, he was Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology in Bremen; he currently teaches the history and scientific theory of psychoanalysis in Berlin.
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This text was originally published in German and was automatically translated using artificial intelligence. Please let us know if the text is incorrect or misleading: feedback@fritzundfraenzi.ch