Now that Top3 is nine years old, he clearly thinks it would be alright for him to play computer games such as Call of Duty, or watch movies like Alien.

We've firmly steered away from the topic a couple of times, but the questions roared louder and louder in his mind.

Yesterday, he demanded to be allowed to either watch a scary movie or play a blood-and-gore game. He was ready for it, and he would most certainly not have nightmares about it.

Top1 and I looked at each other, and then I took Top3 aside.

"Listen," I said, "there's something you should know about that type of games and movies. They are designed to interact with a particular part of your brain. It's a tiny part, but it can be quite dominant in little children, especially when provoked."

"Mom, I don't care. I have already seen part of that movie Alien, and it wasn't scary at all. I didn't have nightmares. I can do this. I want to do this."

Making a mental note to ask Top1 which part our boy might have seen, I quietly gathered my thoughts and continued the story.

"Do you know what that part of your brain is called? The crocodile brain." (Most people call it the lizard brain or the ape brain. To me, it's a crocodile.)

"And though the crocodile brain is quite small and normally resides in some sort of cage, it can escape and get really nasty when you watch too many scary movies and play too many violent games. It will snap at you, it will try and dominate the rest of your brain. Young children have young brains. They are playful and do not pay attention to clear and present danger. They simply are not strong enough to fight the crocodile brain and put it back in its cage. You do understand that it must be in its cage, don't you, it being crocodily and all?"

Top3's eyes were now big pools rippling with thoughts of danger he could not quite grasp. He nodded.

"Also, when young children, such as yourself, play these games and watch these movies, or even when they watch too many television, with all the seductive commercials in between the programs, they get lost inside their head. The crocodile brain senses this, and takes advantage of the confusion. Once it is set free in a young child, it's quite hard to get a hold of it. Because again, children are not strong enough. Even some adults have trouble dominating it."

Top3 frowned. "Adults know everything. They must know how to deal with parts of their own brain."

I sighed. "Only the ones who were not confronted with the crocrodile brain rummaging around and having a feast when they were your age, son. And besides, it's a big world, with lots of people wanting to agitate the crocodile brain, to make a few bucks off of it. When the crocodile brain of an adult takes over, that person is easily persuaded to do stupid things. Such as spending all their money in the casino. Or shooting real people, just for fun. Even for adults it can be difficult to contain the crocodile brain. Very difficult."

It was his turn to sigh now.

"So, you see, that's why Daddy and I want to wait a little while. We want you to be strong, to learn how to fight and how to control this beast within. Then, when you're older, much older, you can play games and watch movies. Not too often, mind you, but once in a while. And you'll hopefully recognize the moment the crocodile brain is trying to take over, and resist. Of all the things we teach you, we hope this will be the one that sticks with you most. Crocodiles are fun to play with, but only when they can be put back into their cage. Like in a zoo. And you are the zoo keeper."

(Later, Top1 explained that he had shown Top3 a few stills of the creatures in Alien, because one of the Warhammer species seems to be inspired by them. It was all about resemblance, not about the story. Phew...)