Kent schools warn parents over Netflix show Squid Game as it's 'not appropriate' for children
18:39, 07 October 2021
updated: 15:32, 08 October 2021
Kent schools are warning parents not to let their children watch Netflix's new hit show Squid Game.
It comes as youngsters around the county are asking teachers to play some of the games in the South Korean show, which sees hundreds of people take on survival games - masked as children's games - for a huge cash prize.
Nearly all episodes of the new show contain violent and gruesome content, with some Kent schools now telling parents to monitor what they're children are watching.
Sandown School in Deal has issued extra lessons on violence and online harm as a response to the show's popularity, Mail+ has confirmed.
A spokesman for the school told the site that Key Stage 2 teachers have given their pupils extra lessons on online safety and the dangers of watching content that is "not age appropriate".
Another Deal school, the Goodwin Academy, based in Hamilton Road, explained its safeguarding team has sent a letter to parents regarding age concerns over Squid Game.
One safeguarding officer from the school told Mail+ the letter was to "warn parents that this is not age appropriate" after it came apparent during a performing arts class that children were keen to play some of the game featured in the series.
'Parents need to be aware of the show...'
The officer added: "I also attached on the bottom of the email age limits for all social media apps, as the content is still available on places such as youtube and snapchat even if parents do not allow their children to watch the show."
Chief executive of Parentkind John Jolly, told Mail+: "Our position would be that parents need to be aware of the show and be informed about it.
"There is a degree of parental guidance given by Netflix and they need to make that decision as a family considering the age of the child. We would advise caution, as well as for parents and schools to talk to each other so that parents can reinforce the school position in the home environment."
Squid Game has been rated appropriate for viewers aged 15 and older. Netflix provides a number of content warnings including sex, violence and suicide.
The show was originally written in 2008, but wasn't successful in being produced for more than 10 years.
