While it has some amazing qualities such as brilliant writing, fantastic actors, a detailed history that mirrors reality, redemption and beautiful scenes, these things can easily be overshadowed by the harsh reality depicted on the show. The show deals with incest, graphic sex scenes, extreme violence, betrayal, sexual abuse, drugs, rape, and drinking. That rating suggests an age of seventeen or older and often require a teenager to show identification proving their age or the presence of a parent. If one goes by the typical ratings given to shows on other channels or even the ones that are given to feature films, Game of Thrones would definitely score a rating of R or higher. And while I think it’s important to educate our children and to talk about things with them instead of brushing them under the rug, Game of Thrones just isn’t appropriate for younger children. Personally, I love every single aspect of the show and obsessively watch it each week. That having been said, I don’t think I would be comfortable allowing her to watch a show with so many of these things at once until she reached an age where she had the maturity to fully understand what she was seeing. We’ve been regularly discussing those “difficult topics” since she was around four years old. I’ve always been a big believer in: if she’s old enough to wonder about it, it’s my responsibility to educate her. The fact that I have pretty liberal views when it comes to parenting my daughter should also be noted. I’m looking at this from a parent’s perspective and with the understanding that not everyone might agree with my stance. This past week our Facebook page has practically imploded with people commenting about whether or not the ever-popular Game of Thrones falls into the “family friendly” category (though our comment here was meant to be tongue-in-cheek). While HBO has a wonderful family selection available for the customers with On Demand, debate has sparked about whether or not the major shows the network provides are appropriate for younger generations. It’s almost impossible to find a “family friendly” television show that everyone enjoys. These topics have become a staple of our society. In a generation where these topics seem to be the basis for most novels, movies, and television shows, the possibility of children learning about these things (in a way we might not wish them to) increases exponentially. In 2013, parents have a whole new dilemma to deal with.
Tshirt via TypsyGypsyTees on Etsy (click image for source) These difficult topics and the desperation to find the right time can often plague a parent’s mind for years before they sit their child down to have these conversations. While some parents wait until their child has reached puberty to begin discussing sex, others talk about it from the first moment a child asks a question. One of the things parents tend to worry about the most is at what point is it time to start introducing the “difficult” topics (violence, sex, abuse, and drugs). Many nights are spent lying awake debating whether or not it would be too dangerous to allow your six year old to play football or if your teenage daughter has a secret boyfriend she hasn’t told you about. When you become a parent there are a million things to worry about.