My 5 year old came home from pre-school with a new game to play. She started it with her 2 year old sister about a week ago. It was called Vampires and Werewolves. I am guessing it was started by children who's parents are really into the twilight series, or maybe some of the new tv shows. Its pretty innocent. She just likes to run around and pretend to bite her brother and sister on the neck, occasionally she will howl and act like a werewolf. I don't really mind it that much, cause iso far its just playing.
The problem is my husband. He is appalled at this play. His culture and personal upbringing didn't allow him to play like a dog or a pig. These things were strictly forbidden in his home. He doesn't mind the kids acting like other animals, but he has a very hard time when they act like dogs or pigs. He also apparently dislikes Vampires or Werewolves. They represent something pretty sinister and I think it bugs him on a personal level.
He is pretty much saying that they can not play anything of the like. I understand his point, and want to respect him to a degree. I do think he needs to relax a little about this.
So the question is, how to tell my kids not to play this game, with out them getting the idea its forbidden, wrong, or unacceptable. In my opinion its normal child play and nothing serious. I would save connotations, and deeper analysis for when they get older. Or do you think it is also unacceptable. Any input is valued.
Dad on Purpose, would that be with music, and animation or just slideshow how-to's? lol mutiple choice or oral ??? LOL... good idea they are really into computer programs. I am really laughing here!!! I can just imagine how the pie charts would go over.
Ouija wouldn't bother him. his pops dabbled in the tantric magic (apprenticed under an Indian sage, husband is of Brahman caste), in his hey day and Ouija boards were ok.. um LONG story. Way not balanced, I know. LOL
You tell them that daddy doesnt approve of the game and they need to play something else and that is pretty much that- they are 5 and 2 no need for explanation.
I don't know much about Indian culture, but since this is something your husband objects to for cultural reasons, it seems to me that perhaps your kids need *him* to start talking to them about his culture? At 5, your child is probably old enough to start understanding that something is not "wrong" but makes people uncomfortable (not unlike teaching kids about their private areas). Perhaps if they understood the reasoning behidn your husband's aversion, they would be able to see that in some cultures, this is perfectly acceptable, but in your house it's not kind to their dad to play this game.
UPDATE 2:
ohohoh....I wanna change all my answers. Buy them a ouija board to play with instead! :)
UPDATE:
Pie charts and graphs.
"Here we see the percentage of children playing hide and/or seek. Note the average happiness score of 5.37. On the next graph we see the children playing David v. Goliath. Note the correlation to hospital visits. Now turn your attention to the screen. Please watch the proper way to bite a neck, as Lestat will show in this scene from Interview with a Vampire. Happiness quotient 1.27."
And then I would follow up with an essay quiz. :)
ORIGINAL:
Powerpoint presentation.
:)
nah - ditto 3boys.
Just tell them that Daddy doesn't like it so not to play it when he's home.
I agree with 3boysandme. Just tell them daddy does not like that game. That's what I do with my kids but it's with my mom. She does not like a lot of that kind of stuff and they used to spend a lot of time with her and they didn't know when to keep their mouths shut about what we let them do that she did not approve of. But even them being that young if he is not going to let your kids act like dogs they need to learn from a very early age. Cause that is normal childs play. My 9 year old still acts like one.
I kina agree with your husband, I would not want my kids playing games like that, not with each other anyway because eventully it is going to get boring so the game will change and the biting may no longer be pretend thats one reason. I would set up a board game or tea party or something. My neighbor accross the street allowed certain things with her kids and in her daughters teen years she became very gothic. Me persoanlly i don't care twilight, or vampires, or shows like that and I didn't allow our kidsto watch stuff of this nature, but thats me. J.
Find a new fun game and they will soon forget about this game.
Just redirect her play. When she starts doing that play at home, ask her to do something for you, whether it is help set the table or go get something or picking out a different game to play. I just simply tell my granddaughter that I don't like vampires and like sponge bob, it isn't something we do here at our house. She gets her vampire "knowledge" from watching monster high and shows like scooby doo.
