As Halloween approaches, one school district in Central New York has banned students from playing games and dressing in costumes related to the popular Netflix show "Squid Game."

The Fayetteville-Manlius School District took the action after staff observed elementary school students reenacting a version of Squid Game, a Korean-based survival drama about cash-strapped contestants hoping to win money competing in kids' games.

Losers are graphically killed.

School officials said Halloween costumes from the show do not meet school guidelines due to "potential violent messages."

“I know a lot of my friends have mentioned that their kids are wrapped up in it, and there are all sorts of playground games and Halloween costumes and all different things happening around it,” said Ellen Goldburg, a parent of two children, including a second-grader.

Parents are trying to monitor kids' engagement with the show.

“There’s a lot of curiosity, and then that, combined with the access they have with Netflix and smart TVs, it’s a recipe for just a snowball effect when something like this starts to take off,” Goldburg said.

She says the world of media makes tough conversations happen sooner.

“It’s tough to have the conversations about what’s appropriate and how to interact with content like this,” Goldburg said.

In a statement, F-M Superintendent Craig Tice said children have been mimicking aspects of the "Squid Game" at school.

He said staff members want families to be aware so they "have the opportunity to speak with their children themselves about it and reinforce the school message that games associated with violent behavior are not appropriate for recess.”