How Squid Play Affects Children

The series "Squid Game" has become a real sensation this fall. In terms of views, it took first place on the Netflix platform. Moreover, the survival games shown in it pleased not only the adult audience of 18+, for which the series was intended, but also children.

Some of them managed to watch the "squid" on the tablet of their older brother, someone was carried away by an interactive game based on the plot of the "Squid Games". And a lot of their computer cases have already been stamped. In general, the tentacles of the "squid" managed to penetrate the life of not only adolescents, but also younger schoolchildren. How dangerous can they be? How does a fashion show affect kids? We talked about this with a psychologist. Olga Perekopayko.

How does Squid Game affect children?

Olga Perekopayko focuses on the fact that "The Squid Game" is not the first nor the last series based on survival games. So, recently we made a selection

films with a similar plot. In addition, among children's computer games there are also many horror stories, in which there is a lot of aggression and "blood".

“During a computer game, children experience various emotions, and the accumulated aggression pours out. Plus, concentration of attention develops, plus often these are team games. So it cannot be said that all "shooters" are sheer evil ",

- says the psychologist.

The alarm bell, which says that playing "squid" or someone else, negatively affects the child, according to the expert, is that he begins to sacrifice sleep for the sake of play.

“Children can play until two or three in the morning, and this is already bad. Because a full 8-hour sleep is the basis of any person's mental health, - comments Olga Perekopayko. - By the way, as far as the Squid Game is concerned, there are many bright colors, many scenes of violence, which excites the child's nervous system, and then he falls asleep badly, which can negatively affect his general condition ".

The expert also advises to pay attention to how the child's behavior has changed after watching a series or a game based on its plot.

“Every parent knows their child. And if he began to notice manifestations unusual for him, when the child begins, for example, to react in some way too aggressively, for example, you need to pay attention to this ”,

- explains Olga Perekopayko.

If the child begins to copy the hero of a series or game, for example, asks to buy the same white slip-on sneakers or a suit, then it is important to figure out why this particular hero appeals to him, the expert advises. It is important to talk, to find out the reason, because often parents think out themselves. For example, it is not always that the child inherits an aggressive character, suggests that he is aggressive himself.

“Maybe something happened in his school and he wants to have such qualities to protect himself, for example,”

- explains the expert. So, according to her, a TV show or a computer game can be a good diagnostic piece.

Should children be prohibited from watching the Squid Game?

According to Olga Perekopayko, this is pointless.

“Every year and a half something appears here. That "Blue Whale", then "Owl", now here is the "Squid Game". You can't save yourself from everything. It is impossible to completely shield a child from all manifestations of this world. Therefore, it is important to teach him critical thinking ",

- the expert considers.

For example, it is worth telling a child that such films are developed by psychologists who understand which points should be pressed in order to "hook" children.

“It is important to explain that a lot of money is earned on this. And when you tell the children that they are being manipulated, that people are getting rich at their expense, they begin to look at many things in a completely different way, ”

- says Olga Perekopayko.

Psychologist Svetlana Royz's advice

On her Facebook page, the famous child psychologist Svetlana Royz also shared her thoughts for her parents about the Squid Game.

1. Banning and ignoring will not work.

The basic rule is that we cannot prohibit or withdraw anything without giving something in return.

2. If “something” has manifested itself, it is important for us to communicate directly with it. Name, discuss. If there is a reaction, it means that this series "got" into some important need of children. And it is important for us, at least, to recognize this need.

3. It is important for us to watch the series ourselves in order to understand what the children are involved in. Perhaps, if they are already watching, or talking about what their friends are watching, look with them - in order to immediately track reactions, reflect, provide explanation and support.

If we find out that teenagers are watching the series, this is a reason to talk about it.

4. It is important to choose the tone for the conversation - it definitely should not be moralizing.

Ideally, offer adolescents a discussion (they value discussion, inclusion and respect).

You can suggest thinking about the nature of play and gambling addiction, about dopamine traps, look in the TV series, (in advertising, political videos) for signs of manipulation.

• Why are heroes involved in the game?
• What are we willing to pay for the victory? And what did the heroes of the series pay with? (And the heroes of the fiction that the children read).
• and what will I do for the sake of winning, what I am in extreme situations
• Is there an unambiguously positive and negative character in the series?

It is important to talk to teens about moral / ethical dilemmas. (and this topic can be pondered in a security context - if I talk about my friend playing a dangerous game, is this betrayal or concern? and so on)

So we transfer the topic from the emotional plane to the intellectual, conscious one.

It will also be interesting for you to read:

Scientists find unexpected link between computer games and intelligence

Computer games for children: pros and cons