A fee-paying primary school in south Dublin has banned children from dressing up as characters from the hit Netflix series Squid Game for Halloween, and told parents it was “in no way suitable for younger pupils”.
Castle Park School in Dalkey, whose past pupils include U2’s Adam Clayton, said concerns over Squid Game had surfaced at recent parent-teacher meetings, after children had reported games from the ultra-violent series were being re-enacted in the schoolyard.
Similar issues have emerged around the world, with reports in England, Belgium and Canada of children “eliminated” from schoolyard games being beaten up. The South Korean series, said to be the most popular yet on Netflix, features indebted contestants playing a series of children’s games in return for a huge cash prize. Those who are eliminated from games such as tug-of-war and “red light, green light” are executed by guards. The series has a 15 age rating on Netflix.
Last week Central Bedfordshire council wrote to parents of school-going children warning them to be vigilant about “aggressive” games inspired by the show being played by children. “Squid Game is also being viewed via other platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, and given the popularity of the games in the show developers have made various mini-games based on Squid Game on Roblox and other gaming platforms,” it said.
Castle Park School advised parents to review the safety settings on apps and devices in their homes. “Those of you who have seen any of the episodes will know the content is in no way suitable for younger pupils and, as a school, we would have concerns if children are being allowed to watch this programme,” it said.
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“With the recent publicity and controversy surrounding this series, it may be a good time to review safety settings on devices and ensure apps and viewing platforms are set up to only allow age-appropriate viewing/content. I understand parents may have different opinions on what may or may not be appropriate, but hopefully we can work together to ensure the children in our care are safe and protected at all times.”
One parent, who asked not to be named, described the letter as an overreaction. “Instead of worrying about what kids watch at home on Netflix they should stick to worrying about dealing with issues at school, such as bullying and dealing with Covid-19,” the parent said. The school was closed last week and did not provide a comment for this story.
Laura Erskine, founder of the Parenting Experts, believes the series should have an 18 rating. “It is a real-life version of a video game, with humans as opposed to character graphics, making the systematic torture and killing of the game players for the sadistic pleasure of the game master deeply disturbing for any adult, never mind an underdeveloped childhood brain,” she said.
Erskine said the show was “too easily accessed” by children on televisions and through handheld devices. “This is adult content, with sex scenes, threats of sexual violence, physical violence against women, not to mention all of the killing,” she said.
She also advised parents to set appropriate controls on devices and perform regular checks on their children’s viewing history. “Extracts or scenes from Squid Game can be viewed within other platforms including social media. Therefore it is important that a healthy conversation discussing the reasons this show is not suitable viewing should be had with all primary and secondary school children,” she said.
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“Similarly, schools also have a responsibility to address the rapid rise in viewership of this show by young audiences, to ensure discussion or re-enactment of the show is not tolerated at any level, even when it comes to Halloween fancy dress.”
