The amount of control you can and should exert over a 1st grader is different than the amount of control you can and should exert over a 6th grader.

You don't want to create such a restrictive environment that kids lie and sneak around behind your back. You don't to make things forbidden fruit either.

On the other hand you don't want to be so lax that the inmates are running the asylum.

It's a thin line between not enough and too much. As they get older, it gets thinner and thinner.

It's a lot easier to parent before you have any kids.

Thanks Slynnski. I hope someday when my daughter is a grown woman and looks back over her childhood, she'll agree. I have been fortunate to find that the more firm and consistent I am with her, no matter how strict my rules seem to be, she really seems happier and more confident. When she was younger and I was still feeling my way through this mom stuff, I could sometimes be wishy washy and when I was, it did not go well for either of us. I think that's why I come across a bit hardnosed now, it's what has worked for us as a family. I know I've done okay when I can walk out of a toy store after having turned down a request for a toy, and my daughter is still as happy and smiling as when we walked into the place.

How old are your kids, Momminator? I agree about locking things down to the point they get sneaky! I've definitely seen that happen. Finding that balance is very tricky. I'm going to enjoy the early childhood stage while it lasts! I have only one child so I also have more control in that I don't have to worry about an older sibling's things getting into the hands of a younger child. Or mediating conflicts when the older one wants certain things that may be appropriate for his/her age, but not for the younger one. Yep, I have it comparatively easy now. Check back with me in about 3 years!

TheMomminator wrote:I think the reality behind parenting kids is that there is a lot more on this topic than just the rating system. There is the maturity level of the individual kids. There is the environment in which they live.

This. My younger son is extremely mature for his age. He is thirteen in a couple of weeks, but he is more like a fifty year old in a kids body. Some of the things he comes out with ...
My sixteen year old suffers from ADHD and anxiety and is prone to becoming over emotional and is less mature in some ways than his brother.

Both are good kids, who understand right from wrong, and can differentiate fantasy from reality. I definitely agree with what Momminator said about not creating such a restrictive environment that kids will go behind your back.
The only game that has ever been restricted in my household was GTA San Andreas, because it used to have an adverse affect on my older boy, hype him up and he would bully his younger brother. This is unacceptable in my household so the game was never allowed into the house. For eight years my kids have had to go without it.
It was only at the end of last year when my oldest turned sixteen that I relented and allowed him to borrow it from the local shop and have a play. I think he wondered what all the fuss was about as he abandoned it in favour of Modern Warfare 3. I allow him to play this, despite the shooting and warlike atmosphere, as playing it also helps him to slow down, think about what he is about to do, and generally try to concentrate, something that is quite hard for a kid with ADHD.
As long as he is behaving himself on a server, not acting like a troll, and keeping with his own friends rather than a bunch of strangers, I'm happy. My childrens internet activities are monitored carefully. They play in the room right next to mine, with the door open all the time so I can see exactly what they're doing. I also look at where they have been on the internet and what they've been doing. They aren't allowed on message boards, so I don't need to worry about that.
Any misbehaviour online for either of my children results in a immediate ban from internet privileges - something some parents ought to do to some others here on this board from what I've seen.

I don't restrict their music. I don't need to. One of them listens to a lot of 80's rock and the other likes music from the 30's & 40's. They don't like most of the music today, and I don't really blame them.

In answer to wizplaces question, I never played Sims 1, I was a latecomer, but I've allowed my kids to play Sims 2 since my younger boy was around seven or eight, and I believe that was more "teen" than Sims 3. I see nothing wrong with it at all, to them, its just a game, its fun and amusing and I can't tell you how much pleasure they got from playing the game for hours.
They already knew the facts of life back then so woohoo was no big deal to them. They still play Sims 2 now on occasions for nostalgia's sake, but mostly prefer minecraft or chatting on skype with their school friends.

We like brand messaging and survived Barbie, Bratz, GI-Joe, so controversial! Body image, gender confusion, morality, I know..right?
kids watch Saturday morning cartoons where floods of brand messaging abound...it's our world and it's our choice. Parents are well, some good and others not so much. Would you buy mirowave popcorn only to be dismayed that it requires a microwave? Reading is fundamental. Disney is wonderous in marketing brands, a few that are older then some of your first baby shoes, yet still sells. They all do it for sales...profit. Clearly the motivation. You, wouldn't bring home a pay check if there were...NO SALES...consumers rule cuz when they don't buy it..Guess what happens? however..i wouldn't buy my 3yr old a 200.00 toy; perhaps my neighbor would..so toys stay expensive..and I still don't buy it..I might be in the 20 percentile, not marginal,..but I still choose not to spend my money that way. It's a rat race out there..dog eat dog...it bites. I like Katy Perry, still go to Disney movies, love microwave popcorn and wonder if anyone ever bought a computer game that didn't have a computer?

It's really your responsibility to ensure your kids get proper games. The Katy-Perry edition is their advertising carrot, and you shouldn't stop companies from drumming up business. However, I can agree with you that EA is shelling out a lot of bull ****. They should really let Maxis do the job. I got Sims 3 and a bunch of expansions that are horribly glitchy and crash at random instants. And they make us pay for irrelevant stuff that really doesn't even look genuine at all.

I don't think it's anything wrong with children playing the sims 3, cause this version of the sims ain't that bad even if it's teen-rated. And it's only teen-rated because og those kissing interactions and the woohooing. I'm not a parent, but I'm a teenage myself and I get why parents might be considering not letting their kids play this game. But on the other side, why not? Sims 1 and sims 2 were far more sex.ual (don't know if I can say this word haha) if you get what I mean, sims 3 is different. And as kids grow they will learn about how to make babies or drink and stuff like that, and you can't blame a game or the parents for this. I began playing the sims when I was around 10 years old, maybe even younger, it didn't destroy me in any way. But I was always very mature...

You all missed the post then in one of these threads where Katy Perry fans are buying the pack but refuse to believe what the employees of Gamestop are telling them, that they will need the base game to play?

Not 7-12 year olds but tricking ppl none the less. The OP was too dramatic, yes, but his message is quite true.

Hi

Sorry- I don't think it's marketed to such young children. You must remember, such young children that you speak about will want to do what the older kids/teens are doing.

Where did you get the idea it's being marketed to young children?

Arletta wrote:You all missed the post then in one of these threads where Katy Perry fans are buying the pack but refuse to believe what the employees of Gamestop are telling them, that they will need the base game to play?

Not 7-12 year olds but tricking ppl none the less. The OP was too dramatic, yes, but his message is quite true.

Since it's not here, probably am missing that post.

Rflong7 wrote:Hi

Sorry- I don't think it's marketed to such young children. You must remember, such young children that you speak about will want to do what the older kids/teens are doing.

Where did you get the idea it's being marketed to young children?

Arletta wrote:You all missed the post then in one of these threads where Katy Perry fans are buying the pack but refuse to believe what the employees of Gamestop are telling them, that they will need the base game to play?

Not 7-12 year olds but tricking ppl none the less. The OP was too dramatic, yes, but his message is quite true.

Since it's not here, probably am missing that post.

From the thread 'Why is this $29.99'

http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/30/534744.page#8466
066

Arletta wrote:

Rflong7 wrote:Hi

Sorry- I don't think it's marketed to such young children. You must remember, such young children that you speak about will want to do what the older kids/teens are doing.

Where did you get the idea it's being marketed to young children?

Arletta wrote:You all missed the post then in one of these threads where Katy Perry fans are buying the pack but refuse to believe what the employees of Gamestop are telling them, that they will need the base game to play?

Not 7-12 year olds but tricking ppl none the less. The OP was too dramatic, yes, but his message is quite true.

Since it's not here, probably am missing that post.

From the thread 'Why is this $29.99'

http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/30/534744.page#8466
066

Hopefully that's their most expensive lesson in Buyer Beware. It should say on the box as it does on this site- The Sims 3 Base game required.
http://thesims.com/katyperry

*And since it was said they showed them on the back of the box that it requires The Sims 3 base game to play- there is no ripoff.

Arletta wrote:


From the thread 'Why is this $29.99'

http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/30/534744.page#8466
066

I completely understand what he/she is going through. I went into Gamestop a few days ago and watched as a mother was told the exact same thing by an employee, and the "Katy Kat" replied "Katy Perry is not going to release a game that needs a different game to play. Stop trying to make me buy more than I need".

Since this spoiled brat was being very loud and obnoxious toward the employee, I approached the mother and explained to her that the base game is required. I even opened up the webpage on TheSims.com and showed her the "Requires The Sims 3 to play stamp, as well as showed her the press release from EA regarding this branding collaboration. Luckily the mother understood, but her little kiddie refuses to accept it. She replied to me "Well, I'll just get Sweet Treats and see what happens. You don't need Halo to play COD".

Hollow on the cover it clearly states the base game is required.

to the OP:

In many countries and even in many states, it is not legal to sell a T rated game to anyone under 13. In my state, if a parent is shopping with a child, the seller is required to ask who will be playing the game. If the child is under the rating age... the seller must explain that to the parent or legal guardian. Then only with parents approval can the game be sold.

Also as far as the whole "requires the base game..." Most stores will place a huge sign on every stuff pack's display. The sign alerts and tells the buyer that a base game is needed. Also most sellers are required to ask here if the buyer has a base game. PC games can not be returned. So for any game ( even non sims games ) that requires a base game.... a seller must make a customer aware of that fact.

edit to add: My little ones and even my neices, nephews, and cousins all play the sims. Some of them are under 12. But we make them aware of why it is rated that way. These children are all very mature and see worse things on the way to school than they do in the game. We control what they play based on their maturity level. We do not allow them to dictate to us what they want.

SimsVIP_Admin wrote:

Arletta wrote:


From the thread 'Why is this $29.99'

http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/30/534744.page#8466
066

I completely understand what he/she is going through. I went into Gamestop a few days ago and watched as a mother was told the exact same thing by an employee, and the "Katy Kat" replied "Katy Perry is not going to release a game that needs a different game to play. Stop trying to make me buy more than I need".

Since this spoiled brat was being very loud and obnoxious toward the employee, I approached the mother and explained to her that the base game is required. I even opened up the webpage on TheSims.com and showed her the "Requires The Sims 3 to play stamp, as well as showed her the press release from EA regarding this branding collaboration. Luckily the mother understood, but her little kiddie refuses to accept it. She replied to me "Well, I'll just get Sweet Treats and see what happens. You don't need Halo to play COD".

That 'KatyKats' problem is not only ignorance but also her attitude. I can't wait for her to go back to GameStop and demand a refund because her sweet treats is broken.